With a number of “firsts,” 2024 was a year of groundbreaking accomplishments for India that highlight the nation’s expanding global prominence. These achievements demonstrate a narrative of progress while also reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
In 2024, India achieved historic firsts in military technology and healthcare that highlight its expanding capabilities on the international scene.
India successfully launched its first long-range hypersonic missile test from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on November 16, 2024. This missile has a range of more than 1,500 kilometers and can reach speeds more than Mach 5 (more than 6,174 km/h).
With this accomplishment, India joins a select few countries that have such cutting-edge military technology, such as the US, China, and Russia. One of the missile’s special qualities is its ability to maneuver in midair, which makes it challenging to identify and stop.
India’s first satellite specifically built to investigate X-ray polarization from cosmic sources is called the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). Using the PSLV-C58 rocket, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched XPoSat on January 1, 2024, with the goal of improving our knowledge of a variety of celestial phenomena, such as magnetars, neutron stars, and black holes.
XPoSat is important because it can help us better understand the physical mechanisms underlying X-ray emissions from astronomical objects. Researchers intend to address uncertainties in current theoretical models pertaining to these emissions by integrating spectroscopic data with polarimetric measurements. Being just the second satellite in the world to concentrate on X-ray polarization after NASA’s IXPE launched in 2021, this project marks a major breakthrough in space-based polarimetry.
The Tata Aircraft Complex, India’s first military aircraft production in the private sector, was formally opened at Vadodara, Gujarat. On October 28, 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a ceremony to commemorate this momentous occasion. Airbus C-295 transport aircraft will be manufactured at the plant; 40 units will be constructed domestically in partnership with Airbus Spain.
The Indian Air Force will mainly use the plant to construct C-295 military transport aircraft. In addition to supporting the “Make in India” campaign, which encourages domestic manufacturing, this effort seeks to strengthen India’s defense capabilities. It is anticipated that the first 40 C-295 aircraft built in India will be delivered by September 2026.
Antariksha Abhyas-2024, India’s first military space drill, was held in New Delhi from November 11–13, 2024. An important turning point in India’s efforts to improve its military capabilities in the space domain is this exercise, which was planned by the Defence Space Agency (DSA).
The purpose of the exercise is to confront the increasing threats to space-based assets and incorporate India’s space capabilities into military operations.Participants will learn about operational reliance on space services and how military operations could be compromised if access to these services is interrupted. The exercise promotes cooperation with agencies such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as well as between the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Space is now seen as a vital enabler for national defense, as Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan stated during the drill. In order to protect India’s interests in this field, he underlined the necessity of innovation and cutting-edge technologies. This exercise is essential for enhancing India’s strategic preparedness for future wars involving space assets, given the growing competitiveness and dangers in space, including cyberattacks and anti-satellite weaponry.
