India's Missile Revolution

http://globalpolitician.com/24274-india

Though India, perhaps is the first country in the world where missiles were used in war (by Tipu Sultan against the British), India woke up to its potential much later...Two decades ago, the then defense minister, R Venkataraman sanctioned 388 crores for India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) under which five missiles-Agni, Prithvi, Trishul, Nag and Akash were to be developed.

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Agni was a technology demonstrator...Agni I is Pak-specific and has a 700Km range. It's a single stage solid fuel ballistic missile. Agni II covers 2000Km and Agni III is a China specific ballistic missile with a range of 3500Km...The scientists are now developing Agni IV with a range of 5500Km. Agni IV covers all the major cities of China except Beijing...All the Agni versions can carry nuclear warheads.

The Prithvi missile is a Pak-specific 350 Km shorter range N-Capable ballistic missile. It has a naval version too, called Dhanush...

Nag is a third generation anti-tank missile..

Trishul is a 9 Km range missile which was meant to replace the 1970s vintage Soviet made Osa short range SAM...the future of Trishul is still uncertain.

Akash is a medium range surface to air missile (SAM)...the system can be called to be superior to the US Patriot system. With the development of Akash the Indian scientists mastered two unique technologies-multifunction phased array system integration and integration of ram-rocket propulsion, aerodynamics, structure and control...

Astra is an air to air short range missile developed indigenously by DRDO. It is an efficient weapon released from a vital aircraft and has a striking range of 10-25 Km...

Sagarika or K-15 is a light, miniaturized and canisterised 700 Km range SLBM...It can carry nuclear warhead up to 600kg...With the launch of this missile from a submerged pontoon India has joined the select club of countries which includes Russia, the US, France, China and the UK with submarine launch capabilities.

The Indo-Russian Brahmos is the sole supersonic cruise missile in the world. With a range of 300 Km running at Mach 2.8, it can carry conventional warhead of 225 Kg...

In November 2006, India demonstrated its, air defense capabilities against incoming missile when it shot down an "enemy" missile in the exo-atmosphere, that is 50Km above the earth...

Besides, India has bought 9Km range Barak anti-missile system for the navy...

In the field of rocket launchers too India occupies a great position. On Feb.29, the Indian army has inducted Pinaka which can be fitted with nuclear warheads. It is a state of the art weapon for destroying or neutralizing enemy camp concentration areas, communication centers, air terminal complexes and gun or rocket locations. Besides the Russian Smerch mobile multiple rocket launcher, which carpet bombs targets 90 Km away is also with the Indian army. The army needs this for destroying targets spread over a wide area.

The Future of India's Missile Development Program

...India, till date has made an astonishing advancement in the field of command and control system. In some ways or the other, it has stridden ahead even of Russia, the US and China. If such a pace continues, India will outperform China in all the missile related technologies and radar systems.

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The submarine version of the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile is to be tested soon...Furthermore, the Indo-Russion Brahmos Aerospace Private Ltd. Plans to field a hypersonic Brahmos running at Mach 8 by 2010. It will be 1000Km. range...

The UPA govt. last year cleared a gigantic Rs. 10,000 crore project with Israel to develop an advanced medium range surface to air (MR-SAM) missile system capable of detecting and destroying hostile aircraft, missiles and spy drones at a range of 70Km. In reality the MR-SAM project is an extension of the ongoing DRDO-IAI project launched in Jan.2006 to develop a supersonic 60Km. Barak NG (Next Generation) missile defense for the navy.

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If the policy planners and strategists follow their course with unwavering resolve, the country, in the field of missile, will be a pioneer. There is no doubt about it. Besides if a direct and fruitful Indo-US joint venture in this field fructifies, India will certainly be a missile superpower.