Indian Missiles - News, Developments, Tests, and Discussions

[jha]

R-27 variants..

 

[sudhir007]

Agni-V trials in final configuration to begin early next year | idrw.org

The first of the six flight trials of India’ longest range ballistic missile, Agni-V, in its final quick-reaction configuration, providing a canister-launch capability, will be held in early 2013.

While in Thursday’s successful maiden flight, the three-stage missile blasted off from a rail mobile launcher at Wheeler Island, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has already made a lot of progress to meet the Army’s requirement to provide a canister-based launch from a road mobile vehicle.

With the mission validating the design of Agni-V, the next step is to provide the canister-launch capability, Avinash Chander Chief Controller, R&D, (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, told The Hindu. Pointing out that canister-launch capability was already demonstrated for 700 km range Shourya missile and BrahMos cruise missile, he said “those technologies will get up-scaled.”

“With canister, you can virtually stop and launch.” Operational flexibility would increase multi-fold, reducing the reaction time, he added.

Missile ejection tests

Mr. Chander said the DRDO had set up a facility for “missile ejection tests” at Shamirpet near Hyderabad, for carrying out a canister-launch simulation by placing a dummy missile. The first road mobile launcher being produced by the private industry would be ready next month and the missile ejections tests would begin from June.

With the Agni-V missile scheduled to be inducted into the Army in the next few years, he said, six flight tests, including three pre-induction trials, would be conducted.

Workhorse

V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), which designed and developed the missile, said Agni-V would be the workhorse in the years to come.

Referring to the successful launch, he said this was the first time that the maiden flight took place within three years of starting the design for any missile of the DRDO.

The ASL had developed the solid propulsion system, including the composite rocket motor casings for the second and third stages and the carbon-carbon composite heat shields for the missile’s re-entry vehicle.

Stating that the DRDO would develop “intelligent” and “manoeuvring” warheads for futuristic missiles, Mr. Chander said: “You have to upgrade weapons. We can’t afford to relax.”

The intelligent warheads would be capable of assessing the risk while in flight and take evasive counter-measures.

“Those are warheads of tomorrow and the work has to start today.”

 

[tatasteel]

Dr. VK Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister. Photo by T. Narayan.
Days after the milestone first test of India’s strategic ballistic missile Agni-V, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat sat down for a detailed interview with Senior Editor Sandeep Unnithan. The DRDO chief explains why the missile is a technological breakthrough and how it gives India the capability to target satellites in space.


Why is the Agni-V different from the previous Agni missiles?


VKS: Agni-V is a completely new missile system. It is a 21st-century missile because of the technologies used and a game changer because of its strategic deterrence value. The missile went from drawing board to launch pad in just over three years. The government sanctioned the Agni-V project in December 2008. We began design work on it in April 2009. The missile was on the launch pad on March 14, 2012 and launched five days later.


What are the new technologies that the DRDO has developed for this missile?

VKS: Agni-V has taken us to a new level of technological maturity. This missile is entirely different from the Agni 3 and 4. The second and third stage booster of the missile are made entirely of composites. The third stage is a new booster that we developed. It is the lowest end of the tapered cone that ends with the warhead. That itself, in terms of composites, is a breakthrough. The navigation system is highly accurate. Don’t forget that this missile travels at over Mach 20 in its terminal stage. Both the ring laser gyros (a device that measures the orientation of the missile and helps in inertial navigation) and the accelerometer (which measures the missile’s rate of acceleration) are indigenously developed as part of the indigenous ballistic missile defence (BMD) programme. We also proved redundancies of our new onboard navigation system. A backup navigation system that was less accurate but more robust was put in place. This navigation system was supported by a unique fault tolerance software that we installed in the missile. The re-entry nose cone that contains the warhead had to be completely redesigned with new material and resins. This is because when the missile re-enters the atmosphere, it is hurtling towards the ground at over 20 times the speed of sound. Friction on the nose cone causes temperatures in excess of 2000 degrees centigrade. This system had to be proved on the ground and that was a major technological development for us.

We are also working on a canister-launched system for the Agni-V. We have designed a canister that can eject the 50-tonne missile 50 metres in the air and fire the first stage. The canister will allow us to store the missile for ten years with no maintenance. The missile will be carried on railcars and on a 12×12 road-mobile truck. Carrying the missile on a road-mobile launcher is better because it is more flexible, you just need some level ground to launch it. The first launch of the A5 was from a railcar, we hope it will subsequently be fired from road-mobile launchers.

Costs and production of the Agni-V? There is a concern that you will not be able to produce more than one or two missiles a year.


VKS: The A5 costs approximately Rs 50 crore per missile. We will need two more tests before starting serial production after two years. The DRDO is working with production agencies for this. All I can tell you is that we will produce more than just 1 or 2 missiles a year


What were the challenges posed in tracking such a long-range missile?

VKS: The Agni-V required a different range deployment. The range of over 5,000 km meant the missile would land north of Antartica. That meant the ships tracking the launch would have to sail nearly a fortnight before the launch window. We had a slight difficulty in that all our tracking systems are ship and shore-based. We don’t have airborne sensors. We needed three ships to track the launch: two near the splashdown and one to track the mid-course correction. The ships are due to return on April 30 or, 11 days after the missile test. We have a highly integrated tracking range comprising 15 sensors, seven radars and seven telemetry systems. They did an admirable job of tracking the missile flight in real time.


Does DRDO have the capability of destroying satellites in space?

VKS: Today, India has all the building blocks for an anti-satellite system in place.

We don’t want to weaponise space but the building blocks should be in place. Because you may come to a time when you may need it. Today, I can say that all the building blocks (for an ASAT weapon) are in place. A little fine tuning may be required but we will do that electronically. We will not do a physical test (actual destruction of a satellite) because of the risk of space debris affecting other satellites.

How did you develop these ASAT capabilities?


VKS: There are a few essential parameters in intercepting satellites. You should have the ability to track an orbiting satellite in space, launch a missile towards it and finally have a kill vehicle that actually homes in to physically destroy it.

We have a Long Range Tracking Radar (LRTR) used in the Ballistic Missile Defence Programme that has a range of over 600 km. We will increase the range to 1,400 km allowing us to track satellites in orbit.

It is far more difficult to intercept ballistic missiles than it is to intercept satellites. Satellites follow a predictive path. Once you track a satellite, you will know its path.

In the BMD project, we track and intercept a 0.1 square meter target over 1,000 km away. A satellite is ten times larger-over 1 meter wide.

We have the communication systems in place, again developed for the BMD project. The first-stage booster developed for the Agni-V can inject a warhead 600 km into space. We also have a kill vehicle developed for the BMD project. The kill vehicle actually homes in onto an incoming missile. We have the Infra-Red and Radar frequency seekers on the kill vehicle that accurately guide it to its target.


At what phase of development is the BMD programme?


VKS: Phase-1 of the BMD programme will be completed by 2013. In this, we will intercept Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles with a range of 2,000 km. The second phase will be completed by 2016. In this, we will be able to intercept intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) with ranges over 5,000 km. Phase-1 has two missile interceptors called the PAD and the AAD. This year, we will be testing a new interceptor missile called the PDV. This missile will replace the PAD. Two missiles, the AD1 and the AD2 will be tested by the end of 2013 under Phase 2 of the BMD.



What about cruise missile defence?


VKS: That is a whole new ballgame because it calls for an entirely new set of missiles and radars. My team is presently studying CMD. We are looking at it as a possible next programme after finishing the BMD programme.

The DRDO has made breakthroughs in the K-series missiles for the nuclear submarine project. Why didn’t you use a land-based variant of this missile?



VKS: The technologies involved in both missiles are different. An underwater missile has to deal with the pressure of a10 metre column of water above it. Hence the configuration of the missile is different. It is heavier, the structure is different. Unlike the Agni missile, this missile carries a lot of dead weight.

When will the indigenous nuclear submarine INS Arihant be commissioned?

VKS: The submarine will test all its systems this year.



Field trials of the Arjun Mark 2 ?



VKS: We have the first test of the Arjun Mark 2 in June, this year. We have given the army 80 per cent of the changes in Mark 2. There are 126 more Arjuns being built, in addition to the 126 delivered to the army. We are confident of getting another order of 350 Arjun mark 2 tanks.


What stage is the Future Main Battle Tank (FMBT) project at?


VKS: We are holding discussions with the army for this. We will finalise the specifications of the tank in six to eight months. We are looking at industrial partners for this. We want new technologies for weapons, mobility and signatures for the FMBT. We have to decide on the type of armour to use for it, whether active or passive. The FMBT will be a tank complimentary to the Arjun. It will not replace it. Each tank has its own theatre. The T-90 MBT (used by the Indian army) has its theatre, the Arjun has its own theatre.

When will the Long Range Surface-to-Air Missile (LR-SAM) be tested ?


VKS: The first successful trial of the LR-SAM was in 2010. After this we decided on a complete change of configuration. We will have another test of the modified missile in Israel in June 2012. The missile system has already been integrated into the first P15A warship (the INS Kolkata, being built at Mazagon Docks Ltd, Mumbai).



"India has all the building blocks for an anti-satellite capability" : India News - India Today

 

[White Lightning]

India and Russia to Develop Hypersonic Cruise Missile

Russia and India are in talks to jointly develop a hypersonic cruise missile and will soon agree on a general outline of the design, the head of the BrahMos Indian-Russian cruise missile program, Praveen Pathak, said on Friday at the Defexpo defense show in Delhi.

"In the near future, we will set up a joint working group which will work out the parameters of the missile in cooperation with developers, and also decide how much each side will contribue to the project," Pathak said.

The weapon will be capable of flying at Mach 5-Mach 7 speeds, he said.

 

[Martian2]

U.S. willful blindness to Indian Agni V MTCR violation

The United States has to decide whether it is serious about stopping the proliferation of long-range missiles that can carry weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The United States complains vociferously when China sells a dual-use truck to North Korea. And yet, an unnamed country is freely exporting the electronic guidance system for India's 5,000 km+ Agni V nuclear missile.

The Chinese truck is a murky situation, because the North Koreans probably imported it under a civilian pretext and then misused it. However, the Indian Agni V MTCR (i.e. Missile Technology Control Regime) violation is crystal clear. The electronics for an Agni V ICBM has only one purpose, which is to guide a long-range missile.

The Agni V can carry a payload of 1,500 kg for at least a distance of 5,000 km. This is a clear and flagrant violation of MTCR in the export of sensitive electronics to India.

If the United States is serious about stopping proliferation, it should publicly identify the perpetrator and demand an immediate halt to the export of critical electronics for the Agni V WMD.

----------

Missile Technology Control Regime - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is an informal and voluntary partnership between 34 countries to prevent the proliferation of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle technology capable of carrying a 500 kg payload at least 300 km."

Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief - India - DNA

"Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief
Published: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:23 IST | Updated: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:26 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
...
"More than 80% of the missile is indigenous, except for the electronic components which we import... Everything has been designed, developed and produced in our industry and our laboratory," he said."

 

[Martian2]

India is making a mockery of the MTCR

At Krad (on another forum), are you seriously trying to argue that a laser ring gyro and an electronic guidance system for an ICBM may have a dual use? A laser ring gyro may also be used for the navigation of a commercial jet. India lacks the technology to build commercial jets. You can eliminate that dual-use argument. Furthermore, the electronic guidance system for an ICBM has only one use: to guide an ICBM.

India has demonstrated that it has violated the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) and the United States should come out and demand an immediate halt to further exports and violations of the MTCR by India and the supplier country. If the United States continues its willful blindness, India will make a mockery of the MTCR and the United States will be silently complicit in aiding long-range missile proliferation.

Let me narrow down the list to make it easier for the United States to identify the missile proliferator in violation of the MTCR. There are only five countries that have proven electronic guidance systems for an ICBM. All five countries also happen to sit on the U.N. Security Council with a permanent veto (i.e. UNSC P-5).

1. United States
2. China
3. Russia
4. Britain
5. France

Among the five suspected countries, we can rule out the United States and China. The United States would not actively help India in developing an ICBM. To the contrary, the United States has a history of imposing sanctions and technological prohibitions on India. Also, it is obvious that China would not help India to develop the Agni V "China killer" to hit cities like Shanghai.

There are only three viable violators of the MTCR: Russia, Britain, or France.

The United States should publicly condemn the MTCR violator and demand that they stop destabilizing the world and proliferating ICBMs that carry WMDs (weapons of mass destruction). The U.S. effort to save the MTCR is worthwhile; even if the guilty party says "nyet."

 

[angeldemon_007]

^^^
So only five nations have the right to mock the MTCR ??? China is giving away any missile tech that it can to Pakistan and N.Korea which by the way both are unstable states and you are still talking about India ?? I think its time to include India in this group of five so that people will stop crying every time India conducts a test, because there's alot to come in the future.

 

[Martian2]

^^^
So only five nations have the right to mock the MTCR ??? China is giving away any missile tech that it can to Pakistan and N.Korea which by the way both are unstable states and you are still talking about India ?? I think its time to include India in this group of five so that people will stop crying every time India conducts a test, because there's alot to come in the future.

The premise of the MTCR is very simple. India (or another country) has the right to develop on its own an electronic guidance system and the complex software to control a Mach 24 Agni V ICBM.

However, the countries in the UNSC P-5 with existing and proven ICBM technology must not export it to other countries. Otherwise, all countries will possess ICBMs and pose a threat to everyone else. This results in a more dangerous and unstable world.

Since the DRDO chief has publicly acknowledged importing electronic guidance components (and implicitly the software to control a Mach 24 ICBM), we have indisputable proof that India and its supplier are both violating the MTCR.

 

[dott]

The premise of the MTCR is very simple. India (or another country) has the right to develop on its own an electronic guidance system and the complex software to control a Mach 24 Agni V ICBM.

However, the countries in the UNSC P-5 with existing and proven ICBM technology must not export it to other countries. Otherwise, all countries will possess ICBMs and pose a threat to everyone else. This results in a more dangerous and unstable world.

Since the DRDO chief has publicly acknowledged importing electronic guidance components (and implicitly the software to control a Mach 24 ICBM), we have indisputable proof that India and its supplier are both violating the MTCR.

show me the proof Mr. Chang.

 

[Martian2]

show me the proof Mr. Chang.

From post #1730 above:

Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief - India - DNA

"Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief
Published: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:23 IST | Updated: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:26 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
...
"More than 80% of the missile is indigenous, except for the electronic components which we import... Everything has been designed, developed and produced in our industry and our laboratory," he said."

 

[ironman]

India is making a mockery of the MTCR

Because we can ... Before posting stupidities you can check who all are the members of MTCR..

 

[Martian2]

Because we can "lol"... Before posting stupidities you can check who all are the members of MTCR..

Russia is a member of the MTCR. Britain and France are also members of the MTCR.

India is the recipient of illegal technology. The United States must use political pressure to stop the proliferation of missile technology in violation of the MTCR. If the MTCR collapses, the world will become very dangerous with scores of countries in possession of ICBMs.

 

[dott]

From post #1730 above:

Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief - India - DNA

"Launch of Agni-V only the beginning of new series: DRDO chief
Published: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:23 IST | Updated: Thursday, Apr 19, 2012, 14:26 IST
Place: New Delhi | Agency: PTI
...
"More than 80% of the missile is indigenous, except for the electronic components which we import... Everything has been designed, developed and produced in our industry and our laboratory," he said."

Mr ching. kindly gtfo and shove ur head up ur ***.

see i am a busy man dont bore me. if u have any proof then bring it on. otherwise to phuck around. see this video which shows the development of ring gyro scope based gudence system.

Inside the Agni-5 missile lab - YouTube

 

[Martian2]

At Dott, you imported it. So what's your point?

Indians also claim the Arjun tank and LCA Tejas are indigenous. No one believes the Indian propaganda.

The DRDO chief was very specific in acknowledging the import of electronic components for the Agni V. Without the electronic guidance system and software, the Agni V is non-operational.

 

[dott]

At Dott, you imported it. So what's your point?

my point is that u have no point to start this stupid debate. pllzzz go somewhere else. we will build whateverr the phuck we want.
fine.