[Plokiikmol]

Agni-V to be test-fired from a canister - The Times of India
The armed forces will soon have an inter-continental ballistic missile ( ICMB) that can be fired from anywhere. No, it is not necessary to do it from the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast. The long-range 5,000-km missile with a nuclear warhead can be fired from any open place and the enemy will not even be able to guess from where the deadly weapon will be fired.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which is savouring the successful test-firing of the Agni-V, is now preparing for another test launch of the missile. This test will not be from Wheeler Island where the Integrated Test Range ( ITR) is located.

"The missile will be put in a canister and launched. After the lid of the canister is opened, the missile takes off as a result of the high pressure generation of gas inside it," Avinash Chander, distinguished scientist and chief controller, R&D (missiles and strategic systems), DRDO, told TOI.

As a result of the hot gas ejecting the missile out of the canister, the missile ignites in mid-air and glides away. This launch of the missile will be quite different from what one had seen at Wheeler Island where the missile left a huge trail of flame while lifting off the ground.

When the missile takes off from the canister, the flames will be seen only about 30 metres from above the ground in the Agni-V that will be tested fired sometime towards the end of the year. "We are getting ready with two different types of canisters in which the missile can be placed and test fired. The armed forces will be able to fire the missile from anywhere," Avinash Chander said. A canister is a metal enclosure for the missile. The missile will fit comfortably in the canister and will have a facility for an opening on the top. The armed forces have been closely associated with the development of the Agni missiles and have already inducted Agni-1, Agni-II and Agni-III into the army. The induction of Agni-1V and Agni-V is also planned.

Only after two or three test-firing trials of the Agni-V are conducted from canisters will the long range inter-continental ballistic missile be inducted into the armed forces. It will be possible to move the ICBM anywhere by road at a short notice and fire it in any direction.

[expiclefich]

Link Coming soon, worldâ??s fastest hypersonic missile

COIMBATORE: In a move aimed at facing external threats against the country with more sophisticated weapon, the BrahMos Aerospace, under the ministry of defense, will soon start to develop the fastest hypersonic missile in the world.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an international conference on Computer Communication and Informatics at Sree Sakthi Engineering College here on Tuesday, BrahMos CEO and managing director A Sivathanu Pillai said air version of BrahMos missile would be inducted into the Indian Air Force within one year and works for developing BrahMos 2, the fastest hypersonic missile in the world, would begin soon. BrahMos would take final shape in another five years, he added. While the BrahMos missile has the speed of Mach 3 (speed of sound) moving at one km per second, the hypersonic missile would achieve a speed of Mach 6 to Mach 7, he said.

"We have the guidelines and technology to make hypersonic missile. However, tests have to be conducted for configuring with the propulsion and for engine and flight tests, which would take at least five years," Pillai said. Once operational, BrahMos 2 would be the fastest missile in the world, he stressed. Having achieved the land and sea versions of BrahMos missile, the air version was in the final stage and after carrying out the critical test, it would be inducted into the Indian Air Force to be used in Sukhoi-30, the main strike aircraft. The missile would be a versatile system in the Defence Force, he said.

Pillai said since there was no equivalent to BrahMos, many countries were queuing up for the missile for use in multiple platforms in their force. However, there is a huge requirement for this missile in India and only after fulfilling our demand, the company will think of supplying to foreign countries, he added.

When asked about the raging controversy over commissioning of Kudankulam nuclear power project, Pillai said all safeguards have been taken during construction of the plant. "Experts like Dr A P J Abdul Kalam have studied all aspects about the power project. Dr Kalam had reviewed every possible aspect and came out with the report declaring its safety. Every possible safety safeguards have been taken care. There are around 12 such powers stations in operation around the world. Those power plants have been working without any problem. So, we can definitely assume that they are safe. Most of the fears expressed are imaginary," he opined.

[paralelogram]

Nuclear-capable Agni-V to be tested soon

India's ambitious 5,000-km range Agni-V nuclear-capable missile will be launched soon, a senior scientist said here Sunday.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) Avinash Chander said here that the strategic missile was in the final phase of testing and could be launched soon.

"I cannot predict an exact date of its launch now. But it will be launched shortly," Chander, who was here for the concluding ceremony of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL), told the media here.

He said there was no immediate need for the country to go in for longer range inter-continental ballistic missiles.

"Definitely, the capability (for ICBMs) exists. We feel that the country does not need it now," Chander said.

He said that the country's missile programme was on the right path to provide an "effective deterrence" against any adversary.

Though the Agni and other missiles developed by DRDO scientists are capable of striking areas inside Pakistan and China, Agni-V and the earlier Agni-IV series will give India a deep penetrative striking capability.

Since the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme was launched over three decades ago, DRDO has delivered the Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul, Nag, Prahaar and other series of weapons.

"By 2020, India will be among the leading countries in missile development," Chander said.

[papadopul]

Link Agni-V's detonator developed in Chandigarh lab

CHANDIGARH: A DRDO lab in the city, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) has developed the detonator which can trigger the explosive in a nuclear warhead and account for the successful take off of Agni-V -- a 5,000km range nuclear missile.

The 50 tonne missile has a longer range than its previous versions. Though not much ambitious about entering the elite inter continental ballistic missile (ICBM) club, which includes the US, Russia and China, Chander added, "We do not need the ICBM, as we do not perceive such a threat. But Agni-V shows our capability in marching towards this way."

CHANDIGARH: A DRDO lab in the city, Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) has developed the detonator which can trigger the explosive in a nuclear warhead and account for the successful take off of Agni-V -- a 5,000km range nuclear missile. This was announced by Avinash Chander, the scientist who has developed the missile which will be launched next month. Agni has already created ripples in South Asia with its long range capability.

"The missile has a wide range and with this our defence strategies will become enhanced. It is not to scare countries like China, but to become capable of self-defence. The TBRL has a major role in the development and testing of Agni-V. The detonator, which will trigger explosion in the warhead of the missile, has been tested in Chandigarh," said Chander.

The 50 tonne missile has a longer range than its previous versions. Though not much ambitious about entering the elite inter continental ballistic missile (ICBM) club, which includes the US, Russia and China, Chander added, "We do not need the ICBM, as we do not perceive such a threat. But Agni-V shows our capability in marching towards this way."

DRDO is also working on augmenting the power of laser weapons from 10 kilowatt to 20 kilowatt. "The major area of thrust will be laser technology and its role in weapons. We are working in this area. This includes miniaturizing warheads while maintaining the lethality," said Chander.

Also, a precise missile guided weapon, Prahar, with a short range of 90-50km will soon be inducted in the Army. The warhead of this weapon has its genesis in the TBRL, Chandigarh. Dr W Selvamurthy, Chief Controller (R&D), DRDO, ministry of defence, said, "This indigenous missile is very promising and precise."

[radicalvolume]

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
With a planned range of 5,000 km, the Agni V will traverse 2,000 km more than any Indian missile has ever done. Wednesday's launch will see the missile first power its way to a vertical height of 500 km in the atmosphere before following a ballistic trajectory that will see it splash down in the Indian Ocean way beyond Indonesia.

A commercial jetliner would take over six hours to traverse such a distance. But Agni V, travelling at 24 times the speed of sound and 30 times faster than a commercial jet, will traverse that distance in just 18 to 20 minutes. In doing so, it will become not just the longest range ballistic missile in India's strategic armoury but also its fastest. Most importantly, Agni V would put most of China's major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, within Indian missile range.

What Saraswat is unwilling to explicitly state, is that a successful test of Agni V would give India the capability of building long-range Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, ICBMs or missiles that can reach targets of 8,000 km or more.


With a warhead weight of 1,500 kg (1.5 tonne) Agni V will ultimately be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads giving it deadly strike capability.


Agni V would be a significant step up from the range of Agni missiles that India currently has in its armoury. Agni I goes to 700 km and Agni II, 2000 km. Both these are primarily meant to target Pakistan, giving India a capability to strike its neighbour from any part of the country.

Agni V would be a significant step up from the range of Agni missiles that India currently has in its armoury. Agni I goes to 700 km and Agni II, 2000 km. Both these are primarily meant to target Pakistan, giving India a capability to strike its neighbour from any part of the country.


Agni III and Agni IV are missiles in the 3,000 km class meant for China and other regional neighbours. The distance though is a limitation as these classes of missiles would be unable to strike many of China's strategic cities or locations. So the need for Agni V.


Speaking exclusively to The Tribune from the Wheeler Island, where final tests are being done for Agni V, Avinash Chander, DRDO's Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems), said, "There are many firsts we are incorporating in Agni V, these include two all new composite motors that would propel the missile to distances bordering ICBM capabilities."


At 17 metres in height, Agni V is almost 5 stories tall and has a diameter of two meters - similar to that of the giant main sewage pipelines that are laid in most Indian cities. Agni V is short and squat as compared to India's space rockets.


Almost three years in the making, Agni V is a three-stage rocket that, Chander says, has one of the most highly developed guidance systems that the DRDO has ever built to enable it to strike targets at great distance with stunning accuracy.


While the first stage motor is similar to the one used in Agni III, the second and third stage motors are brand new and built of light composite materials that are being flight tested for the first time. "It reduces weight and gives the missile greater punch,'' says Chander.


Though the first launch would be from a static harness at the Island, Agni V would have tremendous road mobility once it is fully developed. These include a canister launch which means that it gives India "stop and launch" capability from any part of the country. "Once we successfully test Agni V we would have broken the barrier of long range ballistic missile systems,'' says Saraswat.

[JetePlentuara]

NATO does not consider India as a missile threat despite the country’s advanced missile development program, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Wednesday.


India is all set up to test its domestically-developed Agni-5 ballistic missile with a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles), giving it the ability to target most parts of Asia, including the northernmost parts of China, and large parts of Europe.


Speaking at a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Rasmussen said the Alliance does not consider India as a threat to NATO allies and territory.

[Britfunclubs]

The Friendly Indian Intercontinental Missile | Features, Opinion & Analysis | RIA Novosti RIA Novosti political commentator Dmitry Kosyrev

Perusing the front pages of Delhi newspapers, one gets the impression that launching of the Agni-5 intercontinental missile with a striking range of 5,000 km by India was a prominent but by no means sensational event even for the Indians. There have been no overly emotional responses to it outside India, either. One can’t help drawing a parallel between this calm reaction and the media frenzy surrounding the failed launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea just a week ago. And when something of the kind happens in Iran, the reaction is even stronger.


People kill people


Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan once commented on the right to bear arms in America with the memorable phrase, “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people.” The international games surrounding nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles illustrate the point nicely.


On May 11, 1998, India held underground nuclear tests in an attempt to outdo Pakistan, which had also planned (and successfully conducted) such tests a few days later. And with that two more nuclear powers were born. Like many other countries, Russia condemned the new nuclear powers for ignoring the universally accepted ban on expanding the nuclear club. Back then, many commentators observing Russia’s harsh reaction to these developments rightly noted that no one feared France’s nuclear arsenal, because France is a country that gave the world Dumas, Moliere, cheese and wine. It simply has no reason to use its nuclear weapons against Russia or any other country for that matter. The same reasoning was applied to India: Our friend has become stronger, so it is good news not bad.


This is also why Moscow, Beijing and Tokyo react differently to missile tests in North Korea. The first two countries don’t want any trouble just because the Japanese and Americans are afraid of the North Koreans. However, Pyongyang is very unlikely to fire a missile at China or Russia.


In other words, the intentions and interests of superpowers are more important in strategic planning than their capabilities. What are the intentions of Russia’s friend India, which has increased the striking range of its nuclear arms delivery vehicles?


The source of the threat

The most obvious answer is that this is bad news primarily for China, which is, by the way, Russia’ friend, too. Indeed, there’s no reason for India to aim its nuclear weapons against Africa or the United States, all the more so since Agni can’t reach U.S. shores anyway. However, all of China’s territory is now within reach.


For several years now, various political forces in India have been saying officially (and especially in private) that Indians aren’t dumb enough to turn their country into a missile base against China just because, for example, the United States wants it to be this way. Both major Indian parties agree on that.


Pakistan, whose government either unwilling or unable to control the jihadist groups residing on its territory, remains India’s primary threat. Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is not the only concern here. The philosophy underlying the establishment of Pakistan as a Muslim alternative to Hindu India is another major consideration. It’s not clear what this nation will become without this idea, and whether Pakistan will remain a nation without it.


This is not all there is to it. Jihadism is not only about Pakistan. Let’s not forget that in addition to nuclear tests in 1998, India stepped up its political involvement in the Middle East and became very close with Israel. Today, with the Gulf monarchies successfully promoting the jihad philosophy across all Arab nations, such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya to name a few, it has become clear that India’s policy was quite reasonable and the expansion of its missile range won’t hurt, either.


Next comes Iran. The Indian opposition strongly criticizes its current government for its incoherent policy towards Iran. However, the real threat to India doesn’t come from Iran. Hypothetically, if the United States or the Gulf monarchies manage to sow the seeds of chaos in Iran as well, then, in the worst-case scenario, extremist regimes will spring up from neighboring Pakistan westward all the way to the shores of the Atlantic.


This is something that China would like to avoid as well, because it has more shared strategic interests with India than with its old friend Pakistan.


Who’s your friend?


It is assumed that India’s failed war against China in 1962 and the loss of an uninhabited glacier in the Himalayas is a major problem that makes these two key international partners of Russia bitter enemies. If this were the case, then the launch of the Agni would spell real drama for Russian foreign policy.


Let’s keep in mind that Russia is India’s key partner in the area of armaments. This month Russia supplied to India the nuclear submarine Nerpa aka Chakra for a long-term lease. By late 2012, India will at long last receive the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov aka Vikramaditya. There’s a whole list of armaments that Russia is either selling to India or designing together with India. If Beijing viewed India similar to the way Japan looks upon North Korea… And if India saw China – which, by the way, became Delhi’s first trading partner – as a source of permanent threat…


Things are different in reality, though. The foreign ministers of Russia, India and China (RIC) met this month. As it turns out, the original triangle of this group exists as a separate entity despite its expansion to include Brazil and South Africa (BRICS). And the three have more and more reasons for private meetings. Among other things, an important topic for discussion is coordinating efforts in Afghanistan once the U.S. and NATO forces withdraw. The problem is that the spread of jihad policies in Afghanistan represents a direct threat to northwestern China. As a result, Beijing and Delhi now have more reasons for rapprochement and Moscow has long been a willing intermediary.


As for nuclear arsenals and their delivery vehicles, even with an enhanced strike range, they do not interfere with such efforts. On the contrary, they are a source of calm for the partners in their complicated relations with each other.


The views expressed in this article are the author's and may not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti

[QxmFwtlam]

DRDO: Multiple warheads next | The Asian Age

Defence Research and Development Organisation chief V.K. Saraswat on Friday expressed confidence that there would be an Agni-VI project — after the success of the 5,000-kmrange long-range ballistic missile Agni-V’s maiden launch.


The defence organisation added that India would now focus on launching multiple independent re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), which would give a single missile the capability of hitting multiple targets on re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere from space.


Dr Saraswat said the DRDO would also focus on the ability to launch minisatellites as well as the capability to hit a satellite in space, even as he added that India was opposed to the weaponisation of space and would not develop such a weapon.


Asked about whether the DRDO can develop technologies to launch missiles with a range of 10,000 km, Dr Saraswat said that once it was decided to develop such an ICBM, it would take about three to four years.

[MannyLopez]

Agni V tested only for 5,000 km range - South India - Tamil Nadu - ibnlive
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) R&D Chief Controller A Sivathanu Pillai on Saturday made it clear that the Agni-V, India’s first Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICMB), was tested only for a range of 5,000 km and not beyond at the Wheeler Island in Odisha on Thursday last.


At an informal interaction with journalists, when asked Pillai about China’s claim that the Agni V missile could reach targets in Europe up to a range of 8,000 kms, he said “Agni V has been tested for a range of 5,000 km. Further, extending the range or even testing the capability for an extended range will be considered only after political and diplomatic deliberations.”


To a question on China’s pronouncement that India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with her neighbour, Pillai said: “I am not a diplomat to retaliate to what China has said. But I assure that we are self-reliant in the guided weapon system.”


Pillai, who is also the founder CEO of the BrahMos Aerospace, a unit of the DRDO which is developing a stealth cruise missile that can steep-dive vertically at the target at supersonic speeds, said the third stage of BrahMos (Block III) test has given desired results in incorporating precision for high manoeuvres at multiple points when it is developed eventually.

[AdobebePhoto]

India all set to develop reusable rockets: DRDO chief - India - DNA

After the successful launch of Agni-V Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), India is all set to develop reusable rockets which will combine the technologies of both ballistic and cruise missiles.


As part of plans to develop reusable ballistic missiles, Defence Research and Development Organisation will test indigenously developed scram jet engine next year, DRDO Chief VK Saraswat said in an interview to Doordarshan.


"We have propulsion technology, we have re-entry technologies, we have the technology which can take a re-entry system which will deliver a payload and have yet another re-entry system which will bring the missile back when it re-enters the atmosphere on its return journey," he said.


"We have demonstrated the performance of a scram jet engine operating at Mach six speed (six times the speed of sound)," he said.


On the range of Agni-V missile which was scuccessfully test-fired recently off Odisha coast, the DRDO chief said with moderate modifications, "it can be extended to any range which is of our interest."


On technological capability available with the agency, he said, "DRDO has built the necessary technologies, production infrastructure and design capability for developing a booster or a sustainer... We have the capability to develop a re-entry nose cone which can withstand higher temperature and velocity."

[Vegeinvalge]

Agni-5 done, bumble bee next: Sundaram | Deccan Chronicle

Gone are the days when missiles like Prithvi, the first missile under the Integrated Guided Missile Programme, was test-fired 15 times before induction.


Agni-V will have no more than five tests, according to Lt. General v.j Sundaram (retd), widely considered as one of the pioneers of MAVs in the country.


“We had to test-fire Prithvi over and over again, because you need to be absolutely sure. Of course, there are things we didn’t know then that we know now, so we might get away with fewer runs before Agni-V is inducted”, he said.


The General also added, “If you get consistent results with five runs, then that’s all you need. But there’s no guarantee. We have launched 60 Prithvi missiles and something could still go wrong”.


The Agni-V is being touted as the game-changer for India’s guided missile programme. But the officer chose to say, “These are all such political terms, I don’t want to get into it. From a purely technical point of view, though, the Agni-V is a fine piece of engineering”.


Lt. General Sundaram, who delivered a talk at the Indian Institute of Science on Saturday, is presently adviser (Micro and Nano Systems) at the National Design and Research Forum, The Institution of Engineers, Bengaluru. He was also Director, DRDL, Hyderabad, and Project Director - Prithvi Missile.


Currently, he is focussed on Micro Air Vehicles, Micro-Nano-Bio Systems and the coalescence of biology and engineering.


“We are looking at building a bumble bee”, he said. The bumblebee sensor will have rhodopsin coated wings (to enable vision in low light) and compound eyes and quality control sensors.

[FYvWldC0]

The misile shield | Deccan Chronicle

The Agni-5 missile is meant to deliver nuclear warheads on to their targets and in accomplishing all the mission parameters successfully as envisaged by the scientists in the first test itself, the professionalism of India’s scientific community was beyond debate, placing India into the coveted club of the handful of nations that have the capability to launch ICBMs. Watched keenly by many in the world because the presence of such missiles significantly enhances the stature of India’s nuclear deterrence mechanism, the next step will see India conduct similar tests to declare the missile fully operational. By 2014-15 this missile - and India - will be ‘battle-ready’.


The Agni series of missiles should be viewed as a part of India’s “Minimum Credible Deterrence” policy. As a Nuclear Weapon State, India must have a suitable delivery mechanism for such weapons. India’s investments in the missile arena need to be looked at, against this backdrop. It is important to note that India is not the follower of the policy of mutually assured destruction (MAD), no votary of total and irrevocable destruction.


A nuclear triad
After the 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests it has been India’s endeavour to develop a nuclear triad. Simply possession of nuclear weapons has no meaning unless and until a mechanism to deliver these weapons on the targets of choice exists. A nuclear triad involves development of such delivery mechanisms. Such mechanisms include land based, air based and submarine based platforms and they constitute of ICBMs, strategic bombers and submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).


Particularly, since India has a policy of no first use (NFU) in regards to its nuclear weapons hence it becomes extremely important to acquire nuclear triad to enhance the credibility of India’s second strike in case India has been first attacked by the nuclear weapon. It is important to analyse this success of Agni-5 at three levels: technological gains, military advantages and strategic benefits.


DRDO has a well-established missile programme which was conceptualized during 1983. DRDO first mastered the art of developing short range missiles, the Prithvi series of missiles (150km to 300km) and now concentrating on Agni series. Before this test DRDO had proved its capability to launch missiles up to a distance of 3500km (Agni 4). Now, proving its worth by launching an ICBM it could be safely said that DRDO has mastered the art of ‘Rocket Science’. Apart from proving the worth of their missile expertise DRDO has also tested other technologies and techniques during this test successfully. Such technologies would have relevance for other defence related projects too.


DRDO has established a network of defence radars and ships for the purpose of tracking this missile. Such networks have utility in few other arenas of defence too, and could be modified from the point of view of developing architecture for Space Situational Awareness. Success of this test has proved that new technologies developed by DRDO like ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer, important for the purposes of navigation and guidance, have worked perfectly.


This test has proved the worth of composites used for the purpose of weight reduction of the rocket. Also, the re-entry of Agni-5 successfully into the earth’s atmosphere by withstanding thousands to degrees of temperature indicates that the ‘thermal shield’ has worked beautifully.


Strategic edge
From the point of view of the military, it’s important to note that India’s nuclear programme is a strategic programme and the role of air force and navy is more about remaining prepared for delivering the nuclear warheads and always remain in state of readiness. There has to be a constant interaction amongst the scientific community, the military and the policy makers to carry forward the country’s nuclear deterrence agenda.


In the strategic realm, such weapons are designed and developed for deterrence purposes. It would be incorrect to believe that such weapons offer solutions to all security related problems. A country like India needs to remain prepared by developing its conventional defences as well as strategic defences and the success of Agni-5 needs to be viewed in that context.


Success with technology is only one part of realizing strategic objectives. Today, India has two nuclear neighbours having proven missile capabilities to satisfy their security needs. Naturally, to bring in the strategic stability in the region it is important for India to arm itself with sufficient military hardware to address these challenges.


At the same time it is important for India, not to get unnecessarily drawn into any arms race scenario. China has been armed with ICBMs for many years which could reach almost the double distance than India (around 12,000 km range). However, what is important for India is not to match China in terms of range or numbers. Based on one’s own assessment of the security threats to the country India needs to develop its defences. Agni-5 should be viewed as a step in that direction.


From the strategic standpoint India also needs to further develop the Agni-V to feature Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) capability. Such capability of carrying 2-10 separate nuclear warheads which could engage different targets, separated by some distance could help to ensure a credible second strike capability even with few missiles because only one rocket firing could help India to engage multiple targets almost simultaneously. Also, there exists a necessity to develop the SLBM programme further to complete the deterrence mechanism.


China-centric
It is expected that success of Agni-5 would create some discomfort for Pakistan and China. Particularly, this missile is being viewed by many as China-centric and media has reported certain adverse reactions by few Chinese agencies. Chinese reactions are on expected lines and it is obvious that China would be uncomfortable because India finished their monopoly in the region. Today, Agni-5 has made it possible for India to strike anywhere in Asia and even almost 80% of Europe is within the striking range. This adds value to India’s deterrence mechanism.


However, it is important to note that reinforcement of deterrence remains a dynamic process. India needs to constantly calibrate its deterrence mechanism based on its perceived threat perceptions and undertaking cost-benefit analysis for strategic investments.


Firepower
* The Prithvi-I, II and III short-range nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missiles have a range of 150, 250 and 350 kms respectively and have been inducted into the armed forces. Prithvi-I is the Army version, Prithvi-II is the IAF version and Prithvi-III (Dhanush) is the naval version launched from ships. Prithvi was developed keeping in mind the threat perception from Pakistan.


* Defence (BMD) missiles: These are being currently tested to intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles both within and outside the Earth’s atmosphere. The objective is to establish a BMD shield to protect India from enemy ballistic missiles.


Agni-V : Tested successfully during its maiden launch on April 19, this LRBM with a range of 5,000 km can reach all parts of China including Beijing. Will provide a credible nuclear-capable deterrent against China. Expected to be inducted in 2014 after a few more validation trials.


—Wing Commander (Retd) Ajay Lele is a Research Fellow, IDSA

[Anckzxik]

• April 22, 2012
• By Dr V.S. Arunachalam

​The caption of this piece should actually read 'mission accomplished' but for the bloomer President George Bush made in 2003 when he claimed victory well before the skirmishes in Iraq died down! But the missile story is really one of accomplishment of a mission that DRDO embarked three decades back.


In 1982, DRDO embarked on a major transformation transitioning from working on minor innovations that brought in no recognition, to major hardware development. A portfolio of missiles, Light Combat Aircraft, main battle tanks are the products of this transformation. There were also a few more top secret projects.


It was an audacious move when we were not even sure whether we had the competence and wherewithal to execute the programmes. But then we recognized that if we did not cash in on the opportunity that the political leadership, most notably the Defence minister Venkataraman and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, provided we would have lost a window of opportunity to become a self reliant nation in military technologies.


We took our proposals to Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs for the sanction. For the missile programme, we chose four projects, two surface-to-air (Trishul, Akash) missiles, one a short range tactical missile (Prithvi) and the last one was an anti-tank missile (Nag). We took a deliberate decision not to propose a long range missile as a hardware project.


Instead, it was going to be a technology demonstrator where we would develop a number of technologies that go into the making of ICBM.


When Mrs Gandhi was curious to find out what technologies we were not confident of, I replied, “every subsystem”! She smiled saying that she was happy to hear at least once, an acceptance of ignorance, but wanted us to build the advanced systems that could stand in competition with other countries’ hardware. She said that she was tired of buying military systems from other countries that were not willing to either sell state-of-the-art systems or share the technology know-how.


Even before that approval we were quietly circulating photographs of long range missile models to people at South Block. The photographs of the models were impressive and I suspect either Arun Singh or Rajiv Gandhi had seen the designs and photographs and briefed the PM of our audacious aspirations!


Our programmes began in the frostiest years of Cold War. Even the import of desk-top computers with some special features invited export clearances and bureaucratic oversight. Quoted products suddenly vanished from supply. Attendance at technical conferences was denied. But we persisted forming a consortium approach where all the nation’s laboratories and industries became our technology partners. With the firing of Agni-5, DRDO has arrived developing all the technologies, the wish that Mrs Gandhi expressed many years ago.


A guided missile is a conglomerate of thousands of complex technologies. Complex technologies are primed to perform a well defined activity efficiently and reliably.


Unfortunately, if they fall short of performance, the results can be failures, often with unacceptable consequences. Reliability is therefore all too critical. In Agni-5 we used solid propellant in all three stages and with a guidance system using ring lasers along with strap down inertial navigation system. Ring laser gyro is considered most efficient and accurate for detecting angular rotation and enables stabilization. It was used even during the testing of Agni-3, but this time it provided the extra redundancy that has enabled the accuracy of trajectory and stability of the guidance system.


The terminal system used carbon-carbon compositesfor the structure that could withstand the burning reentry temperatures keeping the payload cool. In addition to very high temperatures, the missile in its terminal phase would experience very high acceleration due to free fall known as the g force that can break any poorly built system. The results show that while impacting at the designated area, the missile successfully withstood both the re-entry temperatures and very high g force.


Agni-5 has proved and validated solid propulsion system, stage separation, accurate guidance and met the range requirements.


Actually, we have done slightly better than China in the sense that some of Chinese ICBMs ( DF-5) for instance, are liquid fueled with its attendant disadvantages.


We learnt the tricks of the trade with no past to educate us through. And the investments we have made in all these technology are modest. Now we have learned how to develop and build new systems faster than in the past. But by delaying the sanction of new projects, I fear we will lose the corporate memory and the experiences of precious human resource. It is this human resource that has brought us this far. And the country salutes them for the competence and commitment it brought into the programme.


DRDO may fire a few more missiles to prove their reliability in performance. When it comes to strategic systems it is not necessary to manufacture hundreds. A handful will do as they carry nuclear weapons that can inflict unacceptable damage on adversaries.


Even a single 10 kilo ton bomb, within 0.8 km radius of a city would completely wipe out the population in that area. In a medium city with a population of a few lakhs, about 50,000 people would die with unacceptable radiation inflicted injuries. Strategic deterrence that would prevent unilateral nuclear attacks is therefore necessary.


With a successful test, Agni-5 has ensured this security for India.


Dr Arunachalam is former Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister of India)

[t78VPkdO]

After Agni V test, director Tessy Thomas on to next challenge - The Economic Times

HYDERABAD: Tessy Thomas, project director for Agni IV and a senior scientist behind the launch of Agni V, is already back at work preparing for the Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles ( MIRV) of Agni V that will make a second strike possible.


"We have certain technologies to work on," Tessy Thomas, top scientist at the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) told the Times of India here on Saturday. R K Gupta was the project director for the Agni V just like Tessy was for Agni IV. Tessy also played a crucial role as project director (mission) for Agni V.


When Agni V was test fired on April 19 at the wheeler island, Odisha, excited scientists lifted the top brass on their shoulders to celebrate the big event though Tessy was left out. "Our joy was controllable. I may not have been lifted up but I was literally dancing on my feet," Tessy said.


She may not have got that special treatment for Agni V, but when Agni IV was test fired successfully last year Tessy got her due. "My husband (Saroj Kumar Patel) was around then, so even I got lifted in the celebrations that broke out," Tessy said.


For Agni V, Tessy had to look after the mission design, guidance, control, navigation and hardware. "It is a large mission, everyone had different responsibilities," Tessy said.


While missiles are what Tessy always has in mind, strange as it may sound, her parents had named her after Mother Teresa. Interestingly, Tessy hardly finds any difference in what Mother Teresa, whom she adores, did and her own work. "She did something for the society and my job also relates to doing something for the benefit of society," she said.


Tessy joined the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO) as a faculty member in guided missiles in 1987 with an ME degree in guided missiles. She became a part of the %inertial navigation group %as a scientist in 1988 in %Hyderabad.


The missile woman, who is now referred to as 'Agni putri', has been a part of every Agni programme from the time developmental flights were being carried out 25 years ago. She designed the guidance schemes for long range missile system meant for Agni missiles.


A lot of personal recognition has come Tessy Thomas' way but the missile woman prefers to describe herself as an ordinary citizen. "The country as a whole is excited about Agni V and as an Indian citizen, even I am happy," she said.

[Soolfelpecelf]

ONGC can claim to have made some important contribution in the test flight of Agni V missile last week. The longest range missile to have ever been fired by India, Agni V was required to be tracked by five ships during its flight. Given that the missile had to make a 20-minute journey, the Navy, which is already stretched for resources, decided against diverting its facilities for so long. The government then roped in the ONGC which has several ships routinely operating in the Indian Ocean region. Four ships of the company were retrofitted with missile tracking equipment while the Navy provided the fifth ship.

[RozzyLiu]

India has developed missile defence shield which can be put in place at short notice to protect at least two cities, bringing the country on par with an elite group of few nations. The shield, developed by DRDO, has been tested successfully and an incoming ballistic missile with the range of up to 2,000 kms can be destroyed. The system is to be upgraded to the range of 5,000 kms by 2016.

"The Ballistic Missile Defence shield is now mature...We are ready to put phase one in place and it can be put in very short time," DRDO chief VK Saraswat said in Delhi in an interview.

He said the shield, as part of phase one of the programme, can be put in place at two places in the country, where the infrastructure is available. However, the two places have not yet been identified and the selection will be made at the political level. The DRDO used variants of Prithvi missiles as simulated targets and successfully intercepted missiles in test-firings.

"We have carried out six successful launches and demonstrated the capability for 2,000 km targets...We have demonstrated it in two layers that is endo-atmospheric (inside the Earth's atmosphere) and exo-atmospheric (outside the Earth's atmosphere)," Saraswat said.

He said all the elements such as long-range radars and tracking devices, real-time datalink and mission control system required for the missile system have been "realised" successfully.

Under the phase two of the project, the premier defence research agency would upgrade the system to handle ballistic missiles with range of 5,000 km. This phase is expected to be ready by 2016. The system required for phase-II of the project is being developed, he said, adding that for this purpose, ships are being built from where the target missiles would be launched.

The DRDO chief said the phase two of the project is expected to be completed by 2016. Talking about the advancement of the system, Saraswat said the missile defence shield has been "automated" to an extent where human intervention would be required only if the mission has to be aborted. The DRDO chief said the Indian missile defence system is comparable with the US Patriot 3 system, which was successfully used during the 1990 Gulf War against Iraq.

As part of its efforts to protect itself from enemy missiles, India is developing this two-tier BMD which can intercept enemy missiles at altitudes of 80 km and 150 km.

The DRDO is thinking of intercepting the missiles at higher altitudes as it would give it more response time in case the first attempt is a miss and the second layer of the system can be put into action.

The system was first test-fired in November 2006 elevating India into the elite club of countries to have successfully developed an Anti-ballistic missile system, after United States, Russia and Israel.