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In Context
- New generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-P was successfully tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.
- This is the second test of the missile. The first test took place in June last.
Agni Prime Missile
- Agni-P is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
- It has a range of up to 2000 km.
- It is a canisterised surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
- Canisterisation lessens the time required for launch & improves storage and mobility.
- Improved parameters: It is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles with improved parameters, including manoeuvring and accuracy.
- Fully made up of composite material.
- Significance: Strengthen India’s credible deterrence capabilities, improved manoeuvring and accuracy, unlike earlier Agni missiles.
About Missile Technology in India
- Historical Background:
- 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.
- Before Independence, several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies.
- 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).
- In 1972, Project Devil, for the development of a medium-range Surface-to-Surface Missile was initiated.
- The development of components/systems for Project Devil formed the technology base for the future Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP).
- By 1982, DRDL was working on several missile technologies under the IGMDP.
- Present Status of hypersonic technology in India and its comparison :
- 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.
- India will try to make a hypersonic cruise missile, using HSTDV.
Conclusion
- The US is leading in missile technology, and China is building up.
- China has given Pakistan the technology, but getting a technology and really using it, and thereafter evolving and adopting a policy is totally different.
- India is also at a very advanced stage among the top three or four nations.
- India is working on Agni VI and Agni VII, which should have a much longer range.
- Pinaka rocket systems have also been developed in close coordination with the user agencies
Various Missiles of India
Other important missile systems of India
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Source: TH
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