India Missiles and Guided Munitions

Gessler

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Any idea why we use Tatra trucks as missile carriers when the likes to Tata or Ashok Leyland are more than capable to develop comparable platforms. We need enough of em given the number of offensive and defensive missile systems we're inducting while they can also be exported to friendly countries

Army & other MoD users already have tens of thousands of Tatras lying around. Sure aren't going to throw them away when we paid hard money for them & they still have lot of service life left.

There is no specific preference for Tatra or Indian trucks. Mostly its dependent on the unit. Most of the newer systems are likely to have Indian trucks (TATA or ASL) as platforms, like the SPYDER:

540--spyd-tit.jpg


As of DRDO, they are likely to be reusing the same handful of older trucks (must have received pre-2010) again & again by mating it with a different launcher. It's just for missile testing so doesn't matter.
 

Paro

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Any idea why we use Tatra trucks as missile carriers when the likes to Tata or Ashok Leyland are more than capable to develop comparable platforms. We need enough of em given the number of offensive and defensive missile systems we're inducting while they can also be exported to friendly countries
If I remember correctly BMEL assembles Tatra trucks for 2x or 3x the cost in India. Obviously MOD was giving contracts to BMEL to keep the unions happy.
 

Zapper

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If I remember correctly BMEL assembles Tatra trucks for 2x or 3x the cost in India. Obviously MOD was giving contracts to BMEL to keep the unions happy.
I hope all these PSUs get privatized asap...the recent corporatization re-org doesn't really work since it's still the same wolf in a new sheep's clothing

I've seen the tech specs and few documentaries of these Tatra trucks and they're nothing our Tata, ASL or Mahindra can't manufacture. As Gessler pointed out, it's fine if DRDO has been provided with some older trucks for their tests but it's just a waste of valuable forex when our private firms are manufacturing world class trucks and gained good name in the export market as well
 

Paro

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I hope all these PSUs get privatized asap...the recent corporatization re-org doesn't really work since it's still the same wolf in a new sheep's clothing

I've seen the tech specs and few documentaries of these Tatra trucks and they're nothing our Tata, ASL or Mahindra can't manufacture. As Gessler pointed out, it's fine if DRDO has been provided with some older trucks for their tests but it's just a waste of valuable forex when our private firms are manufacturing world class trucks and gained good name in the export market as well
Not exactly, Some recent report by some private consultant ( don't remember if it was Deloitte or something else) said at least 4 out of the seven will go extinct in 3 years. The corporatization will force them to get their act together and show profits or go bankrupt.

I cant find that article. ill try searching for it.
 
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Nilgiri

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The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tested its Solid Fueled Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology for the fourth time with a demonstration flight earlier today, Livefist has reported.

The development of SFDR technology will enable India to make its own long-range air-to-air missile, which could mirror the capabilities of the best missiles in this class, like MBDA’s Meteor, which the Indian Air Force uses on its Rafales.

The last test of the technology was conducted in March 2021. The test, DRDO said back then, helped prove many technologies and sub-systems, including the ground booster motor and nozzle less motor.

"Successful demonstration of Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology has provided DRDO with a technological advantage which will enable it to develop long range air-to-air missiles. At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world. During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation," the Ministry of Defence had said in a statement released after the test.

India has been working on the Mark-II version of home grown Astra air-to-air missile, which will have a range of around 160 kilometer. The SFDR propulsion system, which was also tested in 2019, is critical for the missile’s performance in the terminal phase of its flight towards the target.

The Meteor missile also depends on its ramjet propulsion for “more energy to maneuver during the endgame of the engagement”.

“The ramjet motor [propulsion system] provides the [Meteor] missile with thrust all the way to target intercept, providing the largest No-Escape Zone of any air-to-air missile,” the literature on the missile on MBAD website reads.

While the DRDO’s plan for Astra Mark-II is to mirror the performance of MBDA’s Meteor missile, it may take a few more years to reach there, experts say.
The development of the Astra missile began in 2001.

The Mark-I version of the missile was tested for the first time in May 2003. Since then, Astra Mark-I has been test-fired multiple times, and has been integrated with Su-30 MKI. In September 2019, the missile, test-fired from an Su-30MKI of the IAF, hit a target 90 kilometer away. The air-to-air missile has already been ordered in large numbers for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

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SFDR schematic (credit to original owner):

1639692923494.png
 

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.
 

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
 

crixus

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