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By Arun S Vishwakarma Issue Vol 24.1 Jan-Mar2009 | Date : 27 Jan , 2012 Shourya and Sagarika is a new common missile that can be launched from multiple
platforms, i.e. ground, submarine and mobile launcher. The naval version is called
Sagarika, while the land based version is called Shourya1. The Indian doctrine of
Minimum Credible Nuclear Deterrence envisages No First Use (NFU) policy and a triad of
nuclear counterstrike capability. The land based Agni-2 missile range is limited to about
3,300 km, and the longer range Agni-3 will enter service soon. The sea leg of the triad based on blue water naval assets dispersed across the worlds
oceans is most survivable and thus a critical part of the triad. The ability to reach all
corners of a potential challenger requires a range of 5,000 to 8,000 km. DRDO is developing sub-surface launched long range Agni-3SL with heavy MIRV payload and ABM countermeasures.Indian nuclear powered ATV due for sea trial in 2009 will
reportedly carry 12 launch tubes2 of 2.4m diameter. Launch tubes can be flexibly
configured to either carry a two meter diameter Agni-3SL or three wooden rounds3 of
0.74m diameter K15-Sagarika missile. Shourya and Sagarika fills the short to medium
range gap that is below Agni-3s minimum range.At operational level these missiles
provide for range of warheads necessary for graduated nuclear escalation as enunciated by Indian staff and military warfare collages.4
This multifunction missile made in large quantities would fulfill Indias immediate
requirements. The missile optimally matches latest types of strategic weapons tested at
Pokhran-II in 1998. The missile will most likely takeover the strategic weapons role of
Prithvi and Agni-1 missiles, and make them unambiguously dedicated for conventional
roles thus stabilizing nuclear deterrence. Shourya and its counterpart Sagarika has been tested six times5 till date. The missile is expected to enter service in 2010. Sagarika will
be deployed on submarines and very likely on Sukanya class naval vessels too.
Description
Shourya is a compact, slender, two-stage, solid fuel missile designed as a wooden
round. The missile development was initiated as project K15 and was first flight tested6
on 27 October 2004 in the guise of solid fueled Prithvi-III.7 It is stored, deployed and launched in a fiberglass composite canister, which is easy to handle mobile and can be
flexibly deployed on different types of surface and sub-surface platforms. Shourya and
Sagarika share a common design. The missile is sealed and can be launched from a
moving submarine at 50 meter depth.
The 6.2 tonne Shourya is 10 meters long, and has two solid fuel stages of 0.74 meters
diameter. The first stage booster is about two meters long and the second about six meters long. The missile supports a range of unitary warhead configurations, weighing
180 to 1,000 kg. High missile accuracy and ability to fly in a highly depressed trajectory
well within atmosphere indicates that it is a weapon for choice to interdict Command &
Control (C&C) and preemptive tactics.The sixth test flight on November 12th, 2008 was a
depressed trajectory flight (at Mach 6 and 50 km altitude) with continuous rolling to
dissipate heat over a larger surface demonstrated the mastery of difficult aspects of rocketry involving sustained hypersonic flight.The wooden round design sealed in a
fiber glass canister with the aero fins folded inside in a clean & controlled environment
makes it maintenance free and tamper proof. The missile is launched by a hot gas
generator developing 15-200 bar pressure using high burn rate HTBP based composite
propellant. The thick dark gas cloud greatly reduces the thermal signature of the missile.
Once out of the launch tube, the first stage booster motor ignites, taking the missile to five km altitude, when, the main second stage motor takes over. The booster debris
reaches a maximum altitude of six km, well below the horizon of radars beyond 330
km. The clean and small diameter missile presents a tiny RCS (radar cross-section). The second stage air fins provide necessary in-flight trajectory control. The main motor
is typically expended at 33 km altitude well within the atmosphere; however the air
fins remain effective beyond post boost phase. The air fins also allow the missile to fly in
a depressed trajectory as well as a cruise and glide in sustained hypersonic regime at 50
km altitude. The payload separation can be done much later after using aerodynamics
for trajectory modification during ascent or descent. The missile is resistant to ABM defense.8
Re-entry Vehicle
Shourya Re-entry Vehicle (RV) supports a wide range of weapons, with total payload
mass ranging from 180 to 1,000 kg. The missile range is a function of payload mass (see
graph below).
The November 2008 test unveiled the new generation RV that is designed and optimized for newer boosted fission and thermonuclear weapon (including those
awaiting confirmatory test). The sharp nose high âeta (Ballistic coefficient9) RV design
employs 16 cm diameter blunt nose and half angle of 12° that is mounted on a payload
adapter to interface with the 0.74m diameter mission control module atop the upper
stage. The high âeta RV in combination with an all carbon composite body enables
higher re-entry speed even with a light weight payload.10 Mk-4: For light weight 17Kt Fusion Boosted Fission (FBF) warhead11. Mass12: ~180
Kg13.
Mk-5: For 50Kt FBF or 200Kt Thermo Nuclear (TN) warhead14. Mass: ~340 Kg
Mk-6: For 150Kt FBF warhead15. Mass: ~550 Kg.
The all carbon composite re-entry heat shields with multi-directional ablative carbon-
carbon re-entry nose tip make it very light and tough.16 This very light RV mass enables scalable payload and range tradeoff especially for lightweight warhead.
Propulsion
The Shourya has two solid fueled stages of 0.74m diameter. This diameter is compatible
with a recently tested Indian sub-surface launch system that has a 2.4 meter diameter
launch tube17.
First Stage: The first stage solid fuel booster is approximately two meter long and weighs about 1,300 kg including 1,000 kg high density fuel. The booster lifts the missile
to an altitude of five km so that the second stage can operate more efficiently at low
atmospheric pressure. It uses hot gas reaction control for initial control of yaw, pitch
and roll before the air fins unfold and missile gains sufficient velocity for aerodynamic
control surfaces. Second Stage: This six meter long stage weighs about 3.6 tonne and generates 16 tonne
thrust. Case-bonded HTPB-based composite propellant with low burn rate is ignited by a
small pyrogen ignition motor.
The case is made of 250 grade maraging steel to maximize fuel mass fraction that is
critical for scalable payload versus range flexibility. Its nozzle is made of composite
material with metallic backup and carbon phenolic liners. The interstage coupling uses a soft-stage separation mechanism and retro rockets for reliable and safe stage
separation.
Navigation & Accuracy
Shourya largely carries the proven avionics set of Agni-3. However, for more extensive
aerodynamic maneuvering, it is augmented by new sensors and flight control system.
Shourya will also benefit form Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)23 expected to be ready by 2012, to ensure guaranteed national access to precision
navigation. These systems enable high accuracy required for precision strike.
Range versus Payload
Missile range and payload mass are inversely related. It is interesting to note that press
reports the Shouryas range for 1,000 kg and 500 kg payload. The former
corresponding to 1980 vintage 200Kt FBF warhead and the latter corresponding to 150Kt FBF that is yet to be field validated.
The official reporting obfuscates the missiles much higher range corresponding to field
tested 17Kt FBF warhead that is the mainstay of Indian deterrence.
Conclusion
Shourya class of missile is truly a multi-service missile that has desirable attributes of
small size, mobility, stealth, rich set of warhead options, robustness and cost that could make it the most mass produced Indian missile. It complements the long range Agni
class missiles to provide the Indian military commanders the global range necessary to
secure Indian interests.
platforms, i.e. ground, submarine and mobile launcher. The naval version is called
Sagarika, while the land based version is called Shourya1. The Indian doctrine of
Minimum Credible Nuclear Deterrence envisages No First Use (NFU) policy and a triad of
nuclear counterstrike capability. The land based Agni-2 missile range is limited to about
3,300 km, and the longer range Agni-3 will enter service soon. The sea leg of the triad based on blue water naval assets dispersed across the worlds
oceans is most survivable and thus a critical part of the triad. The ability to reach all
corners of a potential challenger requires a range of 5,000 to 8,000 km. DRDO is developing sub-surface launched long range Agni-3SL with heavy MIRV payload and ABM countermeasures.Indian nuclear powered ATV due for sea trial in 2009 will
reportedly carry 12 launch tubes2 of 2.4m diameter. Launch tubes can be flexibly
configured to either carry a two meter diameter Agni-3SL or three wooden rounds3 of
0.74m diameter K15-Sagarika missile. Shourya and Sagarika fills the short to medium
range gap that is below Agni-3s minimum range.At operational level these missiles
provide for range of warheads necessary for graduated nuclear escalation as enunciated by Indian staff and military warfare collages.4
This multifunction missile made in large quantities would fulfill Indias immediate
requirements. The missile optimally matches latest types of strategic weapons tested at
Pokhran-II in 1998. The missile will most likely takeover the strategic weapons role of
Prithvi and Agni-1 missiles, and make them unambiguously dedicated for conventional
roles thus stabilizing nuclear deterrence. Shourya and its counterpart Sagarika has been tested six times5 till date. The missile is expected to enter service in 2010. Sagarika will
be deployed on submarines and very likely on Sukanya class naval vessels too.
Description
Shourya is a compact, slender, two-stage, solid fuel missile designed as a wooden
round. The missile development was initiated as project K15 and was first flight tested6
on 27 October 2004 in the guise of solid fueled Prithvi-III.7 It is stored, deployed and launched in a fiberglass composite canister, which is easy to handle mobile and can be
flexibly deployed on different types of surface and sub-surface platforms. Shourya and
Sagarika share a common design. The missile is sealed and can be launched from a
moving submarine at 50 meter depth.
The 6.2 tonne Shourya is 10 meters long, and has two solid fuel stages of 0.74 meters
diameter. The first stage booster is about two meters long and the second about six meters long. The missile supports a range of unitary warhead configurations, weighing
180 to 1,000 kg. High missile accuracy and ability to fly in a highly depressed trajectory
well within atmosphere indicates that it is a weapon for choice to interdict Command &
Control (C&C) and preemptive tactics.The sixth test flight on November 12th, 2008 was a
depressed trajectory flight (at Mach 6 and 50 km altitude) with continuous rolling to
dissipate heat over a larger surface demonstrated the mastery of difficult aspects of rocketry involving sustained hypersonic flight.The wooden round design sealed in a
fiber glass canister with the aero fins folded inside in a clean & controlled environment
makes it maintenance free and tamper proof. The missile is launched by a hot gas
generator developing 15-200 bar pressure using high burn rate HTBP based composite
propellant. The thick dark gas cloud greatly reduces the thermal signature of the missile.
Once out of the launch tube, the first stage booster motor ignites, taking the missile to five km altitude, when, the main second stage motor takes over. The booster debris
reaches a maximum altitude of six km, well below the horizon of radars beyond 330
km. The clean and small diameter missile presents a tiny RCS (radar cross-section). The second stage air fins provide necessary in-flight trajectory control. The main motor
is typically expended at 33 km altitude well within the atmosphere; however the air
fins remain effective beyond post boost phase. The air fins also allow the missile to fly in
a depressed trajectory as well as a cruise and glide in sustained hypersonic regime at 50
km altitude. The payload separation can be done much later after using aerodynamics
for trajectory modification during ascent or descent. The missile is resistant to ABM defense.8
Re-entry Vehicle
Shourya Re-entry Vehicle (RV) supports a wide range of weapons, with total payload
mass ranging from 180 to 1,000 kg. The missile range is a function of payload mass (see
graph below).
The November 2008 test unveiled the new generation RV that is designed and optimized for newer boosted fission and thermonuclear weapon (including those
awaiting confirmatory test). The sharp nose high âeta (Ballistic coefficient9) RV design
employs 16 cm diameter blunt nose and half angle of 12° that is mounted on a payload
adapter to interface with the 0.74m diameter mission control module atop the upper
stage. The high âeta RV in combination with an all carbon composite body enables
higher re-entry speed even with a light weight payload.10 Mk-4: For light weight 17Kt Fusion Boosted Fission (FBF) warhead11. Mass12: ~180
Kg13.
Mk-5: For 50Kt FBF or 200Kt Thermo Nuclear (TN) warhead14. Mass: ~340 Kg
Mk-6: For 150Kt FBF warhead15. Mass: ~550 Kg.
The all carbon composite re-entry heat shields with multi-directional ablative carbon-
carbon re-entry nose tip make it very light and tough.16 This very light RV mass enables scalable payload and range tradeoff especially for lightweight warhead.
Propulsion
The Shourya has two solid fueled stages of 0.74m diameter. This diameter is compatible
with a recently tested Indian sub-surface launch system that has a 2.4 meter diameter
launch tube17.
First Stage: The first stage solid fuel booster is approximately two meter long and weighs about 1,300 kg including 1,000 kg high density fuel. The booster lifts the missile
to an altitude of five km so that the second stage can operate more efficiently at low
atmospheric pressure. It uses hot gas reaction control for initial control of yaw, pitch
and roll before the air fins unfold and missile gains sufficient velocity for aerodynamic
control surfaces. Second Stage: This six meter long stage weighs about 3.6 tonne and generates 16 tonne
thrust. Case-bonded HTPB-based composite propellant with low burn rate is ignited by a
small pyrogen ignition motor.
The case is made of 250 grade maraging steel to maximize fuel mass fraction that is
critical for scalable payload versus range flexibility. Its nozzle is made of composite
material with metallic backup and carbon phenolic liners. The interstage coupling uses a soft-stage separation mechanism and retro rockets for reliable and safe stage
separation.
Navigation & Accuracy
Shourya largely carries the proven avionics set of Agni-3. However, for more extensive
aerodynamic maneuvering, it is augmented by new sensors and flight control system.
Shourya will also benefit form Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)23 expected to be ready by 2012, to ensure guaranteed national access to precision
navigation. These systems enable high accuracy required for precision strike.
Range versus Payload
Missile range and payload mass are inversely related. It is interesting to note that press
reports the Shouryas range for 1,000 kg and 500 kg payload. The former
corresponding to 1980 vintage 200Kt FBF warhead and the latter corresponding to 150Kt FBF that is yet to be field validated.
The official reporting obfuscates the missiles much higher range corresponding to field
tested 17Kt FBF warhead that is the mainstay of Indian deterrence.
Conclusion
Shourya class of missile is truly a multi-service missile that has desirable attributes of
small size, mobility, stealth, rich set of warhead options, robustness and cost that could make it the most mass produced Indian missile. It complements the long range Agni
class missiles to provide the Indian military commanders the global range necessary to
secure Indian interests.
