India’s Missile program
Introduction
- India’s missile programme took a shot from space programme, beginning 1967.
- In 1972, Rohini- a 560 two-stage, solid propulsion sounding rocket was developed and test fired
- India first launched its small 17-tonne SLV-3 space booster in 1979
- India successfully injected the 35 kg Rohini I satellite into near-earth orbit in 1980.
- In 1987, an augmented booster, the 35-tonne ASLV had begun flight testing.
- In 1983 a decisive shift took place in India’s missile program with the launch of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) The principal aim was to develop a family of strategic and tactical guided missiles based on local design and development for three defence Services.
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was conceived by renowned scientist DR.A P J Abdul Kalam to enable Indian Attain self-sufficiency in the filed of Missile Technology.
Prithvi
- The Prithvi missile is a family of tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles(SRBM) and is
- India’s first indigenously developed ballistic missile.
- it was first test-fired on 25 February 1988 from Sriharikota, SHAR Centre,
- It has a range of up to 150 to 300 km.
- The land variant is called Prithvi while the naval operational variant of Prithvi I and Prithvi II class missiles are code named Dhanush(meaning Bow).
Agni
Surface to surface intercontinetal ballistic missile.
Agni-I is a single stage, solid fuel, road and rail mobile, medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBM) This shorter ranger missile is specially designed to strike targets in Pakistan.
Agni II is an operational version of Agni I and is an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) test-fired in April 1999.
The range for Agni II is more than 2000 km.
Agni III, an intermediate-range ballistic missile was developed by India as the successor to Agni II. Intended to be a two-stage ballistic missile capable of nuclear weapons delivery, it is touted as India’s nuclear deterrent against China. The missile is likely to support a wide range of warhead configurations, with a 3,500 km range and a total payload weight of 2490 kg.
Agni V, believed to be an upgraded version of the Agni III The inter-continental ballistic missile have a range of about 5000-6000 km . Agni V will be able to carry multiple warheads and would also display countermeasures against anti-ballistic missile systems.
Trishul
Trishul is the name of a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It has a range of 9 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg warhead. Designed to be used against low-level (sea skimming) targets at short range, the system has been developed to defend naval vessels against missiles and also as a short-range surface-to-air missile on land.
Akash
Akash is a medium range surface-to-air missile developed as part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of surface-to-air missiles. It is the most expensive missile project ever undertaken by the Union Government in the 20th century.
Nag
Nag is India’s third generation “Fire-and-forget” anti-tank missile. It is an all weather, top attack missile with a range of 3 to 7 km.
Other Missiles
Significant additions also include
PINAKA– the Multi-Barrel Rocket System , an area weapon system to supplement the existing artillery gun at ranges beyond 30 km, having quick reaction time and high rate of fire has been accepted by the user after extensive trials.
BrahMos- being jointly developed with Russia, is a supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land.
BrahMos is among the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world, at speeds ranging between Mach 2.5 to 2.8, being about three and a half times faster than the American subsonic Tomahawk cruise missile. Although BrahMos is primarily an anti-ship missile, it is also capable of engaging land-based targets.
Nirbhay- cruise missile was announced in 2007—a subsonic missile with a range of 1000 km. Capable of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air. Nirbhay will supplement BrahMos in the sense that it would enable delivery of warheads farther than the 300 km range of BrahMos.
In 2008, New Delhi announced the end of the IGMDP with the focus now shifting towards serial production of missiles developed under this programme.
Shaurya– a landbased variant of the K-15 Sagarika which can be stored in underground silos for longer time and can be launched using gas canisters as booster was successfully test-fired in November 2008. This nuclear-capable missile aims to enhance India’s second-strike Sagarika missile is being integrated with India’s nuclearpowered Arihant class submarine that began sea trials in July 2009.
Dhanush– which has been tested several times in recent years believed to be a short-range, sea-based, liquid-propellant ballistic missile—perhaps a naval variant of the Prithvi series, with a maximum range of approximately 300 km.
Air-to-air missile Astra– It is an air to air missile Beyond Range (BVR). This is the first indigenous air-to-air missile developed by India. The range of this missile is 80 km in head-on chase and 15 km in tail chase.
Ballistic Missile Defence system
Two interceptor missiles, the Prithivi air defence missile and the Advanced Air Defence (Ashwin) missile are designed to provide a high-low cover against incoming ballistic missiles. Prithivi is reported to be capable of intercepting missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes of 50 – 80km, while the AAD is designed to operate at endo-atmospheric altitudes of upto 30kms.
It would be apposite to conclude by stating that India’s missile programme represents an iconic image demonstrating Sovereignty and self-reliance vis-à-vis its technological achievements. Resultant of nearly three decades of research, India’s guided missile programme has assumed a self-sustaining character and become fundamentally crucial to New Delhi’s proposed minimal deterrent.
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India has a long and proud history of missile development, dating back to the early days of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In the 1970s, India began to develop its own ballistic missile capability, with the goal of developing a deterrent against Pakistan and China. The first Indian ballistic missile, the Prithvi, was successfully test-fired in 1988. The Prithvi is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of 150-300 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
The Agni is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of 1,500-3,000 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Agni was first test-fired in 1989. There are currently five variants of the Agni in service with the Indian Armed Forces.
The Akash is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with a range of 25-30 kilometers. It is designed to intercept aircraft and cruise missiles. The Akash was first test-fired in 1990. It entered service with the Indian Air Force in 2002.
The Trishul is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system with a range of 9-10 kilometers. It is designed to intercept aircraft and helicopters. The Trishul was first test-fired in 1983. It entered service with the Indian Army in 1994.
The Nag is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) with a range of 2.5-4 kilometers. It is capable of engaging both stationary and moving targets. The Nag was first test-fired in 1997. It entered service with the Indian Army in 2005.
The Dhanush is a long-range surface-to-surface missile (SSM) with a range of 350-400 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The Dhanush was first test-fired in 2009. It entered service with the Indian Navy in 2014.
The Brahmos is a supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia. It has a range of 290-300 kilometers and can be launched from land, sea, or air. The Brahmos is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead. It was first test-fired in 2001 and entered service with the Indian Armed Forces in 2007.
The Shaurya is a hypersonic cruise missile developed by India. It has a range of 700-900 kilometers and can be launched from land or sea. The Shaurya is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead. It was first test-fired in 2008.
The Prahar is a tactical ballistic missile developed by India. It has a range of 150-300 kilometers and is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead. The Prahar was first test-fired in 2012.
The Nirbhay is a subsonic cruise missile developed by India. It has a range of 1,000 kilometers and is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead. The Nirbhay was first test-fired in 2013.
The Astra is an air-to-air missile developed by India. It has a range of 100-120 kilometers and is capable of engaging both stationary and moving targets. The Astra was first test-fired in 2001 and entered service with the Indian Air Force in 2017.
The ASAT is an anti-satellite missile developed by India. It was first test-fired in 2019. The ASAT is capable of destroying satellites in low Earth orbit.
The K Missile is a nuclear-capable ballistic missile developed by India. It has a range of 5,000-8,000 kilometers and is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. The K Missile was first test-fired in 2012.
India’s missile development program has been a major success. The country now has a range of missiles with different ranges and capabilities. These missiles provide India with a credible deterrent against its adversaries.
Types of missiles with reference to the India Missile Programme
The Indian Missile Programme is a national programme that aims to develop and produce a range of missiles for defence purposes. The programme was initiated in the early 1980s and has since made significant progress. India now has a range of missiles in its inventory, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and anti-tank missiles.
The following are some of the types of missiles that have been developed under the Indian Missile Programme:
- Ballistic missiles: Ballistic missiles are missiles that follow a ballistic trajectory, which is a curved path that is determined by the laws of gravity. Ballistic missiles are typically used to deliver nuclear warheads. India has developed a number of ballistic missiles, including the Agni series, the Prithvi series, and the Shaurya missile.
- Cruise missiles: Cruise missiles are missiles that fly at low altitudes and follow a relatively straight path. Cruise missiles are typically used to deliver conventional warheads. India has developed a number of cruise missiles, including the Brahmos missile and the Nirbhay missile.
- Anti-tank missiles: Anti-tank missiles are missiles that are designed to destroy tanks. Anti-tank missiles are typically fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher or from a vehicle. India has developed a number of anti-tank missiles, including the Nag missile and the Trishul missile.
The Indian Missile Programme has been a major success. India now has a range of missiles that are capable of meeting its defence needs. The programme has also helped to boost India’s technological capabilities and has given the country a degree of self-reliance in the field of missile technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Indian Missile Programme?
The Indian Missile Programme is a national programme that aims to develop and produce a range of missiles for defence purposes. The programme was initiated in the early 1980s and has since made significant progress. India now has a range of missiles in its inventory, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and anti-tank missiles. -
What are the types of missiles that have been developed under the Indian Missile Programme?
The following are some of the types of missiles that have been developed under the Indian Missile Programme: -
Ballistic missiles: Ballistic missiles are missiles that follow a ballistic trajectory, which is a curved path that is determined by the laws of gravity. Ballistic missiles are typically used to deliver nuclear warheads. India has developed a number of ballistic missiles, including the Agni series, the Prithvi series, and the Shaurya missile.
- Cruise missiles: Cruise missiles are missiles that fly at low altitudes and follow a relatively straight path. Cruise missiles are typically used to deliver conventional warheads. India has developed a number of cruise missiles, including the Brahmos missile and the Nirbhay missile.
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Anti-tank missiles: Anti-tank missiles are missiles that are designed to destroy tanks. Anti-tank missiles are typically fired from a shoulder-mounted launcher or from a vehicle. India has developed a number of anti-tank missiles, including the Nag missile and the Trishul missile.
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What has been the success of the Indian Missile Programme?
The Indian Missile Programme has been a major success. India now has a range of missiles that are capable of meeting its defence needs. The programme has also helped to boost India’s technological capabilities and has given the country a degree of self-reliance in the field of missile technology. -
What are the future plans for the Indian Missile Programme?
The Indian Missile Programme is a continuous process and there are always plans for further development. Some of the future plans for the Indian Missile Programme include the development of new missiles, the improvement of existing missiles, and the export of missiles.
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Which of the following is not a type of missile developed by India?
(A) Prithvi
(B) Agni
(C) Trishul
(D) Brahmos -
The Prithvi missile is a short-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 350 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Agni missile is a medium-range ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Trishul missile is a short-range surface-to-air missile with a range of up to 9 kilometers. It is capable of intercepting aircraft and cruise missiles.
(A) True
(B) False -
The Brahmos missile is a supersonic cruise missile with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear warhead.
(A) True
(B) False -
The India Missile Programme is a government-funded program that was initiated in the 1980s. The goal of the program is to develop a range of missiles for defense and strategic purposes.
(A) True
(B) False -
The India Missile Programme has been successful in developing a number of different types of missiles, including the Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, and Brahmos.
(A) True
(B) False -
The India Missile Programme has been a major factor in India’s rise as a regional power.
(A) True
(B) False -
The India Missile Programme has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it is destabilizing and could lead to an arms race in the region.
(A) True
(B) False -
The India Missile Programme is a complex and ambitious program that has had a significant impact on India’s security and strategic posture.
(A) True
(B) False