Indian Nuclear & Missile Development, News & Discussions

[Bonza]

Guys, please try to include more post content than just links and one liners. It's better for the discussion to include your own comments and thoughts. Thanks.

 

[Twinblade]

Guys, please try to include more post content than just links and one liners. It's better for the discussion to include your own comments and thoughts. Thanks.

Usually i would Bonza, but there aren't much details available about the tests, particularly about Shourya/Sagarika other than that the tests went according to the plan. Its usually the failures that let out more details about the system

 

[Twinblade]

Agni-II soars in success

Finally DRDO lets out some details about the test. For the first time it confirms that Agni carries a MaRV. The colour scheme this time was not the usual DRDO white and orange spiral, which is used to monitor the spin of the missile. I think that means the unit was from the production lot and the MaRV wasn't being tested for the first time, as they might have had sufficient flight characteristic data with MaRV already, otherwise they would have used that old colour scheme.

 

[dragonfire]

Agni-II soars in success

Finally DRDO lets out some details about the test. For the first time it confirms that Agni carries a MaRV. The colour scheme this time was not the usual DRDO white and orange spiral, which is used to monitor the spin of the missile. I think that means the unit was from the production lot and the MaRV wasn't being tested for the first time, as they might have had sufficient flight characteristic data with MaRV already, otherwise they would have used that old colour scheme.

This was a user trial initiated by the SFC (Strategic Forces Command) the wing of the Armed Forces which control Ballistic Missiles & other Strategic (including nuclear) Arsenal. The DRDO was not primarily involved. I think you mean MIRV (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle)when you say MaRV (apologies if i am wrong). The article the link for which you have shared does not talk about a MIRV warhead, pl share any other links which does mention a MIRV tested this time. The color scheme again is because it is a user trial. Like when the tejas started flying it had a white + color scheme whereas these days they fly mostly with the IAF colors

 

[Twinblade]

This was a user trial initiated by the SFC (Strategic Forces Command) the wing of the Armed Forces which control Ballistic Missiles & other Strategic (including nuclear) Arsenal. The DRDO was not primarily involved. I think you mean MIRV (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle)when you say MaRV (apologies if i am wrong). The article the link for which you have shared does not talk about a MIRV warhead, pl share any other links which does mention a MIRV tested this time. The color scheme again is because it is a user trial. Like when the tejas started flying it had a white + color scheme whereas these days they fly mostly with the IAF colors

Nope, Maneuverable Re-entry Vehicle
[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MARV[/ame]

From the article posted a couple of posts back

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said the control-related problem that led to the earlier failures were overcome by taking a number of steps focussing on quality. A specialist, dedicated agency went into quality at every stage.

“We took a number of steps to streamline the quality process and everything was checked,” he said. Agni-II's re-entry worked perfectly. Mr. Chander called it “a manoeuvring re-entry vehicle.”

 

[dragonfire]

Agni V to be tested

Agni-5 to fly halfway to Antarctica
Ajai Shukla / New Delhi October 08, 2011, 0:29 IST

After three successful ballistic missile tests during the past fortnight, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) is finalising preparations for the big one. In December, the giant Agni-5 missile will blast off from Wheeler Island, on the Orissa coast, travelling its full range of 5,000 km to a target in the southern Indian Ocean.

Agni-5 is debuting with a full-range test for two reasons. First, so that there is no question about how far it can strike. Second, to test not just the missile, but also whether the DRDO’s monitoring networks can cope with such enormous ranges, tracking the Agni-5 every moment en route to a target 5,000 km away. This will involve transporting a DRDO team and its tracking equipment on Indian Navy warships deep into the southern reaches of the Indian Ocean.

Agni-5 to fly halfway to Antarctica

A full range test for a 3000 Kms + range :eek. This must be a first for DRDO, considering its the first test of this new missile. The splash down would be deep south in the IOR between South Africa and Australia. Probably in same region where the alleged Israeli-South African nuclear test was conducted . The three stages of the missile have been apparently tested independently. Apparently the test is also designed to understand the Indian ground control/tracking capabilities, the missile is similar to the Agni III but with composites to enable range increase and distinctive motor advancements, its a canisterised missile

 

[medevilgirl]

hi

You need to comment on a quote.

 

[dragonfire]

India has recently successfully tested a Milli-metric Wave based seeker on the home grown Anti-Tank Nag Missile. The seeker is still in the development process and has worked on a 2 km range on the basis of lock-on-before-launch. The next phases of development and testing should ensure that the range is increased to 4 kms and the seeker would be enabled to 'lock-on-after-launch'.

It would go on to be inducted into the air-ground Helina variant and the variant being developed for the Jaguars.

The question would be if a mmW seeker would be better than an IR based seeker in adverse weather conditions. And also if the development of such a seeker could help in developing targeting radars for helis and other platforms such as the longbow on the apache.

.. Also are there other Anti-Armour Missiles which use a Milli-Metric Wave seeker.

 

[Twinblade]

.. Also are there other Anti-Armour Missiles which use a Milli-Metric Wave seeker.

Brimstone and Longbow hellfire use a mm wave radar.

Nag is turning out to be a wonderful weapon, now since it has been tested with both passive IIR seeker and mm wave seeker, the next logical step in development would be:-
1. Integration of a dual mode seeker.
2. Development of joint air/surface attack missile.

And also if the development of such a seeker could help in developing targeting radars for helis and other platforms such as the longbow on the apache.

Logically the mm wave radar for a heli should come before the missile seeker (lesser power and size constraints) should the intention to integrate radar onto a helicopter be there, but mounting it on top of rotors (like in Ka-52 and AH-64D) requires a whole different level of rotor designing and correction algorithms in the radar processor to cancel the vibrations that even the most careful rotor design cannot remove.

 

[Twinblade]

http://tarmak007.blogspot.com/2012/01/big-daddy-warms-up-for-target-thandavam.html?m=0

Agni-V test firing event has been nicknamed "Thaandavam" (Taandav = dance of destruction)
http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/as-agni-5-takes-aim-india-eyes-icbm/351830.html

As if Agni-5 wasn't enough, work on Agni-6 is also in progress.

“Future systems may carry different types of payloads such as high energy weapons. Further systems whenever planned, will have some of these (read as MIRV/MarV) features,” he said.

On the launch date of A-5, he said: “The launch campaign will officially begin in the middle of the month.”

It seems to me as if Agni-5 is only an intermediate product and Agni-6 being a full blown ICBM.

 

[nevidimka]

When is the Agni 5 going to be tested? As far as i know the latest date was this february, and its already the 19th. Annother usual Delay?

IMO the DRDO should just do the test and then inform the public, instead of wailing about it for years before they do a launch. Waste of time and very ridiculous.

 

[DeathAngel]

When is the Agni 5 going to be tested? As far as i know the latest date was this february, and its already the 19th. Annother usual Delay?

IMO the DRDO should just do the test and then inform the public, instead of wailing about it for years before they do a launch. Waste of time and very ridiculous.

The missile test is planned at the end of March. They are integrating all systems, as pe reports. This was reported in the Times of India, on 13th Feb.

 

[Twinblade]

When is the Agni 5 going to be tested? As far as i know the latest date was this february, and its already the 19th. Annother usual Delay?

IMO the DRDO should just do the test and then inform the public, instead of wailing about it for years before they do a launch. Waste of time and very ridiculous.

Those who actively follow DRDO take that date and add a suitable amount of time to it depending on the project state. If the press release says early next year, we assume it to be roughly within the first quarter.

Virtually a large number of systems aboard Agni-V have been tested already on Agni-II Prime, later renamed Agni-IV

 

[Twinblade]

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Nirbhay likely to be test-fired in April

Nirbhay is a two-stage, surface-to-surface missile. While a booster engine would “kick the first stage” from the ground, the second stage has a turbo-prop engine, akin to an aircraft's. It can carry multiple payloads and engage several targets. “Even if there are multiple targets, it can pick out a target and attack it. It is a loitering missile; it can go round and round a target, perform several manoeuvres and take it apart. It has precision, endurance and accuracy. It is an important missile,” DRDO officials said.

With a range of more than 750 km, Nirbhay can remain in the air for a long time. Capable of flying at the height of a tree (so, it is known as “tree-top missile), it can soar to a minimum of 10 km and a maximum of 50 km.

The DRDO will also soon test-fire Helina, the helicopter-fired version of Nag, the third-generation anti-tank missile. Helina is a portmanteau term, standing for helicopter and Nag (the cobra). Nag has ‘fire and forget' and ‘top attack' capability. Carrying an eight-kg warhead, it has an infra-red seeker and can destroy enemy tanks four km away. Based on the information available from the target, Helina will lock on to it midway through its flight and zero in on to it.

A modified version of Arjun-Mark I main battle tank will prove its mettle by firing a LAHAT missile from an Army range this month. The LAHAT (Laser Homing Attack or Laser Homing Anti-Tank missile) is a third-generation semi-active low-weight anti-tank missile. This version was fired from the Arjun tank in 2004. The Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, a DRDO facility at Avadi, designed and developed the Arjun.

Nirbhay, Helina, Agni-V and LAHAT tests, all in the same month. This is going to be fun.

 

[dragonfire]

K-15 SLBM Tested

K-15 test fired

BALASORE: After many postponements, the DRDO finally test-fired the most sophisticated submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), code named K-15. The weapon system was reportedly tested from an underwater launching platform off Visakhapatnam coast on Sunday.

K-15 test fired - South India - Orissa - ibnlive

If the Test was real then it has been awaited for a while (i say if-it-was-real only because the quality of the article isn't great) and is the first in many steps to induct a proper SLBM capable of being armed with a nuclear warhead to form the third leg in triad of nuclear response systems.

 

[dragonfire]

When is the Agni 5 going to be tested? As far as i know the latest date was this february, and its already the 19th. Annother usual Delay?

IMO the DRDO should just do the test and then inform the public, instead of wailing about it for years before they do a launch. Waste of time and very ridiculous.

Well the wait is almost over - test is ideally scheduled for sometime between 18th to 20th April, 2012 depending on weather.

Business Line : Today's Paper / ECONOMY : Agni V, all set to be test-fired

Good luck to the DRDO team

 

[Eeshaan]

BBC News - Agni-V missile to take India into elite nuclear club

Congratulations to DRDO, Indian Armed Forces and India itself.

THis is a major milestone. THe missle itself is an andvanced and innovative design compared to others of it's type.

'Innovative'

Missiles available to other nuclear weapons states employ relatively older technology, he said.

Agni-V's innovative technologies include composite rocket motors, guidance ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation systems, micro-navigation systems and accelerometers to measure the ICBM's acceleration and detect any change in its vehicular motion.

Composites have been extensively used to reduce the ICBM's weight. A third, miniaturised stage has been added to the Agni-III to boost its range from 3,500km to more than 5,000km.

Agni-V missile will be capable of hitting targets in China
DRDO scientists said many of the components of the Agni-III and Agni-IV - which were successfully test-fired over the last two years - have been incorporated into the latest missile.

Avinash Chander, director of the DRDO-run Advanced Systems Laboratory, which is closely involved in developing the Agni missiles, says engineering the Agni-V's third stage proved to be a major technological challenge.

"It (the third stage) slopes into the warhead stage and has a conical motor. So far, we have only been doing cylindrical motors and building that was difficult," Mr Chander said in October last year.

DRDO officials say a reduced payload will further enhance the Agni-V's range to beyond 5,000km.

"Agni-V will provide India with much-needed dissuasive deterrence against China which at present it lacks," said former Brigadier Arun Sahgal, joint director of the Institute of National Security Studies in Delhi.

"With Agni-V trials, India's strategic lacunae will to a large extent be overcome," he added.

 

[Twinblade]

Anyhow, seems like the speculations about the range of Agni being more than what is being disclosed are right.

Agni V can launch mini-satellites too

The DRDO chief, however, refused to disclose Agni V’s actual range. “It is more than 5,000 km. I cannot give you the exact range. That's classified,” he said. Asked whether Agni V could be described as an inter-continental ballistic missile, Saraswat said he would prefer to describe it as a long-range ballistic missile.

Agni-V trials in final configuration to begin early next year

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.”

 

[Twinblade]

India developing radar-destroying Anti-Radiation Missile - India - DNA

A rather major update on Indian missile projects.
1. An indegenous ARM is in works, the article suggests that it would be carried by su-30 suggests that its going to be a big missile.
2. Apart from a long range Astra 2, there is a short range missile under development as well.
3. Pinaka 2 mbrl with a range of 60 km might be tested this year.

 

[dragonfire]

Prahaar to Replace Prithvi

New Delhi: Seeking to enhance its precision strike capabilities, India is planning to replace its 150 km-range Prithvi ballistic missiles with the newly developed quick reaction Prahar missiles.

Prithvi missiles to be replaced by more-capable Prahar: DRDO - daily.bhaskar.com

another news link

India To Withdraw Prithvi I Missile After Seventeen Years Of Service

The replacement is only for the Prithvi I version of the missile, as tactical missiles go the Prahaar would be having multiple advantages for the armed forces considering in comparison the Prahaar is a solid fueled missile is less heavy can be transported using TELs, can be fired in salvo modes, has a better CEP of 10 meters or lesser

The Prithvi II and III versions would continue to remain in service