India welcomes Spain joining Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative | Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)

India welcomes Spain joining Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• India has welcomed Spain joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• It was launched by India in November 2019 at the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok.
• It draws on existing regional cooperation architecture and mechanisms to focus on seven thematic areas, viz. :

1. Maritime Security;
2. Maritime Ecology;
3. Maritime Resources;
4. Capacity Building and Resource Sharing;
5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management
6. Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and
7. Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport.
8. Objectives : Its objective was to promote cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the rules-based regional order, which will contribute towards strengthening safety, stability and development in the maritime domain.

Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)

Syllabus: GS3/Defence

Context

• The DRDO will showcase the Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM) along with its launcher during the 77th Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path.

Long Range Anti-Ship Hypersonic Missile (LR-AShM)

• Developed by – DRDO,
• It is a Hypersonic Glide Missile designed to meet the coastal defence and strike requirements of the Indian Navy.
• It is a first-of-its-kind indigenous system, equipped with indigenous avionics and high-accuracy sensor packages.
• It achieves speeds up to Mach 10, with an average hypersonic speed of Mach 5.
• Significance – Low-altitude flight, high speed, and manoeuvrability significantly reduce detection by enemy ground- and ship-based radars.