India Indian Ballistic Missile Programs

Gessler

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Getting reports that the first test of new 500-km SRBM "Pralay" was conducted today. More details awaited... @Nilgiri @Zapper anything?

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Gessler

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500 KMs and submarine launched , I don't know what will be the usefulness , but I am sure once its launched it will be very easy to track the sub . The real deterrent is K-4 and no one knows where it is.

Who said anything about Pralay being submarine launched? It's not. It's a land based missile designed to replace Prithvi.
 

Paro

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Any reason india is on a blitz speed testing missiles?
 

crixus

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Not really...it depends on the individual lab/dept of DRDO and their missile dept has always been their shining star
To be honest , now the requirement is of K4 and MIRV ( if we already have then we need to make it public)
 

Zapper

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To be honest , now the requirement is of K4 and MIRV ( if we already have then we need to make it public)
Why would one want to make it public if it's ballistic in nature with the potential to carry nukes! They're used as a last resort which might very well result in total annihilation and we'd also want our adversaries to keep guessing

China doesn't show all her cards, heck even pakistan doesn't but we're the only ones who gloat every single test despite being a success or not
 

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Continuing the steady modernization of India’s missile arsenal, both conventional and nuclear-tipped, the Defence R&D Organisation (DRDO) conducted on Wednesday the maiden launch of an indigenous, new-generation, surface-to-surface missile called “Pralay.”

DRDO officials are categorically stating that the Pralay will not be part of India’s nuclear deterrent. Instead, like the earlier Shourya and Prahar missiles, the Pralay is powered by conventional solid fuel, and its payload is designed to carry only a conventional warhead. “It (Pralay) is powered by a solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies. The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometres and can be launched from a mobile launcher,” said a ministry of defence (MoD) statement after the test.

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Pralay PR-02 (second test article) ejects from canister, fins yet to deploy - can be seen in folded-down form

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Pralay PR-02 boosts up, control fins fully deployed. The Thrust-Vector Control (TVC) vanes on the Nozzle can also be seen. Combination of TVC + Fins likely imparts a high degree of maneuverability to the system straight from boost phase, inside the atmosphere.

“The mission has met all its objectives. The missile followed the desired quasi-ballistic trajectory and reached the designated target with a high degree of accuracy, validating control, guidance and mission algorithms. All the sensors deployed, including down range ships, tracked the missile trajectory and captured all the events,” stated the MoD.

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The Pralay SRBM is likely the first all-new missile system for which the recently-commissioned missile telemetry-tracking ship INS Dhruv (VC-11184) has played a part in gathering accurate terminal-stage test data right from the start - further refining the testing process

Top DRDO officials, such as the organization's former Director-General VK Saraswat, said the development of the new missiles had multiple objectives. These included: “Bridging the [range] gap between the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (MBRL) system and the Prithvi missiles.” The indigenous Pinaka MBRL strikes targets up to 60-70 km from the launchers; while variants of the Prithvi missile can flatten objectives 250-350 km away. The territory between them, where key targets will be located in wartime, will be engaged by the Shourya, Prahar and Pralay missile systems.

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Pinaka 214mm MBRL on a previous test. This version of the round has a Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) on the nose, enhancing accuracy

Two US academics who specialize in South Asia, Christopher Clary and Vipin Narang, have enumerated the targets these surface-to-surface, short-range missile systems would be used to strike within Pakistan. The Prahar can strike all three of the Pakistan Army’s service headquarters and four of its nine corps headquarters, which are all located within 150 kilometers of the border. So are two of the Pakistan Air Force’s eleven “deploying bases,” as well as its joint staff and the Strategic Plans Division that controls Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

The Shourya missile, a land-based version of the Indian Navy’s underwater Sagarika missile, with a range of 750 km, can reach every one of Pakistan’s 20 largest cities, all of the Pakistan Air Force’s flying bases, every corps command location, and the Pakistan Navy’s two most important ports, Karachi and Ormara.

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K-15/B-05 Submarine-launched Missile (SLBM) - The Shourya (also written Shaurya) is the land-based version of this system. Shaurya was reportedly deployed during the recent tensions with China.

Even so, speculation continues about a possible nuclear role for the three missiles. These are fueled partially by reports that Prahar missiles are being manufactured and inducted into service to replace all of India’s 150-kilometer Prithvi ballistic missiles -- which were themselves deemed to be dual-use weapons.

Prithvi-II_missile_launch_on_11_March_2011_(cropped).jpg

Prithvi-II liquid-fueled SRBM - the Prithvi-series was originally designed & developed in the 1980s, the first to have been done so under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). The original Prithvi-I has already been retired. The induction of Pralay will probably retire the newer versions as well.

The MoD has announced that the “Pralay missile is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies. The missile… can be launched from a mobile launcher. The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics."


++++

Following the initial test on Dec 22nd, a second test of the missile system took place the following day on Dec 23rd. The MoD report stated that a different payload fraction & range envelope were validated in the second test.​
 
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Zapper

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India’s Nuclear Arsenal Takes A Big Step Forward

By Matt Korda and Hans Kristensen • December 23, 2021

On 18 December 2021, India tested its new Agni-P medium-range ballistic missile from its Integrated Test Range on Abdul Kalam Island. This was the second test of the missile, the first test having been conducted in June 2021.
Our friends at Planet Labs PBC managed to capture an image of the Agni-P launcher sitting on the launch pad the day before the test took place.



Following both launches of the Agni-P, the Indian Government referred to the missile as a “new generation” nuclear-capable ballistic missile. Back in 2016, when the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) first announced the development of the Agni-P (which was called the Agni-1P at the time), a senior DRDO official explained why this missile was so special:

“As our ballistic missiles grew in range, our technology grew in sophistication. Now the early, short-range missiles, which incorporate older technologies, will be replaced by missiles with more advanced technologies. Call it backward integration of technology.”

The Agni-P is India’s first shorter-range missile to incorporate technologies now found in the newer Agni-IV and -V ballistic missiles, including more advanced rocket motors, propellants, avionics, and navigation systems.
Most notably, the Agni-P also incorporates a new feature seen on India’s new Agni-V intermediate-range ballistic missiles that has the potential to impact strategic stability: canisterization. And the launcher used in the Agni-P launch appears to have increased mobility. There are also unconfirmed rumors that the Agni-P and Agni-V might have the capability to launch multiple warheads.

Canisterization
“Canisterizing” refers to storing missiles inside a sealed, climate-controlled tube to protect them from the outside elements during transportation. In this configuration, the warhead can be permanently mated with the missile instead of having to be installed prior to launch, which would significantly reduce the amount of time needed to launch nuclear weapons in a crisis. This is a new feature of India’s Strategic Forces Command’s increased emphasis on readiness. In recent years, former senior civilian and military officials have reportedly suggested in interviews that “some portion of India’s nuclear force, particularly those weapons and capabilities designed for use against Pakistan, are now kept at a high state of readiness, capable of being operationalized and released within seconds or minutes in a crisis—not hours, as had been assumed.”

If Indian warheads are increasingly mated to their delivery systems, then it would be harder for an adversary to detect when a crisis is about to rise to the nuclear threshold. With separated warheads and delivery systems, the signals involved with mating the two would be more visible in a crisis, and the process itself would take longer. But widespread canisterization with fully armed missiles would shorten warning time. This would likely cause Pakistan to increase the readiness of its missiles as well and shorten its launch procedures––steps that could increase crisis instability and potentially raise the likelihood of nuclear use in a regional crisis. As Vipin Narang and Christopher Clary noted in a 2019 article for International Security, this development “enables India to possibly release a full counterforce strike with few indications to Pakistan that it was coming (a necessary precondition for success). If Pakistan believed that India had a ‘comprehensive first strike’ strategy and with no indication of when a strike was coming, crisis instability would be amplified significantly.”

For years, it was evident that India’s new Agni-V intermediate-range missile (the Indian Ministry of Defense says Agni-V has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers; the US military says the range is over 5,000 kilometers but not ICBM range) would be canisterized; however, the introduction of the shorter-range, canisterized Agni-P suggests that India ultimately intends to incorporate canisterization technology across its suite of land-based nuclear delivery systems, encompassing both shorter- and longer-range missiles. While Agni-V is a new addition to India’s arsenal, Arni-P might be intended––once it becomes operational––to replace India’s older Agni-I and Agni-II systems.

MIRV technology
It appears that India is also developing technology to potentially deploy multiple warheads on each missile. There is still uncertainty about how advanced this technology is and whether it would enable independent targeting of each warhead (using multiple independently-targetable reentry vehicles, or MIRVs) or simply multiple payloads against the same target.

The Agni-P test in June 2021 was rumored to have used two maneuverable decoys to simulate a MIRVed payload, with unnamed Indian defense sources suggesting that a functional MIRV capability will take another two years to develop and flight-test. The Indian MOD press release did not mention payloads. It is unclear whether the December 2021 test utilized decoys in a similar manner.

In 2013, the director-general of DRDO noted in an interview that “Our design activity on the development and production of MIRV is at an advanced stage today. We are designing the MIRVs, we are integrating [them] with Agni IV and Agni V missiles.” In October 2021, the Indian Strategic Forces Command conducted its first user trial of the Agni-V in full operational configuration, which was rumored to have tested MIRV technology. The MOD press release did not mention MIRVs.

If India succeeds in developing an operational MIRV capability for its ballistic missiles, it would be able to strike more targets with fewer missiles, thus potentially exacerbating crisis instability with Pakistan. If either country believed that India could potentially conduct a decapitating or significant first strike against Pakistan, a serious crisis could potentially go nuclear with little advance warning. Indian missiles with MIRVs would become more important targets for an adversary to destroy before they could be launched to reduce the damage India could inflict. Additionally, India’s MIRVs might prompt Indian decision-makers to try and preemptively disarm Pakistan in a crisis.
India’s other nuclear adversary, China, has already developed MIRV capability for some of its long-range missiles and is significantly increasing its nuclear arsenal, which might be a factor in India’s pursuit of MIRV technology. A MIRV race between the two countries would have significant implications for nuclear force levels and regional stability. For India, MIRV capability would allow it to more rapidly increase its nuclear stockpile in the future, if it so decided––especially if its plutonium production capability can make use of the unsafeguarded breeder reactors that are currently under construction.

Implications for India’s nuclear policy
India has long adhered to a nuclear no-first-use (NFU) policy and in 2020 India officially stated that there has been no change in its NFU policy. Moreover, the Agni-V test launch in October 2021 was accompanied by a reaffirmation of a “’credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’.”
At the same time, however, the pledge to NFU has been caveated, watered-down, and called into question by government statements and recent scholarship. The increased readiness and pursuit of MIRV capability for India’s strategic forces could further complicate India’s adherence to its NFU policy and could potentially cause India’s nuclear adversaries to doubt its NFU policy altogether.
Given that Indian security forces have repeatedly clashed with both Pakistani and Chinese troops during recent border disputes, potentially destabilizing developments in India’s nuclear arsenal should concern all those who want to keep regional tensions below boiling point.

https://fas.org/blogs/security/2021/12/indias-nuclear-arsenal-takes-a-big-step-forward/
 

Nilgiri

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India conducted a “routine user training” launch test of its nuclear-capable Agni-4 missile on Monday, reaffirming the credible minimum deterrence capability. Agni and Prithvi are the country’s two main nuclear missiles.

“A successful training launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, was carried out at approximately 1930 hours [7.30 pm] on June 6 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. “The successful test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.”

The ministry stated that the “launch validated all operational parameters as also reliability of the system”, and “reaffirms India’s policy of having a Credible Minimum Deterrence Capability”.

Agni-4 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of around 4,000 km. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it can carry a 1,000-kg payload and can go as high as 900 km.

The Strategic Forces Command has earlier conducted user trials in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Strategic Forces Command is operationally responsible for all of India’s nuclear assets. India can launch nuclear missiles from land, air and from submarines, and is one of the few countries that has the nuclear triad.
 

Rajendra Chola

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India conducted a “routine user training” launch test of its nuclear-capable Agni-4 missile on Monday, reaffirming the credible minimum deterrence capability. Agni and Prithvi are the country’s two main nuclear missiles.

“A successful training launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, was carried out at approximately 1930 hours [7.30 pm] on June 6 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement. “The successful test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.”

The ministry stated that the “launch validated all operational parameters as also reliability of the system”, and “reaffirms India’s policy of having a Credible Minimum Deterrence Capability”.

Agni-4 is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of around 4,000 km. Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), it can carry a 1,000-kg payload and can go as high as 900 km.

The Strategic Forces Command has earlier conducted user trials in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018. The Strategic Forces Command is operationally responsible for all of India’s nuclear assets. India can launch nuclear missiles from land, air and from submarines, and is one of the few countries that has the nuclear triad.

Pretty surprised India inducted Agni IV. I was under the impression that they skipped it and went to Agni V directly as Agni IV does not give any advantage over our adversaries. I mean Agni II and III already covers Pakistan. IV is an overkill and doesn't cover whole of China which the V does. So the SFC conducting routine training test means it has been operational for sometime.
 

Nilgiri

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Pretty surprised India inducted Agni IV. I was under the impression that they skipped it and went to Agni V directly as Agni IV does not give any advantage over our adversaries. I mean Agni II and III already covers Pakistan. IV is an overkill and doesn't cover whole of China which the V does. So the SFC conducting routine training test means it has been operational for sometime.

I suppose Agni IV is useful platform to add and validate certain things on (for the family going forward at large)....compared to using a more expensive, much larger Agni III or V which ought to follow relatively more rare user trial regimen given their respective deterrence potentials currently.

It is also very mobile (w.r.t larger agni missiles)....and might occupy role like what such "fast strike" IRBMs (like pershing II) did in latter cold war.

Range deterrence is not the only factor.
 

Rajendra Chola

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I suppose Agni IV is useful platform to add and validate certain things on (for the family going forward at large)....compared to using a more expensive, much larger Agni III or V which ought to follow relatively more rare user trial regimen given their respective deterrence potentials currently.

It is also very mobile (w.r.t larger agni missiles)....and might occupy role like what such "fast strike" IRBMs (like pershing II) did in latter cold war.

Range deterrence is not the only factor.


It's possible. I think Agni V was only recently inducted after several user trials. So they wanted to have Agni IV in the meantime. Agni V has several new tech, carrying over several improvement from Agni Prime which I think have delayed it's induction. Anyway I am eagerly awaiting for K5 SLBM test whose range is supposed to be 6000 km.
 

fire starter

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Pretty surprised India inducted Agni IV. I was under the impression that they skipped it and went to Agni V directly as Agni IV does not give any advantage over our adversaries. I mean Agni II and III already covers Pakistan. IV is an overkill and doesn't cover whole of China which the V does. So the SFC conducting routine training test means it has been operational for sometime.
Agni iv was actually a TD for agni v.
 

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Nearly 10 days after India conducted a routine test of its nuclear-capable Agni missile, it carried out another test of its other nuclear-capable missile, Prithvi.

The government said in a statement that a “successful training launch of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II” was carried out Wednesday at 7:30pm from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha.

“The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision,” the statement said, adding that the “user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.”

Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile, which has a range of around 250 km and can carry a one tonne payload.

India had tested its Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-IV on June 6, which can travel as far as 4,000 km.

After the “routine user training” launch test of the nuclear-capable Agni-IV, the government had stated that the successful test “reaffirms India’s policy of having a Credible Minimum Deterrence Capability.”

The tests come at a time when globally there seems to be a revamp of nuclear capabilities. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) had said in a report on June 13 that the post-cold war decline of nuclear arsenal around the world was ending.

It said that the nine nuclear-armed states — the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea – “continue to modernize their nuclear arsenals and although the total number of nuclear weapons declined slightly between January 2021 and January 2022, the number will probably increase in the next decade.”

China, it said, is in the middle of “a substantial expansion of its nuclear weapon arsenal, which satellite images indicate includes the construction of over 300 new missile silos” and added that several additional “warheads are thought to have been assigned to operational forces in 2021 following the delivery of new mobile launchers and a submarine.”

For India and Pakistan, the SIPRI report noted that both countries “appear to be expanding their nuclear arsenals, and both countries introduced and continued to develop new types of nuclear delivery system in 2021.”

Russia and the US still possess over 90 per cent of all nuclear weapons globally, it said, but the “other seven nuclear-armed states are either developing or deploying new weapon systems, or have announced their intention to do so.”

While India has around 160 total nuclear warheads, Pakistan has 165, and China has around 350. Russia’s total nuclear warheads are 5,977 and the United States has 5,428, as per SIPRI data.
 

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