Indian Missile Program Updates
The MIRV leap that fires up India’s nuclear deterrence
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni 5, Mission Divyastra
Mains level: Read the attached story
Why in the news?
- The Agni-5 ballistic missile test dubbed the “Divyastra”, that was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is strategically consequential
Context:
- With a range of over 5,000 kilometers, the Agni-5 is the longest-range missile India has tested so far. But it is not simply its range but, equally, its potency that represents a watershed moment for India’s nuclear deterrent.
- The potency of India’s nuclear deterrent is enhanced because this variant is integrated with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs).
What are MIRVs?
MIRVs- A MIRV is a ‘missile bus’ whose passengers are nuclear bombs and which facilitates a single booster to deliver them to different targets. It means MIRV can target multiple targets that can be hundreds of kilometers apart with a single missile.
Background:
- In 1970, the U.S. started to deploy the Minuteman III, the first MIRV-ed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with three warheads on each missile. In 1971, it deployed the Poseidon, the first MIRV-ed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) which had the capability of carrying up to 10 warheads on each missile
- The Soviet Union followed the U.S. and by the 1970s developed its own MIRV-ed ICBM and SLBM technology.
- China has developed and deployed MIRV technology with multiple warheads placed on its DF-5B ICBMs
- France and the United Kingdom are known to have MIRV-equipped missiles.
Why MIRV technology is so lethal?
Unlike conventional missiles that deploy a single warhead, MIRV-equipped missiles can release multiple warheads from the missile at varying speeds and trajectories.
A comparison with China-
- India’s Late Entry: While MIRV technology is not new globally, India’s development of MIRV-capable ballistic missiles marks its entry into a select group of nations possessing such capabilities, including the established nuclear powers like the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.
- Potential for Damage Limitation: MIRV-tipped missiles are crucial for striking multiple targets simultaneously and evading ballistic missile defenses. China’s advancements in ballistic missile defenses, such as the HQ-19 interceptors, pose a challenge, although their efficacy against India’s Agni series missiles, especially the Agni-5, still needs to be improved.
- Need for Further Testing: While integrating MIRV technology into the Agni-5 is a significant step, continued testing and refinement will be necessary to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of India’s nuclear ballistic missile arsenal. The Indian armed services are likely to seek multiple tests to ensure reliability and readiness.
The complications against the development of MIRV-capable ballistic missiles include:
- Nuclear Warhead Miniaturization: Achieving miniaturization of nuclear warheads is a demanding technical requirement for MIRV-capable missiles. Inadequate nuclear testing by India has compromised the extent to which warheads could be miniaturized for MIRV applications.
- Receptacle Weight Reduction: The receptacle that carries the warhead or re-entry vehicle must be of low weight or mass before release from the Post Boost Vehicle (PBV). This requirement adds complexity to the design and engineering of the missile system.
- Precision Configuration: Re-entry vehicles must be precisely configured to fit into the missile and separate from the PBV, which needs to be manoeuvrable. This necessitates meticulous design and testing to ensure proper functionality.
- Guidance and Accuracy: Guidance and accuracy are essential for MIRV-capable missiles, as re-entry vehicles must be spin-stabilized during atmospheric re-entry. Achieving the required level of precision adds another layer of complexity to the development process.
- Geographic Limitation: MIRV-based missiles can only strike multiple targets within their geographic footprint. This limitation requires careful consideration in strategic planning and deployment.
- Limited Nuclear Testing: India’s limited nuclear testing history has restricted the extent to which warheads could be miniaturized and MIRV technology could be developed. This lack of testing has posed challenges to Indian missile and nuclear engineers.
- Integration Challenges: Integrating warheads with missiles involves complex processes and requires coordination among various agencies, such as the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory (TBRL) and Advanced Systems Limited (ASL). Overcoming integration challenges adds to the difficulty of MIRV development.
- Decoys and Countermeasures: Uncertainty remains regarding whether the Agni-5 missile can carry decoys and chaff, especially during the boost and intermediate phases of flight. Integrating countermeasures adds additional technical challenges.
- Launch Platform: Agni-5 is expected to be launched from a road-mobile platform, which introduces logistical and operational considerations for deployment.
Future Scope for Indian Projects:
- Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Testing: India is set to test a long-range SLBM, which will be launched from its nuclear ballistic missile submarines. This project aims to further enhance India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities by adding a sea-based component to its arsenal.
- Continued Development by DRDO and AEC: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) of India are expected to continue their collaboration in developing advanced missile and nuclear technologies. This collaboration underscores India’s commitment to strengthening its defense capabilities.
- Strategic Focus on China: The development of the Agni-5 with MIRV capability specifically addresses potential threats from China’s missile and missile defense programs. India’s strategic focus remains on maintaining a credible deterrent vis-à-vis China.
- Enhanced Nuclear Capabilities: The successful test of the Agni-5 MIRV missile marks a significant milestone in India’s quest to become a highly credible nuclear and missile power. It signifies India’s determination to bolster its nuclear capabilities to counter emerging threats effectively.
Conclusion:
India’s MIRV advancements, though challenging, augment nuclear deterrence against China. Continued testing and SLBM development signify India’s commitment to bolstering defense capabilities and ensuring regional stability.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Mission Divyastra: Agni-5 Missile with MIRV Technology
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni Missiles, MIRV Technology
Mains level: India's missile arsenal and the deterrence created
In the news
- India’s recent successful testing of an Agni-5 Missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology with multiple warhead capabilities, termed Mission Divyastra, marks a significant milestone in the nation’s defense capabilities.
What are Agni Missiles?
- Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile.
- The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
- After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.
- It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.
Variants of Agni missiles
- Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
- Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
- Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
- Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
- Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
- Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an ICBM with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.
About Agni-5 Missiles
- Indigenous Development: Agni missiles, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), have been integral to India’s defense arsenal since the early 1990s.
- MIRV Technology: The latest variant of Agni incorporates Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, a sophisticated capability possessed by only a handful of countries globally.
Developments in MIRV Technology
- Targeting Versatility: MIRV technology enables a single missile to target multiple locations, potentially hundreds of kilometers apart, significantly enhancing its operational effectiveness.
- Range and Strategic Focus: Agni, equipped with nuclear warheads, boasts a range exceeding 5,000 km, primarily aimed at countering threats from China.
- Limited MIRV-Equipped Nations: Currently, major nations possessing MIRV-equipped missiles include the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom, with emerging capabilities in Pakistan and Israel.
- Complex Technology: Developing MIRV technology requires miniaturization of warheads, independent guidance systems, and sequential release mechanisms, making it a challenging endeavor.
Strategic Significance of the Mission Divyastra
- Versatile Strike Capabilities: MIRV-equipped missiles enable simultaneous strikes on multiple targets, overwhelming enemy defenses and maximizing damage potential.
- Deterrence and Defense Penetration: These missiles pose a significant challenge to missile defense systems, as multiple warheads with independent trajectories can thwart interception efforts.
- Strategic Balance and Deterrence: For nations like India with a no-first-use policy, MIRV technology enhances the credibility of response strikes, serving as a potent deterrent against aggression.
Try this PYQ from CS Prelims 2014:
Which reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- It is a surface-to-surface missile.
- It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
- It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Post your answers here.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Akash Missile System: India’s Iron Dome
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Akash Missile System
Mains level: Indigenization in Defence
Central Idea
- India demonstrated the firepower of its Akash surface-to-air (SAM) weapon system, where a single firing unit simultaneously engaged and destroyed four unmanned targets during the recent Exercise Astrashakti 2023.
- Countries like Armenia, Brazil, and Egypt have shown interest in acquiring the Akash SAM.
About Akash Missile System
| Details | |
| Development and Production | Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), produced by Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL). |
| Type | Short-range Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). |
| Engagement Capacity | Engages four aerial targets simultaneously at a range of 25 km from a single firing unit. |
| Target Engagement | Capable of targeting multiple threats concurrently in group or autonomous modes. |
| Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) | Equipped to counter enemy jamming and evasion tactics. |
| Mobility and Agility | Configured on mobile platforms for rapid deployment and relocation. |
| Operational Use | In service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force (IAF). |
| Range and Altitude | Effective range of 4.5 km to 25 km, with an altitude range of 100 meters to 20 km. |
| Physical Dimensions | Length: 5,870 mm; Diameter: 350 mm; Weight: 710 kg. |
| Automation and Response | Fully automated with quick response from target detection to neutralization. |
| System Architecture | Open-system architecture for adaptability to current and future air defense environments. |
Comparison with Israel’s Iron Dome
- Interception Capabilities: Akash is often compared to Israel’s Iron Dome due to its ability to intercept UAVs, smaller projectiles, helicopters, and aircraft.
- Defensive Role: While similar to the Iron Dome, Akash is primarily designed for defense against larger aerial threats like aircraft, rather than small rockets.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Defence Ministry nods to buy Pralay Ballistic Missiles
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pralay Ballistic Missiles
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- The Defense Ministry has granted approval for the acquisition of a regiment of ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles, earmarked for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC).
- It is the first time that a ballistic missile will be inducted into the services for conventional operations.
Pralay Missile: Key Features
| Strike Range | 150 to 500 kilometers |
| Payload Capacity | 350 kg to 700 kg conventional warhead |
| Warhead Variability | High explosive preformed fragmentation warheads, penetration-cum-blast (PCB) warheads, runaway denial penetration submunitions (RDPS) |
| Classification | Quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile |
| Maneuverability | Mid-flight trajectory alteration capability |
| Propulsion | Solid propellant rocket motor with advanced guidance systems |
| Global Comparisons | Comparable to China’s Dong Feng 12 and Russia’s Iskander missile |
| Development History | Development was initiated around 2015, with significant progress during the tenure of General Bipin Rawat as Chief of Army Staff |
Strategic significance
- Longest Range: ‘Pralay’ will emerge as the longest-range surface-to-surface missile within the Army’s inventory.
- Strategic Role: ‘Pralay,’ in conjunction with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will play a central role in India’s planned Rocket Force, augmenting the nation’s strategic posture.
- Imperative: China and Pakistan have already deployed ballistic missiles for tactical purposes, prompting India’s acquisition of ‘Pralay’ missiles.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
LCA Tejas successfully test-fires Astra BVR Air-to-Air Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Astra Missile
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has achieved another milestone with the successful test firing of the indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile called Astra.
Indigenous Marvel of Astra Missile
- The Astra missile is an indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
- The missile is intended for use by both the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy.
Purpose and Capability
- Astra is designed to engage and eliminate high-speed, agile aerial targets in air combat scenarios.
- It boasts advanced air combat capabilities and can engage multiple high-performance targets simultaneously.
Aircraft Integration
- Astra is integrated with various aircraft platforms, including the Su-30MKI fighter jet, Mirage 2000 multi-role combat fighters, Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA), MiG-29 and MiG-21 Bison fighter jets, and the Indian Navy’s Sea Harrier jet fighter.
Features and Specifications
(A) Design:
- The missile is designed for high agility, accuracy, and reliability, ensuring a high single-shot kill probability (SSKP).
- Astra measures approximately 3.8 meters in length and has a diameter of 178mm.
- It has a launch weight of around 160 kilograms.
(B) Advanced Variants:
- DRDO is working on developing an advanced variant called Astra Mk-II.
- Astra Mk-II is expected to have an extended range of 160 kilometers.
(C) Guidance and Warhead:
- The missile utilizes dual-mode guidance for accurate target tracking.
- It is equipped with a high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead for effective engagement against threats.
(D) Propulsion and Performance:
- The Astra missile is powered by a smokeless, single-stage, solid fuel propulsion system.
- It is capable of achieving launch speeds ranging from Mach 0.4 to Mach 2.
(E) Launch Range and Agility:
- The missile’s launch range is approximately 80 kilometers.
- It can execute maneuvers with up to 40 g turns near sea level while engaging moving targets.
Collaborative Development
- Astra Mk-III, a variant of the missile, is being developed in collaboration with Russia.
- This variant employs advanced solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) engine technology.
Back2Basics: LCA Tejas
- Origin: The LCA Tejas is an indigenous light combat aircraft developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) in collaboration with the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in India.
- Purpose: LCA Tejas is designed as a multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Navy.
- Variants: There are two main variants of LCA Tejas:
- LCA Tejas Mark-I: Developed for the Indian Air Force, it is a single-seat, single-engine aircraft.
- LCA Tejas Mark-I Navy: Designed for the Indian Navy, it is adapted for carrier operations with features like reinforced landing gear and arrestor hook.
- Design and Features:
- LCA Tejas features a delta wing design for enhanced maneuverability and stability.
- The aircraft incorporates advanced avionics, glass cockpit, and digital fly-by-wire controls.
- It is equipped with modern radar systems, electronic warfare systems, and weapons integration capabilities.
- Powerplant: LCA Tejas is powered by a single engine, the General Electric F404-GE-IN20 turbofan engine.
- Armament: The aircraft can carry a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, including missiles, bombs, and rockets.
- Performance:
- The aircraft has a maximum speed of around Mach 1.8 (1,390 mph or 2,240 km/h).
- Its operational range is approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles).
- LCA Tejas has a service ceiling of around 50,000 feet (15,240 meters).
- Induction and Service:
- The LCA Tejas Mark-I was officially inducted into the Indian Air Force in July 2016.
- The aircraft has participated in various national and international airshows, showcasing its capabilities.
- Development and Challenges:
- The development of LCA Tejas faced several challenges, including technical and financial issues, leading to delays.
- However, the successful development and induction of the aircraft marked a significant achievement for India’s aerospace industry.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Agnibaan: Pioneering with 3D-Printed Engines
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agnibaan SOrTeD
Mains level: Not Much
Central Idea
- Chennai-based Agnikul Cosmos takes a significant step as it moves its innovative rocket, Agni-1, to Sriharikota for integration assessments.
- Successful integration checks could position Agnikul as the second Indian space-tech firm, following Skyroot Aerospace, to achieve suborbital space flight capability.
Agnikul’s Remarkable Space Vehicle: Agnibaan
- Agnibaan SOrTeD is a single-stage launch vehicle powered by Agnikul’s patented Agnilet semi-cryogenic engine.
- In contrast to traditional sounding rockets, Agnibaan SOrTeD’s vertical take-off and precise trajectory enable orchestrated maneuvers during flight.
(A) Distinct Features of Agnibaan
- Customizability: The rocket offers custom launch configurations, either single or two-stage launches.
- Impressive Dimensions: Standing at 18 meters and weighing 14,000 kg, Agnibaan SOrTeD is a powerful presence.
- Payload Capacity: With a capacity for payloads of up to 100 kg, it can reach altitudes of 700 km in five different Lower Earth Orbits (LEOs).
- Engine Configuration: The first stage can house up to seven Agnilet engines, powered by Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene, dependent on the mission’s requirements.
- Versatile Launch: Designed for launch from over 10 different launch ports.
- Launch Pedestal ‘Dhanush’: AgniKul’s built ‘Dhanush’ supports the rocket’s mobility across configurations, ensuring compatibility with multiple launch ports.
- Cutting-Edge Agnilet Engine: The world’s sole single-piece 3D-printed engine powers the entire operation.
(B) Innovative Agnilet Engine
- Heart of the Vehicle: Agnilet engine, a 3D-printed, single-piece, 6 kN semi-cryogenic marvel, drives Agnibaan’s propulsion.
- Propellant Composition: The engine employs a novel blend of liquid kerosene and supercold liquid oxygen as propellants, successfully tested at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Agni Prime Missile Successfully Tested
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni Prime , Other Agni variants
Mains level: Read the attached story
Central Idea: India successfully tested the new-generation Agni-Prime ballistic missile with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres.
About Agni Prime Missile
- Stages: Agni-P is a two-stage, surface-to-surface, road-mobile, and solid-fueled missile.
- Canister-Launch System: Agni-P is launched via a canister, providing operational flexibility and ease of transport.
- Advanced Systems: Agni-P incorporates new propulsion systems, composite rocket motor casings, and advanced navigation and guidance systems.
History and Development
- Development Timeline: Beginning in 2016, DRDO has been developing Agni-P as a successor to enhance accuracy and reliability.
- Indo-Pacific Strategy: Agni-P is part of India’s strategy to counter China’s naval capabilities and achieve parity in anti-access/area denial.
- International Implications: Agni-P’s development positions India in the regional power dynamics and could impact arms control treaties.
Missile Capabilities
- Manoeuvrability and Accuracy: Agni-P features a manoeuvrable reentry vehicle (MaRV) for precise delivery of warheads to multiple locations.
- Transportability: The missile is stored in a hermetically sealed tandem twin canister launcher, allowing for swift transportation through road and rail.
- Weight Reduction: Composite materials are utilized in both stages of Agni-P to reduce weight and enhance performance.
Strategic Importance
- Counterforce Capability: Agni-P aims to deter neighbourhood enemy forces, given its limited range.
- Enhanced Deterrence: The missile strengthens India’s deterrence capabilities and contributes to national security.
- Regional Power Dynamics: Agni-P’s development is part of India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, impacting regional power dynamics.
Back2Basics: Agni Missile Series
- Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
- Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
- Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
- Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
- Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
- Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
In news: Pralay Ballistic Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pralay Missile
Mains level: Strategic weapons
India is going to buy 250 more Pralay ballistic missiles for the services to strengthen them on the northern borders, further boosting the firepower of the defence forces.
Pralay Ballistic Missile
- Pralay is a tactical missile developed from India’s K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).
- It has a range of 150-500 km and can carry warheads weighing between 350 to 700 kg.
- The missile is a canisters road-mobile system, which enhances its mobility and allows for quick preparation and launch of the missile.
- Pralay has the ability to perform manoeuvres in flight and follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory to maintain high speed, making it difficult for enemy missile defence systems to intercept.
Classification
- The Indian Defence Ministry has classified Pralay as a “conventional Surface-to-Surface missile”.
- This distinguishes it from the Agni series of missiles, which have the capability to carry either conventional or nuclear warheads.
Testing and launch
- The missile was launched on a quasi-ballistic trajectory in one of the two tests, which enhances its effectiveness against enemy missile defence systems.
- Satellite imagery of the test shows that Pralay is a canisterised road-mobile system, which adds to its mobility and flexibility in responding to evolving threats.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
What is VSHORAD Missile System?
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: VSHORAD Missiles
Mains level: Man portable missiles and their significance
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is set to procure the Very Short Range Air Defence System or VSHORAD (IR Homing) missile system.
VSHORAD Missile System
- Meant to kill low altitude aerial threats at short ranges, VSHORADS is a man portable Air Defence System (MANPAD).
- It is designed and developed indigenously by DRDO’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad, in collaboration with other DRDO laboratories and Indian Industry Partners.
- The missile is propelled by a dual thrust solid motor—incorporates many novel technologies including miniaturised Reaction Control System (RCS) and integrated avionics, which were successfully proven during the tests conducted last year.
- The DRDO has designed the missile and its launcher in a way to ensure easy portability.
Unique features
- Being man portable and lightweight compared to the other missile systems in the Army’s armoury, it can be deployed in the mountains close to the LAC at a short notice.
- Others like the Akash Short Range Surface to Air Missile System are heavier with a theatre air defence umbrella.
- They are perceived to be the best option for mountain warfare since they can be deployed quickly in rugged terrain.
Significance of the missile
- The development comes amid the ongoing military standoff with China at the LAC in eastern Ladakh and reports of air violations by China along the LAC last year.
- India has been in talks with Russia since 2018 to procure the Igla-S air defence missiles at a cost of $1.5 billion under the VSHORAD programme in a bid to replace the Russian Igla-M systems.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Pralay: India’s first tactical quasi-ballistic missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Pralay Missile
Mains level: Tactical weapons and their battle significance
The Defence Ministry has decided to deploy indigenously developed surface-to-surface ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles near India’s borders with China and Pakistan.
What are Tactical Missiles?
- Generally, short-range missiles are termed tactical while long-range missiles are termed strategic.
- A missile which is used to destroy tactical targets of enemy like bunkers, mortar position, artillery position etc. is tactical missile.
- Battlefield missiles are tactical while long-range missiles targeting bigger targets like cities are termed strategic.
- Features of these missiles include-
- Versatile range: Tactical missiles fills the gap between long range rockets and short range ballistic missiles , and have range mainly about 100 to 200 kms .
- Very high precision and accuracy: These missiles are highly accurate, and can destroy small steady and moving targets with high accuracy.
About ‘Pralay’ Missile
- Pralay is a Hindi word which means “apocalypse” or “to cause great destruction” or “damage”.
- The Pralay missile project was sanctioned in 2015 and is a derivative of the Prahaar missile programme, which was first tested in 2011.
- Developed by the DRDO, the ‘Pralay’ ballistic missile is a canisterised tactical, surface-to-surface, and short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use.
- It can hit targets from a distance of 150 to 500 km and is extremely difficult to intercept by enemy interceptor missiles.
- Pralay is powered by a solid fuel rocket motor and is a high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead that weighs somewhere between 350 kg to 700 kg.
- It also accounts for its Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) and Runaway Denial Penetration Submunitions (RDPS).
Unique features of Pralay
- Precise targeting: The missile is designed to destroy enemy radar, communication installations, command centres and airfields.
- Quasi Ballistic Trajectory: It means the object takes a low curved path after being shot.
- Stealth features: Pralay has the ability to evade any anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors by performing mid-air manoeuvres by using a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle.
- Destruction capability: When a high-explosive warhead, like the one Pralay missile is equipped with, explodes, its pieces are thrown at a high speed which can inflict heavy damage.
What makes Pralay lethal?
- The Indian missile can be compared to China’s Dong Feng 12 and the Russian Iskander missile that has been used in the ongoing war with Ukraine.
- The US Army is in the process of increasing the range of a similar short-range ballistic missile called the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).
- What makes Pralay deadly is that it is a quasi-ballistic weapon, which means that while it has a low trajectory and is largely ballistic, it can manoeuvre in flight.
- Unlike intercontinental ballistic missiles that exit the Earth’s atmosphere, short-range ballistic missiles stay within it.
What lies ahead?
- Pralay, along with the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, will form the crux of India’s planned Rocket Force — a concept that was envisaged by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the late General Bipin Rawat.
- Only conventional missiles would come under the planned Rocket Force as and when it’s ready, while nuclear weapons would continue to be under the ambit of the Strategic Forces Command.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
A resolution to ban kinetic ASAT tests
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ASAT, space debris and related facts
Mains level: Space weaponization why ASAT test band is important
Context
- There is growing momentum behind a global moratorium on destructive kinetic anti-satellite (ASAT) tests. A few days ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution calling for a ban on kinetic ASAT tests.
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What the resolution is all about?
- Sponsored by United states: The resolution was sponsored by the United States along with a number of other countries that have been concerned about the consequences of ASAT tests on the safety and sustainability of outer space.
- Majority voted in support: As many as 155 countries voted in support of the resolution, nine voted against it, and nine others abstained.
- Those who voted against the resolution: Belarus, Bolivia, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Iran, Nicaragua, Russia, and Syria.
- Countries with abstention: The nine abstentions were India, Laos, Madagascar, Pakistan, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Togo, and Zimbabwe.
Provisions of the resolution over the ban of ASAT
- No binding effect but urges to prevent arms race in outer space: The ASAT test-ban resolution has no binding effect on states and simply calls on states to put a stop to ASAT tests and to develop further practical steps and contribute to legally binding instruments on the prevention of an arms race in outer space.
- Other space related resolutions also passed: Along with the ASAT test-ban resolution that was passed on December 7, there were several more space- and nuclear-related resolutions, including No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space (NFP).
- Support to minimize risks in space: Indeed, the resolution continues to support the broader efforts at developing “further practical steps” to minimize risks in space.
What is ASAT?
- ASATs (Anti-Satellite Weapons): According to a document of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), ASATs (Anti-Satellite Weapons) are aimed at destroying or disabling space assets, whether military or civilian, offensive or defensive.
- They are generally of two types: kinetic and non-kinetic.
- Kinetic ASATs: They must physically strike an object in order to destroy it. Examples of kinetic ASATs include ballistic missiles, drones or any item launched to coincide with the passage of a target satellite. This means any space asset, even a communications satellite, could become an ASAT if it is used to physically destroy another space object.
- Non-kinetic ASATs: A variety of nonphysical means can be used to disable or destroy a space object. These include frequency jamming, blinding lasers or cyberattacks. These methods can also render an object useless without causing the target to break up and fragment absent additional forces intervening.
Why ASAT tests are to be banned?
- Threat to peaceful utilization of outer space: ASAT tests represent a direct threat to peaceful utilization of outer space on which everyone in the global community depends.
- Threat to safety of satellites: In recent years, there has been a spurt in activities that threaten the safety and functioning of satellites. The November 15, 2021, ASAT test by Russia, which destroyed the Cosmos 1408 satellite, is a case in point.
- Space debris a potential hazard to Space station: The test created about 1,800 tracked pieces of space debris and possibly many more pieces that are difficult to track, and a hazard for astronauts aboard the International Space Station
- Rare, high-tech, and risky to test: ASAT is an anti-satellite weapon that can target enemy satellites, blinding them or disrupting communications besides providing a technology base for intercepting ballistic missiles.
Way ahead
- There are other initiatives underway in the U.N., such as the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on reducing space threats through norms, rules, and principles of responsible behaviours.
- Like the ASAT test ban, these are needed to make progress on the broader space security agenda.
- Whether a legal measure or a norm, states have to take small preventative steps before space becomes completely a warfighting domain.
Conclusion
- Given the worsening space security conditions, with more countries pursuing development of ASATs and other counterspace capabilities, it is time that more countries join the current initiative to stop further ASAT tests. Unless countries can make a conscious decision to come together and work on ways to halt the current trends with regard to space weaponization, continued access to outer space is not a given.
Mains question
Q. What are ASATs? There is growing momentum behind a global moratorium on destructive kinetic anti-satellite (ASAT) tests. In light of this discuss Why ASAT must be banned?
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Indian Missile Program Updates
India test-fires Agni-V Ballistic Missile amid LAC heat
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni Missiles
Mains level: LAC skirmishes
India successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni V nuclear-capable ballistic missile days after Indian and Chinese troops clashed in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Why in news?
- It was a midnight test fire.
- And there are rumours about the increased range and stealth capabilities of Agni-V missile.
Agni Missiles
- Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile.
- The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
- After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.
- It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.
Variants of Agni missiles
- Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
- Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
- Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
- Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
- Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
- Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.
Strategic significance of Agni Missiles
- The success of AGNI missiles is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.
- What makes Agni 5 agile is that it is a “canisterised” missile. It means that the missile can be launched from road and rail platforms, making it easier for it to be deployed and launched at a quicker pace.
- The canisterisation also gives the missile a longer shelf life, protecting it from the harsher climatic conditions.
- While India is among the handful of nations with ICBM capability.
- The next generation of the missile, Agni VI, under development, is expected to have a range of around 8,000 km.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
India tests medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni Missiles
Mains level: Not Much
India has successfully test-fired indigenously-developed new generation medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime from the Odisha coast.
Agni-Prime Missile
- Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
- It is the sixth missile in the Agni series of ballistic missile.
- It is a two-staged canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.
- Many advanced technologies including composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms and state-of-the-art navigation systems have been introduced.
- Significantly, it weighs 50 per cent less than the Agni 3 missile and has new guidance and propulsion systems
- The missile strengthens India’s credible deterrence capabilities.
Back2Basics: Agni Missiles
- Agni missiles are long range, nuclear weapons capable surface to surface ballistic missile.
- The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989.
- After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance.
- It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development.
Variants of Agni missiles
- Agni I: It is a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range of 700-800 km.
- Agni II: It is also a Medium Range Ballistic Missile with a Range more than 2000 km.
- Agni III: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range of more than 2,500 Km
- Agni IV: It is also an Inter-Medium Range Ballistic Missile with Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
- Agni-V: Currently it is the longest of Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
- Agni- VI: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Arihant SLBM launch: Enhancing India’s underwater capability
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: INS Arihant ,SLBM
Mains level: Security Challenges,Indias naval capability.
Context
- On October 14, India joined a select group of nations when it announced the successful launch of an SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile). The other six nations that have demonstrated similar underwater capability include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia, the UK, France and China. In August 2016, North Korea claimed a successful launch of an SLBM.
Features of K-15 SLBM
- The code names K-15 or B-05, is an Indian submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) with a range of 750 kilometres (466 mi) that was designed for retaliatory nuclear strikes. It belongs to the K Missile family and forms a part of India’s nuclear triad.
- The K-15 is a two-stage submarine-launched ballistic missile which uses a gas booster to eject out of its launch platform and rise up to the surface of water. A solid rocket motor is fired after the missile reaches a fixed altitude. The missile has a range of around 750 kilometres (466 mi).
About INS Arihant
- Launched in 2009 and Commissioned in 2016, INS Arihant is India’s first indigenous nuclear powered ballistic missile.
- It is capable submarine built under the secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, which was initiated in the 1990s.
- INS Arihant and its class of submarines are classified as ‘SSBN’, which is the hull classification symbol for nuclear powered ballistic missile carrying submarines.
- While the Navy operates the vessel, the operations of the SLBMs from the SSBN are under the purview of India’s Strategic Forces Command, which is part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority.
What is the Significance of SLBM for India?
- Making India’s strategic profile strong: This achievement is significant in the context of India’s strategic profile. The navy, DRDO and other agencies who have enabled this success should be commended.
- Enhancing Underwater deterrence: A credible underwater deterrent is perceived as being invulnerable to detection and hence nations with the capacity can deliver a retaliatory second strike this enhances their deterrence capabilities.
- Showcasing the precision and high accuracy: While the press release is sparse in providing technical details or confirming the range of the SLBM, its assertion that the missile impacted the target area “with very high accuracy” is, nevertheless, instructive.
- Familiarity and capability with SLMB : The crew of the INS Arihant and the entire HR (human resource) comprising the pyramid from the SFC (strategic forces command) going right up to the national command authority with the Prime Minister at the apex have acquired the necessary proficiency to launch an SLBM should the exigency arise.
- Demonstration of competence: India can be justifiably proud of having acquired and demonstrated this level of competence, but this achievement needs to be located objectively. An SSBN (a nuclear-propelled submarine armed with a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile) is deemed to be the ultimate deterrent and this profile of macro-lethality and zero error credibility is predicated on the robustness of the “boat” and the efficacy of the missile.
- Validates SSBN programme: The successful user training launch of the SLBM by INS Arihant is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment.
What is the deterrence?
- Deterrence, military strategy under which one power uses the threat of reprisal effectively to preclude an attack from an adversary power. With the advent of nuclear weapons, the term deterrence largely has been applied to the basic strategy of the nuclear powers and of the major alliance systems.
How the SLBM will secure deterrence against the enemy?
- Tackling to rising Chinese capability: It merits recall that China became nuclear weapon capable in 1964 and carried out its first SLBM test (the J-1 with a range of 1700 km) in 1982. Over the years, the PLA Navy had its own techno-strategic challenges with nuclear-propelled submarines and was able to test a 9,000 km missile only in 2018. It is understood that a fully armed Chinese SSBN that would be deemed to be operational to undertake a credible deterrence patrol is scheduled for mid-2025.
- Nuclear deterrence is necessary: Acquiring the optimum degree of nuclear deterrence is imperative for India, given its distinctive spectrum of security and strategic challenges. India has made slow but steady progress in its missile programme, nuclear weapon capability, the nuclear submarine and more recently the building of an aircraft carrier
Conclusion
- India’s restraint in relation to announcements and claims about strategic capability burnishes deterrence in a quiet but effective manner. Walking softly, while wielding a big stick is desirable as a national trait.
Mains Question
Q. How the launch of K-15 SLBM will enhance the security dynamics of India? Discuss the India’s underwater capability to maintain deterrence and security at the same time?
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: VL-SRSAM
Mains level: Short range missiles development
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy has successfully flight-tested the indigenously developed Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
What is Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VLSRSAM) ?
- VL-SRSAM has been designed and developed jointly by three facilities of the DRDO for deployment of Indian Naval warships.
- The missile has the capability of neutralising various aerial threats at close ranges including sea-skimming targets.
- The tactic of sea skimming is used by various anti-ship missiles and some fighter jets to avoid being detected by the radars onboard warships.
- For this, these assets fly as close as possible to sea surface and thus are difficult to detect and neutralise.
Features of VL-SRSAM
- The missile has been designed to strike at the high-speed airborne targets at the range of 40 to 50 km and at an altitude of around 15 km.
- Its design is based on Astra missile which is a Beyond Visual Range Air to Air missile.
- Two key features of the VL-SRSAM are cruciform wings and thrust vectoring.
- The cruciform wings are four small wings arranged like a cross on four sides and give the projective a stable aerodynamic posture.
- The thrust vectoring is an ability to change the direction of the thrust from its engine control the angular velocity and the attitude of the missile.
- VL-SRSAM is a canisterised system, which means it is stored and operated from specially designed compartments.
- In the canister, the inside environment is controlled, thus making its transport and storage easier and improving the shelf life of weapons
Strategic significance of the missile
- The launch was conducted from a vertical launcher against an electronic target at a very low altitude.
- The flight path of the vehicle along with health parameters was monitored using a number of tracking instruments deployed by ITR, Chandipur.
- The successful testing of these systems was crucial for future launches of the missile from Indian Naval Ships.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Prithvi-II Missile successfully test-fired
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Prithvi-II Missile
Mains level: Not Much
Successfully test-fire of indigenously developed, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Missile was recently held.
Prithvi-II Missile
- The Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km.
- It is capable of carrying 500-1,000 kilogram of warheads and is powered by liquid propulsion twin engines.
- It was inducted into the armory of Indian defence forces in 2003.
- It is a nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled missile.
- The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvering trajectory to hit its target.
- It is the first missile to have been developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
Other variants of Prithvi
- The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.
- The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner:
- Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version, 150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
- Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version, 350 km range with a payload of 500 kg
- Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version, 350 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg
Significance of the test-fire
- Developed as a battlefield missile, it can carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon.
- This is the second such test fire of nuclear capable highly manoeuvrable missile in weeks.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
21 Years of BrahMos Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BrahMos Missile System
Mains level: Not Much
On June 12, 2001 the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was first tested from a land-based launcher in Chandipur.
What is BrahMos Missile System?
- BrahMos is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
- The missile derives its name from the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers.
- Beginning with an anti-ship missile, several variants have since been developed.
- It is now capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets and has constantly been improved and upgraded.
Its capabilities
- BrahMos is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster engine.
- Its first stage brings the missile to supersonic speed and then gets separated.
- The liquid ramjet or the second stage then takes the missile closer to three times the speed of sound in cruise phase.
- The missile has a very low radar signature, making it stealthy, and can achieve a variety of trajectories.
- The ‘fire and forget’ type missile can achieve a cruising altitude of 15 km and a terminal altitude as low as 10 m to hit the target.
Background and development
- The early 1980s the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme was conceived and led by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.
- It started developing a range of missiles including Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag, with a wide spectrum of capabilities and ranges.
- In the early 1990s, India’s strategic leadership felt the need for cruise and guided missiles.
- The need was felt primarily following the use of cruise missiles in the Gulf War.
- An Agreement was signed with Russia in Moscow in 1998 by Dr Kalam, who headed the DRDO.
- This led to the formation of BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyenia (NPOM), the Indian side holding 50.5% and the Russians 49.5%.
Tests and induction
- In 1999, work on development of missiles began in labs of DRDO and NPOM after BrahMos Aerospace received funds from the two governments.
- The first successful test in 2001 was conducted from a specially designed land-based launcher.
- The missile system has since reached some key milestones, with the first major export order of $375 million received from the Philippines Navy this year.
Strategic significance
- Cruise missiles such as BrahMos, called “standoff range weapons”, are fired from a range far enough to allow the attacker to evade defensive counter-fire.
- What makes the missile system unparalleled is its extreme accuracy and versatility.
- With missiles made available for export, the platform is also seen as a key asset in defence diplomacy.
Variants of Brahmos
- Versions currently being tested include ranges up to 350 km, as compared to the original’s 290 km.
- Versions with even higher ranges, up to 800 km, and with hypersonic speed are said to be on cards.
- Efforts are also on to reduce the size and signature of existing versions and augment its capabilities further.
- Versions deployed in all three Armed forces are still being tested regularly, and so are versions currently under development.
- LAND-BASED: The land-based BrahMos complex has four to six mobile autonomous launchers, each with three missiles on board that can be fired almost simultaneously. They are described as ‘tidy’ as they have very few components.
- SHIP-BASED: The Navy began inducting BrahMos on its frontline warships from 2005. These can hit sea-based targets beyond the radar horizon. The Naval version has been successful in sea-to-sea and sea-to-land modes.
- AIR-LAUNCHED: On November 22, 2017, BrahMos was successfully flight-tested for the first time from a Sukhoi-30MKI against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal. It has since been successfully tested multiple times.
- SUBMARINE-LAUNCHED: This version can be launched from around 50 m below the water surface. The canister-stored missile is launched vertically from the pressure hull of the submarine and uses different settings for underwater and out-of-the-water flights.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Astra MK-I Air-to-Air Missile: Features, strategic significance
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Astra AAM
Mains level: India's missile arsenal
The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL) for the supply of the Astra Mark-1for deployment on fighter jets of the Indian Air Force and Indian Navy.
Astra Missile
- The Astra Mk-1 is a beyond visual range (BVR), air-to-air missile (AAM).
- The Astra project was officially launched in the early 2000s with defined parameters and proposed future variants.
- The missile has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- It will be deployed on fighter jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI and Tejas of the IAF and the Mig-29K of the Navy.
- BVM missiles are capable of engaging beyond the range of 20 nautical miles or 37 kilometres.
Range and its Variants
- While the range for Astra Mk-1 is around 110 km, the Mk-2 with a range over 150 km is under development and Mk-3 version with a longer range is being envisaged.
- One more version of Astra, with a range smaller than Mk-1 is also under development.
Strategic significance
- The missile has been designed based on requirements specified by the IAF for BVR as well as close-combat engagement, reducing the dependency on foreign sources.
- AAMs with BVR capability provides large stand-off ranges to own fighter aircraft.
- It can neutralise adversary airborne assets without exposing adversary air defence measures.
- Stand-off range means the missile is launched at a distance sufficient to allow the attacking side to evade defensive fire from the target.
- Astra is technologically and economically superior to many such imported missile
- The missile can travel at speeds more than four times that of sound and can reach a maximum altitude of 20 km, making it extremely flexible for air combat.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Indian missile misfires into Pakistan
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BrahMos Missile
Mains level: Not Much
India has acknowledged a malfunction led to accidental firing of a missile, which Pakistan says landed in its territory.
Conducting Missile Tests: NOTAM and NAVAREA Warnings
- Under the pre-notification of flight testing of ballistic missiles agreement signed in 2005, a country must provide the other an advance notification on flight test it intends to take for any land or sea launched, surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
- Before the test, the country must issue Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) or Navigational Warning (NAVAREA) to alert aviation pilots and seafarers, respectively.
- Also, the testing country must ensure that the launch site is not within 40 km, and the planned impact area is not within 75 km of either the International Boundary (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC).
- The planned trajectory should not cross the IB or the LoC and must maintain a horizontal distance of at least 40 km from the border.
Pre-notifications to the neighbours
- The testing country must notify the other nation “no less than three days in advance of the commencement of a five day launch window within which it intends to undertake flight tests.
- The pre-notification has to be conveyed through the respective Foreign Offices and the High Commissions, as per the format annexed to this Agreement.
What is the recent case of misfire?
- Neither country has spelt this out; Pakistan has only called it a “supersonic” missile.
- Some experts have speculated that it was a test of one of India’s top missiles, BrahMos, jointly developed with Russia.
- Their assessment is based on information that it travelled 200 km, manoeuvred mid-air and travelled at 2.5 times to 3 times the speed of sound at an altitude of 40,000 feet.
| Note: BrahMos has a top speed of Mach 3, a range of around 290 km, and a cruising altitude of 15 km (around 50,000 feet). It can be fired from anywhere, is nuclear-capable, and can carry warheads of 200-300 kg. |
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Philippines approves deal for BrahMos Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BrahMos Missile
Mains level: India's missile arsenal and its global competitiveness
In the first export order for the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile system, the Philippines has approved a $374.96 mn contract for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship variant of the missile from India.
About BrahMos Missile
- BrahMos missile derives its name from the combination of the names of Brahmaputra and Moskva Rivers.
- They are designed, developed and produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by DRDO and Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
- It is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster as the first stage and liquid ramjet as the second stage.
- The cruise missiles like BrahMos are a type of system known as the ‘standoff range weapons’ which are fired from a range sufficient to allow the attacker to evade defensive fire from the adversary.
- Such weapons are in the arsenal of most major militaries in the world.
Its capability
- BrahMos missile flies at a speed of 2.8 Mach or almost three times the speed of sound.
- It is the main weapon system of the Indian Navy warships and has been deployed on almost all of its surface platforms.
- An underwater version is also being developed which will not only be used by the submarines of India but will also be offered for export to friendly foreign nations.
Various versions
- The versions of the BrahMos that are being tested have an extended range of around 400 km, as compared to its initial range of 290 km, with more versions of higher ranges currently under development.
- Various versions including those which can be fired from land, warships, submarines and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets have already been developed and successfully tested in the past.
- The earliest versions of the ship launched BrahMos and land-based system are in service of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army since 2005 and 2007 respectively.
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Back2Basics:
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Explained: India’s Missile Capability
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: India's missile program
Mains level: Global arms race
The Defence Minister has encouraged scientists to work towards developing hypersonic missile technology after China’s successful demonstration of hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV).
Try this question:
Q. Hypersonic missiles are nothing but weapons of deterrence. Critically comment in context of arms race development for hypersonic missiles.
History of Missile Technology in India
(1) Pre-Independence
- Before Independence, several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies.
- Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century.
- By the time Hyder’s son Tipu Sultan died, a company of rocketeers was attached to each brigade of his army, which has been estimated at around 5,000 rocket-carrying troops.
(2) Post-Independence
- At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities.
- The government created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958.
- This was later expanded and called the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), which moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.
- In 1972, Project Devil, for the development of a medium-range Surface-to-Surface Missile was initiated.
- By 1982, DRDL was working on several missile technologies under the Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP).
What kind of missiles does India have?
- India is considered among the top few nations when it comes to designing and developing missiles indigenously.
- However, it is way behind the US, China and Russia in terms of range.
- DRDO is working on multiple varieties of missiles:
[A] Surface-launched Systems
ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE:
- Nag has already been inducted into the services. Nag is the only fire-and-forget ATGM meeting all weather requirements for its range (around 20 km).
- Recently Heli-Nag was tested, which will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022.
- There is also a Stand-off Anti-Tank (SANT) missile, with a range over 10 km.
SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE
- Short-range SAM system: Akash has already been inducted in the Army and the Air Force.
- For Akash 1, which has a seeker, the Army has already got the Acceptance of Necessity from the government.
- For Akash (New Generation), the first tests were conducted in July this year and a couple more trials are to be done.
- Medium-Range SAM: Production of MRSAM systems for the Navy is complete, and it is placing its order.
[B] Air-launched Systems
AIR-TO-AIR:
- Astra, India’s Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), has been completely tested and is under induction.
- It has a range of around 100 km, and DRDO is trying to now induct it with more IAF platforms, including the domestically developed light combat aircraft Tejas.
- A long-range Astra is also being developed, for which initial tests have been conducted.
- The missile uses solid fuel ramjet technology, which enhances speed, and will have an indigenously-built seeker.
AIR-TO-GROUND:
- Rudram, a New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGRAM), has cleared initial tests and some more tests will be conducted soon.
- With a maximum range of around 200 km, the missile mainly targets communication, radar and surveillance systems of the adversary, and was tested from the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet last year.
- BrahMos, which India developed jointly with Russia, is already operational.
- It has a 300 km to 500 km range, and is a short-range, ramjet-powered, single warhead, supersonic anti-ship or land attack cruise missile.
India’s crucial missile systems
The two most important are Agni and Prithvi, both being used by the Strategic Forces Command.
- Agni (range around 5,000) is India’s only contender for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is available in only a few countries.
- Prithvi, although a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a 350 km range, has strategic uses. India also tested an anti-satellite system in April 2019.
- A modified anti-ballistic missile named Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mk 2 was used to hit a low-orbit satellite.
- It put India only behind the US, Russia and China in this capability.
What about Hypersonic Technology?
- India has been working on this for a few years, and is just behind the US, Russia and China.
- DRDO successfully tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrated Vehicle (HSTDV) in September 2020, and demonstrated its hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology.
- India has developed its own cryogenic engine and demonstrated it in a 23-second flight.
- India will try to make a hypersonic cruise missile, using HSTDV.
- Only Russia has proven its hypersonic missile capability so far, while China has demonstrated its HGV capacity.
- India is expected to be able to have a hypersonic weapons system within four years, with medium- to long-range capabilities.
What makes India good in missile technology?
- Missile technology is one field in which India has made very positive and substantial progress.
- Under the IGMP then headed by A P J Abdul Kalam, later India’s President, first came Prithvi, then Agni.
- BrahMos, at 2.5-3 times the speed of sound, was among the fastest in the world when developed.
- After the nuclear blast in 1998, cryogenic etc were not given to us by developed countries. Kalam and others, they made it a point that they developed it within the country.
Where do China and Pakistan stand compared to India?
- While China is ahead of India, a lot of things about China are psychological.
- China may have either achieved parity or even exceeded the US in land-based conventional ballistic and cruise missile capabilities.
- China’s missile development is definitely a concern for us, but we will definitely evolve.
- It has given the technology to the irresponsible hands of Pakistan. But getting technology and really using it, and thereafter evolving and adopting a policy is totally different.
Must read:
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Arms Race towards Hypersonic Weapons
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Hypersonic Glide Vehicle, ICBM
Mains level: Hypersonic weapons race
China recently tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile while Russia announced that it had successfully test-launched a Tsirkon hypersonic cruise missile in early October.
What are Hypersonic Weapons?
- The speed of sound is Mach 1, and speeds upto Mach 5 are supersonic and speeds above Mach 5 are hypersonic.
- They are manoeuvrable weapons that can fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, five times the speed of sound.
- A number of other countries – including Australia, India, France, Germany, and Japan—are developing hypersonic weapons technology.
Features of HSWs
- Trajectory: Ballistic Missiles are long-range missile that leaves the earth’s atmosphere before re-entry, pursuing a parabolic trajectory towards its target
- Maneuverability: HSW travel within the atmosphere and can manoeuvre midway which combined with their high speeds make their detection and interception extremely difficult.
- Stealth: Radars and air defences cannot intercept them till they are very close. They can penetrate most missile defences and further compress the timelines for response by a nation under attack.
Types of Hypersonic Weapons
There are two classes of hypersonic weapons:
- Hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV): They are launched from a rocket before gliding to a target.
- Hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM): They are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines, or scramjets, after acquiring their target.
Where does the US stand?
- The US has active hypersonic development programs.
- It is said to be lagging behind China and Russia because most US hypersonic weapons are not being designed for use with a nuclear warhead.
- It is in process of developing prototypes to assist in the evaluation of potential weapon system concepts and mission sets.
Hypersonic program in India
- HSTDV program: India is developing an indigenous, dual-capable hypersonic cruise missile as part of its Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) program.
- Capacity: India operates approximately 12 hypersonic wind tunnels and is capable of testing speeds of up to Mach 13.
- In-operation: The DRDO has successfully tested a Mach 6 scramjet in June 2019 and September 2020 using the demonstrated scramjet engine technology.
DRDO has validated many associated crucial technologies such as:
- Aerodynamic configuration for hypersonic maneuvers
- Use of scramjet propulsion for ignition and sustained combustion at the hypersonic flow
- Thermo-structural characterization of high-temperature materials
- Separation mechanism at hypersonic velocities has been validated
Conclusion
- There are rising tensions between the US, China and Russia worsening the geopolitical situation worldwide.
- The focus for hypersonic weapons is only set to accelerate more countries to invest significant resources in their design and development.
Back2Basics:
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Agni V vs China’s Hypersonic Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Hypersonic Glide Vehicle, ICBM
Mains level: Hypersonic Glide Missiles
Though inducted over three years ago, India’s foremost Agni 5 ballistic missile was tested for the first time after reports that China had tested a new hypersonic missile.
What is the Agni 5 missile?
- Agni 5 is India’s long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which can hit a target with a precision that is 5,000 km
- The nuclear-capable missile is India’s contender for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).
- Its range puts almost the entire China within the missile’s target range.
- Though the government has claimed that it has a maximum range of around 5,000 km, several reports suggest that it can hit targets as distant as 8,000 km.
- The nuclear capable missile can carry a warhead of around 1,500 kg and has a launch weight of 50,000 kg, making it one of the most potent missiles in the country.
Note: Officially an ICBM needs a missile to have a range of at least 5,500 km.
History of Agni Missiles
- India began testing the Agni series of missiles in 1989 with the first test for Agni 1, an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile, with a range of around 1,000 km.
- At that time only the US, the erstwhile Soviet Union, China, France and Israel, had IRBM technology.
- Since then, DRDO labs have continued to work on it, bringing the latest available Agni 5 to its present capability.
- In addition to the IRBM-capable nations, only North Korea and the UK have ICBM technology at the moment.
Why is it important for India?
- The success of AGNI missiles is in line with India’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.
- What makes Agni 5 agile is that it is a “canisterised” missile. It means that the missile can be launched from road and rail platforms, making it easier for it to be deployed and launched at a quicker pace.
- The canisterisation also gives the missile a longer shelf life, protecting it from the harsher climatic conditions.
- While India is among the handful of nations with ICBM capability.
- The next generation of the missile, Agni VI, under development, is expected to have a range of around 8,000 km.
What is a Hypersonic Glide Vehicle that China tested?
- HGV is nuclear capable missile, which circled the earth before moving towards its target, missing it by two dozen miles.
- It is launched by a rocket which moves in the Earth’s lower orbit, at more than five times to 25 times the speed of sound.
- The vehicle is capable of carrying nuclear payloads, which gives the launching country the strategic capacity to attack almost any target across the world.
How is HGV different from an ICBM?
- A hypersonic glide vehicle orbits the earth at a lower height, and is manoeuvrable as compared to ICBM.
- The ability to change track or target, mid-trajectory, along with the speed, makes them tougher to track and defend against.
- The manoeuvrability provides them in-flight updates to attack a different target than originally planned.
- They possess ability to fly at unpredictable trajectories, these missiles will hold extremely large areas at risk throughout much of their flights.
Which countries have hypersonic technology?
- Apart from China, the US and Russia are working on the technology.
- France and India are working together for gaining the capability.
Concerns about China developing such technology
- China might have left the US behind in hypersonic capability.
- It is being perceived as a Sputnik moment (first Russian space mission widely envied by the US).
- A hypersonic attack could occur with very little warning time. The unpredictable trajectory would give them an advantage.
Another concern: Increasing Proliferation
- Globally the main concern is that once the technology is successfully established by even one country, it would lead to a larger race for the capability and its eventual proliferation.
- The more that hypersonic missiles proliferate into the hands of additional nations, the more paths develop for crises.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
DRDO tests Akash Prime Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Akash Missile
Mains level: NA
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested a new version of Akash Surface to Air missile Akash Prime from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
About Akash Missile System
- Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system.
- It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
- It can target aircraft up to 50–80 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m.
- It has the capability to neutralise aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles.
- It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
Upgrade in Akash Prime
- In comparison to the existing Akash System, Akash Prime is equipped with an indigenous active Radio Frequency (RF) seeker for improved accuracy.
- Other improvements also ensure more reliable performance under low temperature environment at higher altitudes.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Successful test-fire of Agni-Prime Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Agni Missiles
Mains level: India's missile arsenal
A new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-P (Prime) was successfully test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Agni-Prime Missile
- Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
- It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km.
- Many advanced technologies including composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms and state-of-the-art navigation systems have been introduced.
- The missile strengthens India’s credible deterrence capabilities.
What is the upgrade?
- Agni-P has improved parameters including manoeuvring and accuracy.
- Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility.
What are Agni Missiles?
- Agni class of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability which also includes the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft.
- The longest of the Agni series, Agni-V, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km, has already been tested several times and validated for induction.
An arsenal for peace
- In the last few years, India has also operationalized its submarine-based nuclear launch capability, completing the nuclear triad.
- This is especially important given India’s No-First-Use policy while reserving the right of massive retaliation if struck with nuclear weapons first.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
[pib] DRDO conducts maiden trial of Python-5 Air to Air Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Python-5 missile
Mains level: Paper 3- Python-5 missile
Tejas adds Python-5 in its capacity
- Tejas, India’s indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, added the 5th generation Python-5 Air-to-Air Missile (AAM) in its air-to-air weapons capability on April 27, 2021.
- Trials were also aimed to validate enhanced capability of already integrated Derby Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM on Tejas.
- The test firing at Goa completed a series of missile trials to validate its performance under extremely challenging scenarios.
- The trials met all their planned objectives.
- The missiles were fired from Tejas aircraft of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) flown by Indian Air Force (IAF) Test pilots.
- The successful conduct was made possible with years of hard work by the team of scientists, engineers and technicians from ADA and HAL-ARDC along with admirable support from CEMILAC, DG-AQA, IAF PMT, NPO (LCA Navy) and INS HANSA.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
BrahMos Missiles and their significance for Armed Forces
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Brahmos Missiles
Mains level: India's missile arsenal
India’s Armed forces are conducting back-to-back tests of various versions of BrahMos missile.
Take a quick look at India’s missile arsenal:
The BrahMos Missiles
- A combination of the names of Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, BrahMos missiles are designed, developed and produced by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture company set up by DRDO and Mashinostroyenia of Russia.
- It is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster as the first stage and liquid ramjet as the second stage.
- The cruise missiles like BrahMos are a type of systems known as the ‘standoff range weapons’ which are fired from a range sufficient to allow the attacker to evade defensive fire from the adversary.
- These weapons are in the arsenal of most major militaries in the world.
- The versions of the BrahMos that are being tested have an extended range of around 400 km, as compared to its initial range of 290 km, with more versions of higher ranges currently under development.
Various versions
- Various versions of the BrahMos, including those which can be fired from land, warships, submarines and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets have already been developed and successfully tested in the past.
- The earliest versions of the ship launched BrahMos and land-based system are in service of the Indian Navy and the Indian Army since 2005 and 2007 respectively.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Anti Radiation Missile: RudraM-I
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: RudraM-I
Mains level: India's missile arsenal
A New Generation Anti Radiation Missile (NGARM), RudraM-I, was successfully flight-tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Try this MCQ:
Q.The RudraM-I recently seen in news is an:
Ans: Anti-satellite missile/ Anti-radiation Missile/ Anti-tank mine/ Submarine Torpedo
RudraM-I
- RudraM-I is an anti-radiation missile can locate and target any radiation-emitting source like enemy radars, communication sites and other Radio Frequency (RF) emitting targets.
- It is being developed by Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, as the nodal agency.
- It is a joint effort involving several DRDO labs, the IAF, the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and several public and private sector enterprises.
- This is the first indigenous anti-radiation missile of the country. It has a range of up to 200 km depending upon the launch conditions.
- It can be launched from altitudes of 500 m to 15 km and speeds of 0.6 to 2 mach.
- It can play a key role in neutralizing any jamming platforms of the enemy or take out radar stations thereby clearing a path for own fighters to carry out an offensive and also prevent own systems from being jammed.
How does it work?
- Anti-radiation missiles are designed to detect, track and neutralize the adversary’s radar, communication assets and other radio frequency sources, which are generally part of their air defence systems.
- Such a missile’s navigation mechanism comprises an inertial navigation system — a computerised mechanism that uses changes in the object’s own position — coupled with GPS, which is satellite-based.
- For guidance, it has a “passive homing head” — a system that can detect, classify and engage targets (radio frequency sources in this case) over a wide band of frequencies as programmed.
- Once the RudraM missile locks on the target, it is capable of striking accurately even if the radiation source switches off in between.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) System
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SMART
Mains level: Indian navy's arsenal
DRDO successfully conducted the flight test of its Supersonic Missile Assisted Release of Torpedo (SMART) system.
Try this MCQ:
Q.The SMART system recently tested by the DRDO is essentially a-
a)Radar
b)Torpedo
c)UAV
d)Missile
What is the SMART system?
- Torpedoes are self-propelled weapons that travel underwater to hit a target but are limited by their range.
- In the mid-2010s, DRDO undertook a project to build capacity to launch torpedoes assisted by missiles; Monday’s was the first known flight test of the system.
- This SMART system comprises a mechanism by which the torpedo is launched from a supersonic missile system with modifications that would take the torpedo to a far longer range than its own.
- For example, a torpedo with a range of a few kilometres can be sent a distance to the tune of 1000 km by the missile system from where the torpedo is launched.
Why is it significant?
- SMART is a game-changing technology demonstration in anti-submarine warfare.
- India’s anti-submarine warfare capacity building is crucial in light of China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean region.
- Assets of such warfare consist of the deployment of submarines, specialised anti-submarine ships, air assets and state-of-the-art reconnaissance and detection mechanisms.
- The Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capability got a boost in June after the conclusion of a contract for Advanced Torpedo Decoy System Maareech, capable of being fired from all frontline warships.
- India has been indigenously developing and building several anti-submarine systems and vessels in the recent past.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Shaurya Missile and India’s K missiles family
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Shaurya Missile
Mains level: India's missile programme
A successful trial of the nuclear-capable Shaurya missile was conducted by India.
Shaurya Missile
- Shaurya is a land-based parallel of the submarine-launched K-15 missile.
- It is a land variant of short-range SLBM K-15 Sagarika, which has a range of at least 750 kilometres.
- These ballistic weapons belong to the K missile family — codenamed after late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam — which is launched from Arihant class of nuclear submarines.
- Because these missiles are to be launched from submarines, they are lighter, smaller and stealthier than their land-based counterparts; the Agni series.
A look at what this family of missiles is their strategic importance as a nuclear deterrent and their recent tests.
K Family of missiles
- The K family of missiles is primarily Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), which have been indigenously developed by DRDO.
- These are named after Dr Kalam, the central figure in India’s missile and space programmes who also served as the 11th President of India.
- The development of this naval platform launched missiles began in the late 1990s as a step towards completing India’s nuclear triad (land, sea and air-based).
Strategic importance of SLBMs
- The capability of being able to launch nuclear weapons submarine platforms has great strategic importance in the context of achieving a nuclear triad, especially in the light of ‘no first use’ policy of India.
- The sea-based underwater nuclear-capable assets significantly increase the second strike capability of a country and thus boosts its nuclear deterrence.
- These submarines can not only survive the first strike by the adversary but also can launch a strike in retaliation thus achieving Credible Nuclear Deterrence.
- The development of these capabilities is important in light of India’s relations with the two neighbours China and Pakistan.
Try this PYQ now:
What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news? (CSP 2018)
(a) An Israeli radar system
(b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
(c) An American anti-missile system
(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
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Indian Missile Program Updates
[pib] ABHYAS Air Vehicle
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ABHYAS-HEAT
Mains level: Not Much
Successful flight test of ABHYAS – High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) was today conducted by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Interim Test Range, Balasore in Odisha.
Try this PYQ:
What is “Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)”, sometimes seen in the news?
(a) An Israeli radar system
(b) India’s indigenous anti-missile programme
(c) An American anti-missile system
(d) A defence collaboration between Japan and South Korea
ABHYAS Air Vehicle
- ABHYAS is designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), DRDO.
- The air vehicle is launched using twin underslung booster.
- It is powered by a small gas turbine engine and has a MEMS-based Inertial Navigation System (INS) for navigation along with the Flight Control Computer (FCC) for guidance and control.
- The vehicle is programmed for fully autonomous flight. The check out of air vehicle is done using laptop-based Ground Control Station (GCS).
- During the test campaign, the user requirement of 5 km flying altitude, vehicle speed of 0.5 mach, the endurance of 30 minutes and 2g turn capability of the test vehicle were successfully achieved.
Its uses
- Abhyas’s radar cross-section (RCS), as well as its visual and infrared signatures, can be augmented to simulate a variety of aircraft for air-defence weapon practices.
- It can also function as a jammer platform and decoy.
- The HEAT system is utilized to do away with the post-launch recovery mode, which is time-consuming and difficult in a scenario as the sea.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV)
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ramjet, Scramjet
Mains level: Indian missile program
The DRDO has successfully demonstrated the hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology with the flight test of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstration Vehicle (HSTDV).
Take note of close dissimilarities between Ramjet and Scramjet engines.
About HSTDV
- HSTDV is an unmanned scramjet vehicle with a capability to travel at six times the speed of sound.
- The scramjets are a variant of a category of jet engines called the air-breathing engines.
- The ability of engines to handle airflows of speeds in multiples of the speed of sound gives it a capability of operating at those speeds.
- Hypersonic speeds are those which are five times or more than the speed of sound.
- The unit tested by the DRDO can achieve upto six times the speed of sound or Mach 6, which is well over 7000 km per hour or around two km per second.
Its development
- The DRDO started on the development of the engine in the early 2010s.
- The ISRO has also worked on the development of the technology and has successfully tested a system in 2016. DRDO too has conducted a test of this system in June 2019.
- The special project of the DRDO consisted of contributions from its multiple facilities including the Pune headquartered Armament and Combat Engineering Cluster.
Back2Basics: Ramjet V. Scramjet
- A ramjet is a form of air-breathing jet engine that uses the vehicle’s forward motion to compress incoming air for combustion without a rotating compressor.
- Fuel is injected in the combustion chamber where it mixes with the hot compressed air and ignites.
- A ramjet-powered vehicle requires an assisted take-off like a rocket assist to accelerate it to a speed where it begins to produce thrust.
- Ramjets work most efficiently at supersonic speeds around Mach 3 (three times the speed of sound) and can operate up to speeds of Mach 6.
- However, the ramjet efficiency starts to drop when the vehicle reaches hypersonic speeds.
- A scramjet engine is an improvement over the ramjet engine as it efficiently operates at hypersonic speeds and allows supersonic combustion. Thus it is known as Supersonic Combustion Ramjet or Scramjet.
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Indian Missile Program Updates
K-4 Missile
Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: K-4 Missile, Circular Error Probability
Mains level: India's missile nuclear arsenal
India successfully test-fired the 3,500-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile, K-4. The test was carried out by the DRDO from a submerged pontoon off the Visakhapatnam coast around noon.
K-4
- K-4 is a nuclear-capable Intermediate-range submarine-launched ballistic missile developed and tested successfully in the month of January 2020 by DRDO.
- The missile has a maximum range of about 3500 km.
- Once inducted, these missiles will be the mainstay of the Arihant class of indigenous ballistic missile nuclear submarines (SSBN).
- It will give India the standoff capability to launch nuclear weapons submerged in Indian waters.
What’s so special about K-4?
: Circular Error Probability
- India’s Circular Error Probability (CEP) is much more sophisticated than Chinese missiles.
- The CEP determines the accuracy of a missile.
- The lower the CEP, the more accurate the missile is.
- There are very few countries which have managed to achieve this technological breakthrough.
About INS Arihant
- The Advanced Technology Project (ATV) began in the 1980s and the first of them, Arihant, was launched in 2009.
- INS Arihant, the first and only operational SSBN is armed with K-15 Sagarika missiles with a range of 750 km.
- Given India’s position of ‘No-First-Use’ (NFU) in launching nuclear weapons, the SSBN is the most dependable platform for a second-strike.
- Because they are powered by nuclear reactors, these submarines can stay underwater indefinitely without the adversary detecting it.
- The other two platforms — land based and air launched are far easier to detect.
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