IGMDP, UAVs and Submarines

• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was conceived by renowned scientist Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology. Keeping in mind the requirements of various types of missiles by the defense forces, the team recommended development of five missile systems.

The missiles developed under the programme were:­
1. Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi- The Prithvi missile is a family of tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) and is India’s first indigenously developed ballistic missile. Development of the Prithvi began in 1983, and it was first test-fired on 25 February 1988 from Sriharikota, SHAR Centre, Pottisreeramulu Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. It has a range of up to 150 to 300 km. The land variant is called Prithvi while the naval operational variant of Prithvi I and Prithvi II class missiles are code named Dhanush(meaning Bow)

2. Intermediate-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni- The Agni missile is a family of Medium to Intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by DRDO of India. The initial Technology demonstrator version had a range of 1500 km but were based on a solid and a liquid stage making for long preparation before firing. Learning from this the production variants of Agni are solid fuel based to allow for swift retaliation against adversaries.

3. Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile Trishul- Trishul is the name of a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It has a range of 9 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg warhead. Designed to be used against low-level (sea skimming) targets at short range, the system has been developed to defend naval vessels against missiles and also as a short-range surface-to-air missile on land. Guidance consists of three different guiding beams, with the guidance handed over progressively to a narrower beam as the missile approaches the target.

4. Medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash- Akash is a medium range surface-to-air missile developed as part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of surface-to-air missiles. It is the most expensive missile project ever undertaken by the Union government in the 20th century. Development costs skyrocketed to almost US$120 million which is far more than other similar systems.

5. 3rd generation anti-tank missile Nag- Nag is India’s third generation “Fire-and-forget” anti-tank missile. It is an all weather, top attack missile with a range of 3 to 7 km.

India’s Missile System
• Agni I – Agni I is a single stage, solid fuel, road and rail mobile, Medium Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) using solid propulsion booster and a liquid propulsion upper stage derived from Prithvi. The Agni I has range of 700-800 kms.

• Agni II – A gni II is an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). The range for Agni II is more than 2000 kms.

• Agni III – A 2-stage IRBM capable of nuclear weapons delivery. The missile support a wide range of warhead configurations, with a 3,500 kms range and a total payload weight of 2490 kgs.

• Agni-IV – It is a 2-stage missile powered by solid propellant. Its length is 20 meters and launches weight 17 tonnes. It can be fired from a road mobile launcher. Its full range is 4,000 km. Agni IV is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that include indigenously developed ring laser gyro and composite rocket motor.

• Agni-V – Agni-V is a solid fueled Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed by Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of India. It range is more than 5,500 km. Agni-V Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) has been designed with the addition of a 3rd composite stage to the 2-stage Agni-III missile. To reduce the weight it is built with high composite content. The 17.5-metre-long Agni-V would be a canister launch missile system so as to ensure that it has the requisite operational flexibility and can be swiftly transported and fired from anywhere.

• Trishul – The Trishul (Trident) is a short-range, quick reaction, all weather surface-to-air missile designed to counter a low level attck

• Akash – The Akash system is a medium-range surface-to-air missile with multi-target engagement capability carrying a 55 kgs multiple warhead capable of targeting 5 aircraft simultaneously up to 25 kms. It uses high-energy solid propellant for the booster and ram-rocket propulsion for the sustainer phase.

• Nag – The Nag is a 3rd generation ‘fire-and-forget’ anti-tank missile with a range of 4-8 kms. It is developed in India as an anti-armour weapon employing sensor fusion technologies for flight guidance. In addition, HELINA (Helicopter Launched NAG) is the air-to-ground version of the NAG anti-tank missile integrated into the HAL built Dhruv Helicopters. The upgraded propulsion will enable HELINA to strike enemy armor at a distance of 7-8 kms

• Prithvi – The Prithvi missile is the 1st indigenously built ballistic missile under India’s IGMDP with ranges of Prithvi I at 150 kms and II at 295 kms. Surface-to-surface battle field missile, Prithvi demonstrates higher lethal effects as compared to any equivalent class of missiles in the world displaying manoeuverable trajectory and high level capability with field interchangeable warheads.

• BrahMos – Supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, is being developed with Russia as a private joint-venture. BrahMos is a multi-platform cruise missile enabling it to strike from various types of land, sea and air-based platforms. It is among the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world with speeds ranging between Mach 2.5 – 2.8. BrahMos is a ‘fire and forget’ weapon, requiring no further guidance from the control centre once the target has been assigned and it is launched.

• Nirbhay – A supplement to the BrahMos is the Nirbhay-a subsonic missile using a terrain-following navigation system to reach up to 1,000 kms. It is capable of being launched from multiple platforms on land, sea and air. Nirbhay will be a terrain hugging, stealth missile capable of delivering 24 different types of warheads depending on mission requirements.

• Sagarika – It is a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) with a range of 750 kms. Sagarika missile is being integrated with India’s nuclear powered Arihant-class submarine.

• Shaurya – A variant of the K-15 Sagarika named Shaurya has been developed from ground up as a submarine-capable missile. This nuclear-capable missile aims to enhance India’s 2nd-strike capability. Shaurya missile can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over 750 kms and striking within 20-30 metres of its target.

• Dhanush – The sea-based Dhanush is a short-range, sea-based, liquid propellant ballistic missile-known as the Naval version of Prithvi II. It is with a maximum range of approximately 350 kms.

• Astra – The Astra is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile using a solid-propellant. In terms of size and weight, the Astra is the smallest missile developed by the DRDO. It is envisaged to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in the head-on mode at a range of 80 kms. Astra has an active radar seeker to find targets, and electronic counter-measure capabilities which permits it to jam radar signals from an enemy surface-to-air battery, thus ensuring that it’s not tracked or shot down.

• Prahaar – The Prahaar is India’s latest surface-to-surface missile with a range of 150 kms. The primary objective of the conventionally armed Prahaar missile is to bridge the gap between the unguided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (ranging 45 kms) and the guided Prithvi missile variants. Stated to be a unique missile, the Prahaar boasts of high maneuverability, acceleration and accuracy.