A detailed look at Indian missile technology.
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- The story: India is working on developing hypersonic missile technology, having excelled in many other types of missile systems. In 2021, China had demonstrated its hypersonic missile capability with successful tests of a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) which possibly circled the globe but missed its target by just a few kilometres.
- History: Before Independence, several kingdoms in India were using rockets as part of their warfare technologies. Mysore ruler Hyder Ali started inducting iron-cased rockets in his army in the mid-18th century. By the time Hyder’s son Tipu Sultan died, a company of rocketeers was attached to each brigade of his army, which has been estimated at around 5,000 rocket-carrying troops.
- At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities. The government created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958. This was later expanded and called the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), which moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962.
- In 1972, Project Devil, for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missile was initiated. A large number of infrastructure and test facilities were established during this period.
- The development of components / systems for Project Devil formed the technology base for the future IGMDP Programme. By 1982, DRDL was working on several missile technologies under the Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP).
- Range of missiles: India is considered among the top few nations when it comes to designing and developing missiles indigenously, although it is way behind the US, China and Russia in terms of range.
- Surface-launched systems:
- Anti tank guided missile - Nag has already been inducted into the services. Nag is the only “fire-and-forget ATGM meeting all weather requirements for its range (around 20 km)”. The Heli-Nag was also tested, which will be operated from helicopters and will be inducted by 2022. There is also a Stand-off Anti-Tank (SANT) missile, with a range over 10 km. Tested from Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters on December 11, it has a millimetre wave seeker, which enhances target detection in all weather conditions. Reddy said “man-portable ATGMs” are also available.
- Surface to air missiles - The short-range SAM system Akash has already been inducted in the Army and the Air Force. For Akash 1, which has a seeker, the Army has already got the Acceptance of Necessity from the government, Reddy said. For Akash (New Generation), the first tests were conducted in July this year.
- Medium-Range SAM - Production of MRSAM systems for the Navy is complete. The Jaisalmer-based 2204 Squadron of the Air Force became the first unit to get the MRSAM systems in September 2021. Technology for MRSAM for the Army is also in a good shape and will be flight-tested soon.
- Short-Range SAM - For the Navy, the first flight tests have been successfully conducted.
- Air-launched systems:
- Air to air - Astra, India’s Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), has been completely tested and is under induction. It has a range of around 100 km, and DRDO is trying to now induct it with more IAF platforms, including the domestically developed light combat aircraft Tejas. A long-range Astra is also being developed, for which initial tests have been conducted. The missile uses solid fuel ramjet technology, which enhances speed, and will have an indigenously-built seeker.
- Air to ground - Rudram, a New Generation Anti-Radiation Missile (NGRAM), has cleared initial tests and “some more tests will be conducted soon.” With a maximum range of around 200 km, the missile mainly targets communication, radar and surveillance systems of the adversary, and was tested from the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet last year. Reddy mentioned that BrahMos, which India developed jointly with Russia, is already operational. It has a 300 km to 500 km range, and is a short-range, ramjet-powered, single warhead, supersonic anti-ship or land attack cruise missile. A supersonic missile-assisted torpedo system was successfully launched from Wheeler Island last Monday. It carried a torpedo and delivered it at a longer range” and will enhance Navy anti-submarine capability with a range of around 400 km.
- Most critical: The two most important are Agni and Prithvi, both being used by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC). Agni (range around 5,000 km), is India’s only contender for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), available with only a few countries. Prithvi, although a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a 350 km range, has strategic uses. India also tested a anti-satellite system in April 2019. A modified anti-ballistic missile named Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mk 2 was used to hit a low-orbit satellite. It put India only behind the US, Russia and China in this capability.
- Hypersonic technology: India has been working on this for a few years, and is just behind the US, Russia and China. DRDO successfully tested a Hypersonic Technology Demonstrated Vehicle (HSTDV) in September 2020, and demonstrated its hypersonic air-breathing scramjet technology. India has developed its own cryogenic engine and demonstrated it in a 23-second flight. India will try to make a hypersonic cruise missile, using HSTDV. Only Russia has proven its hypersonic missile capability so far, while China has demonstrated its HGV capacity. India is expected to be able to have a hypersonic weapons system within four years, with medium- to long-range capabilities.
- Dr Kalam: Under the IGMP then headed by A P J Abdul Kalam, later India’s President, first came Prithvi, then Agni. BrahMos, at 2.5-3 times the speed of sound, was among the fastest in the world when developed. After the nuclear blast in 1998, cryogenic etc were not given to India. Dr. Kalam and others, they made it a point that they developed it within the country. The US is leading in missile technology, and China is building up. With Agni V ready, India is working on Agni VI and Agni VII, which should have a much longer range. Prithvi, which DRDO developed in consultation with the armed forces, was originally with the Army, and went to the Strategic Forces but is expected to be back to the Army later. Pinaka rocket systems have also been developed in close coordination with the user agencies.
- EXAM QUESTIONS: (1) Present a perspective on the range of capabilities that India has built, in missile technology. (2) What are the comparative strengths of India, when seem in context of China and Pakistan, in missile technology?
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