In PHOTOS: DRDO's 20 most potent weapon systems

Considered a world-class medium range missile, Prithvi, with a range of over 150 km has been inducted into the armed forces. The army had raised two specially trained missile groups, 333 and 355, to handle it.

The 8.56-metre-long missile is part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Akash is a mobile area defence medium-range medium and high altitude surface-to-air missile with a range of 27 to 30 kilometres.

It is said to be indigenously developed, though it has a very strong resemblance to the Russian SA-6 GAINFUL. Akash has a multi-target handling capability, and employs a command guidance system with provision for terminal guidance. Powered by a ram rocket propulsion and an air breathing engine, Akash can cut through electronic jamming with its electronic counter measure equipment.

The DRDO has carried out successful flight tests of the missile defence system for 2,000 km class target were carried out. 

Each flight led to a direct target hit and disintegration of the target. 

The interceptor, designed for endo-atmospheric conditions (up to an altitude of 30 km) is a seven-metre-long and single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile, and is equipped with an inertial navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator totally under command by the data uplinked from the sophisticated ground-based radars to the interceptor.

Nag is a third- generation "fire and forget" anti-tank guided missile with a range of 4 to 6 kilometres. Nag can be mounted on an infantry combat vehicle and helicopter launched version of Nag is also available.

Nag is a third generation anti-tank missile system with "fire and forget" and "top attack" capabilities.

Capable of defeating modern armour, Nag uses Imaging Infra-Red guidance having both day and night capability.

The state-of-the-art Imaging Infra Red homing guidance system has lock-on-before-launch capability for day and night operation.

In the area of Aeronautics, Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft concluded its extensive flight tests including weapon trials, dropping of bombs, jettisoning drop tanks and night flights; leading to its Initial Operational Clearance on January 10, 2011. 
 
The LCA is the smallest and lightest combat jet in the world.

Confusion may arise with respect to the South Korean T-50, but it must be remembered that T-50 is primarily a hybrid trainer, that can assume fighter roles when necessary. The T-50 has a higher height and longer wingspan than the LCA, while its length is shorter by 22 cm.

Over 1,640 flights covering a period of over 969 hours have been completed by Tejas Mark 01.  The first prototype of LCA Navy was rolled out and its induction tests were concluded. 

Sudarshan: The Sudarshan missile has been developed indigenously to occupy the niche of a precision delivery mechanism. It can neutralise any target in a 800-1,000 km range with a zero margin of error.

Sudarshan will use a laser of a specific frequency bandwidth to locate the target. The laser creates a heat signature on the target. The missile recognises the signature and homes in on it even if the target is moving

Kaveri: The Kaveri engine is a major milestone for the DRDO. The indigenous development of the fighter aircraft engine was achieved with the completion of its simulated operating conditions. 

HAL's Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter is a multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5 tone weight class. Its state-of-the-art technology provides for lightweight and yet rugged construction, superior automated fuel management system and excellent all weather day and night capability.

The indigenously built Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher Weapon Area System can fire rockets with a range of 39-40 km, in a salvo of 12 rockets with 1.2 tons of high explosives within 40 seconds

Shivalik uses a modular plastic body and pre-formed cylindrical mild steel fragments for uniform distribution of fragments to overcome these deficiencies.

Additional features have been incorporated into the fuse's arming mechanism to ensure greater safety during storage, transportation and airdropping.

Unlike earlier grenades, it can be para-dropped if urgent re-supplies are needed and can function in temperatures ranging from minus 20 to 55 C

The use of plastic has also resulted in reduction of the grenade's overall weight.

The 40 mm Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher is attached to rifles for increasing their firepower.

The UBGL, which can be mounted on the INSAS as well as AK-47 rifles, was developed keeping in view the global trend in technology for small arms from the concept of point-target capability to area-target capability.

Capable of night-firing, it fills the gap between the maximum range achieved by a hand grenade and the minimum range of a mortar while giving better accuracy than both.

Another unique weapon under development by the DRDO is the chill grenade, which uses extract of Bhut Jolokia, certified as the world's hottest chilli and is native to the northeast.

Part of a range of equipment being developed by the DRDO for counter-insurgency and internal security operations, the chilli-grenade is non-toxic and non-lethal and functions like tear-gas used by the security forces. Its pungent fumes can smoke out terrorists or hostile elements from hideouts.

Conceived in 1973, the Arjun tank was behind schedule by more than 15 years, resulting in the Indian Army choosing the Russian T-90 tank as its main battle tank.

The Arjun had to go through a series of trials and retrials before the army announced the tank fit for duty.

MBT Arjun Mark I has been successfully inducted in the army and two regiments of Arjun MBT have been raised.

The Mark-II Arjun incorporates up to 90 per cent of indigenous content, compared with 58 per cent in the earlier model, and should be ready for induction by 2014.

The Mark-II also will feature superior missile-firing capabilities.

Lightweight Ceramic Faced Composite Armour Panels for Advanced Light Helicopter and Mi-17-IV helicopter have successfully undergone integration and flight-trials. 

This provides protection to aircrews and critical parts of helicopter against hits of bullets of 12.7 mmAPI.

Composite laminates were made using kevlar fabric as reinforcement and modified epoxy resin for matrix.

Kevlar-epoxy composite laminates of different thicknesses were prepared by compression moulding process.

Kevlar-epoxy composite laminates were bonded with alumina ceramic cylindrical pellets with the help of epoxy structural adhesive. Gaps between the ceramic pellets were filled with modified epoxy resin.

Humsa is an enhanced version of the state-of-the-art Hull Mounted Panoramic Sonar designed for the Indian Navy in the nineties.

This family of medium range active-cum-passive dual band sonars, optimised for both shallow and deep-water operations has proved its efficacy even in the highly variable tropical waters for more than a decade. Humsa's advanced signal processing techniques are responsible for its superior performance.

Humsa-NG is a technology upgrade of Humsa with lower frequency transducers and state-of-the art electronics containing Power PC processors and SHARC signal processing boards.

The Humsa-NG was developed by the DRDO's Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory for the Indian Navy's Project 15A/Kolkata-class destroyers.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle: The Autonomous Underwater Vehicle maps the sea bed and observe underwater movements. It is controlled by wireless navigational instruments from land.

The AUV-150 is used as a tool for coastal security operations. The device measures 4.8 metres in length and weighs 490 kg. This unmanned vehicle operates on battery.

Rov Daksh: Daksh is an electrically powered and remotely controlled robot used for locating, handling and destroying hazardous objects safely. Its primary role is to recover improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

It locates IEDs with an X-ray machine, picks them up with a gripper-arm and defuses them with a jet of water. It has a shotgun, which can break open locked doors, and it can scan cars for explosives. Daksh can also climb staircases, negotiate steep slopes, navigate narrow corridors and tow vehicles. 

Carrier Command Post Tracked: The Carrier Command Post Tracked BMP-II has been designed to function as a self-propelled artillery command post.

It affords nuclear, biological and chemical protection and protection against small arms.

Armoured Amphibious Dozer: AAD is designed to provide integral engineering support to battle groups in offensive operations by reducing banks of water obstacles to facilitate construction of wet/dry assault bridges.

It also improves mobility of mechanised formations by construction and improvement of existing tracks. AAD is based on re-engineered BMP-II chassis. 

Rohini: The Multifunction Medium Range Surveillance Radar is capable of handling multiple targets simultaneously and also precisely calculate the height at which projectiles are flying.

Operating in a range of upto 170 kilometres and an altitude of 15 kilometres, the Rohini radar can track multiple targets like fighter jets and missiles travelling at supersonic speeds of over 3,000 kms per hour, viz around Mach 3. The radar employs an array of Electronic Counter Counter Measure (ECCM) features including frequency agility and jammer analysis

Aslesha and Bharani: The 3D low-level, light-weight radar is designed for use in mountainous terrain and against aerial targets

Samyukta: Samyukta is capable of handling both ground-based and airborne threats. It has the capability to intercept, detect, search, identify and locate complex communication and radar signals.

It monitors and analyses communication and radar activity across Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA) and many other sophisticated features. Once deployed, the system has operational frontal coverage of 150/70 km.