DrSomnath999
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Messages
- 2,428
- Reaction score
- 4
- Country
- Location
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) has over many decades developed a range of ballistic Agni missiles, thereby boosting India's prowess in a world that is increasingly seeing scientific progress in the field.
The latest triumph for the country is the Agni-V, which was recently test-fired successfully a second time. In fact, DRDO believes that India can develop a nuclear-capable missile with a strike range of 10,000-km, rivalling China's DF-31A missile that can hit targets 11,200-km away.
Agni-I ::
Agni I is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. Agni-I uses solid propulsion booster and a liquid propulsion upper stage, derived from Prithvi.
"The strap-down inertial navigation system adopts explicit guidance, which was attempted for the first time in the world. It uses all carbon composite structure for protecting payload during its re-entry phase," says DRDO.
The first flight conducted in May 1989, established the re-entry technology and precise guidance to reach the specific target.
Agni-I flight trials having proved the long-range technologies. An operational version of Agni with solid-solid propulsion system was test fired in April 1999.
Agni-II ::
The 20-metre long Agni-II is a solid-propelled ballistic missile, with a launch weight of 16 tonnes.
The surface-to-surface missile can carry a payload of 1,000 kg. The 2500-km range missile was first tested on April 11, 1999, from a converted rail carriage that slides open to allow it to be raised to the vertical for launch by two large hydraulic pistons. The missile was inducted in the armed forces in 2004.
The missile is equipped with a state-of-the-art navigation system with modern techniques for propelling it towards the designated target with accuracy.
It takes only 15 minutes to bring the missile into ready-to-fire mode.
Agni-III ::
Agni-III is a 3,000-km range indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile. The launch of the mssile in July 2006 had flopped miserably. But the subsequent two tests, in April 2007 and May 2008, were deemed successful.
It is capable of carrying a one-tonne nuclear payload. Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system. With a length of 17 metres, the missile's diameter is 2 metres and launch weight is around 50 tonnes.
The missile is equipped with hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computers. The electronic systems are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects.
Agni-IV ::
Agni-IV is a 4,000-km range nuclear-capable Agni-IV ballistic missile. DRDO developed Agni-IV is a long range missile propelled by composite rocket motor technology and this was tested for its full capability.
DRDO sources have said the missile is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics V-12 fifth generation On-Board Computer and with distributed architecture has the latest features to correct and guide for in-flight disturbances.
The sophisticated missile is lighter in weight and has two stages of solid propulsion. The payload, with a re-entry heat shield can withstand temperature of more than 3000 degree Celsius.
Agni-V ::
The Agni-5 missile is an advanced long range surface to surface ballistic missile capable of being launched within minutes, from a self-contained road mobile launcher, to deliver payloads to distances in excess of 5000 km.
India recently conducted a second test flight of its indigenously developed nuclear- capable 'Agni-V' missile, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.
Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one 'AGNI-V' is the most advanced version having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.
The missile is 17.5 metre-tall and two metre-wide and can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. According to DRDO, the Agni-V will be ready for induction into the armed forces by 2014.
With Agni-V, India has joined the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, which already possess such missiles.
Defence News - Missile Power : All about India's Agni Series of Missiles
Not much India can do in response to a devastating Chinese nuclear strike on all its military and industrial assets. Test another Agni VIII into the Indian Ocean?
