In a significant development toward strengthening its deterrence capabilities, India has announced its intent to test a nuclear-warhead capable ballistic missile in February 2012. Named Agni-V, it can travel more than 5,000 km - bringing vast parts of its rapidly emerging neighbor China within striking range. The missile can be fired from a road-mobile launch pad and this will put India closer to the missile capabilities of countries like the United States, Russia and China.
In missile terminology, Agni-V will be classified just short of the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) - that have a range of 5,500 km or more.
In missile terminology, Agni-V will be classified just short of the Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) - that have a range of 5,500 km or more.
Joins Elite Club
The United States, Russia, and China have ICBMs that can hit targets more than 9,000-11,000 km away. As it falls short by 500 km, the Agni-V will be categorized as a ‘sub-ICBM’. Chinese ICBM, Dong Feng 31, can target areas over a 11,000-km range while Russia and the United States have had such capabilities from the days of the Cold War.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), buoyed by the successful launch of nuclear-capable Agni-IV having a range of 3,000 km, today said that it would take 2-3 years for the Agni-V to be inducted into the armed forces.
According to DRDO Chief VK Saraswat, “The Agni-IV test gives us the strength to test Agni-V. The two have similar technologies, though Agni-V will be a three-stage propulsion system instead of the two-phase propulsion system of the Agni-IV”.
The Agni-V will have higher payload capability, a specialized booster and a new set of road-mobile launchers. The smaller versions of the missiles like Agni-II and Agni-III are rail-mobile which poses limitations in transportation especially when keeping these hidden from overhead satellites and prying human eyes.
Agni IV Test-Fired
India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile Agni-IV on 15 November, that has a strike range of 3,000 km. It is a surface-to-surface intermediate-range missile and can carry one-ton pay-load.
The success comes more than 11 months after the first attempt to fire Agni-IV had failed in December 2010 when the missile went out of trajectory and plunged into the sea. The present test was also conducted off the eastern sea coast and a mobile launcher was used. In India’s neighborhood, China possesses a missile, the Dongfeng 31, with a longer strike range.
The Agni-IV is a two-stage weapon system powered by a solid propellant. The missile followed its trajectory in a textbook fashion, attaining a height of about 900 km and reached the target in the Bay of Bengal. All mission objectives were fully met. All the systems functioned perfectly till the end.
The missile is lighter in weight and the composite rocket motor, which has been used for the first time, is said to have given an excellent performance. “The missile reached the target with very high level of accuracy. Radars and electro-optical systems along the coast of Odisha have tracked and monitored all the parameters of the missile.
Agni IV is based on road mobile launchers. It gives a much higher level of flexibility and is a maintenance free system. It is better in terms of accuracy and performance as well. It belongs to the category of one of the best missiles in the world.
The missile is better than previous ones in various meters such as terminal accuracy, payload delivery capability and also in terms of maintenance and flexible operational deployment.
Agni IV compares with the best in the world today in terms of all technologies whether it is Pershing (American), Chinese DF-31 or any other missile in the world. Along with other features, the missile will be “immune” from counter-measures developed by the adversaries.
Salient Features
* ICBMs have a range of 5,500 km or more. The Agni-V, with a range of 5,000 km, will be classified as a ‘sub-ICBM’.
* The United States, Russia and China have ICBMs that can hit targets more than 9,000-11,000 km away.
* Chinese ICBM, Dong Feng 31, can target areas over a 11,000-km range while Russia and US have had such capabilities from the days of the Cold War.
The United States, Russia, and China have ICBMs that can hit targets more than 9,000-11,000 km away. As it falls short by 500 km, the Agni-V will be categorized as a ‘sub-ICBM’. Chinese ICBM, Dong Feng 31, can target areas over a 11,000-km range while Russia and the United States have had such capabilities from the days of the Cold War.
The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), buoyed by the successful launch of nuclear-capable Agni-IV having a range of 3,000 km, today said that it would take 2-3 years for the Agni-V to be inducted into the armed forces.
According to DRDO Chief VK Saraswat, “The Agni-IV test gives us the strength to test Agni-V. The two have similar technologies, though Agni-V will be a three-stage propulsion system instead of the two-phase propulsion system of the Agni-IV”.
The Agni-V will have higher payload capability, a specialized booster and a new set of road-mobile launchers. The smaller versions of the missiles like Agni-II and Agni-III are rail-mobile which poses limitations in transportation especially when keeping these hidden from overhead satellites and prying human eyes.
Agni IV Test-Fired
India successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable missile Agni-IV on 15 November, that has a strike range of 3,000 km. It is a surface-to-surface intermediate-range missile and can carry one-ton pay-load.
The success comes more than 11 months after the first attempt to fire Agni-IV had failed in December 2010 when the missile went out of trajectory and plunged into the sea. The present test was also conducted off the eastern sea coast and a mobile launcher was used. In India’s neighborhood, China possesses a missile, the Dongfeng 31, with a longer strike range.
The Agni-IV is a two-stage weapon system powered by a solid propellant. The missile followed its trajectory in a textbook fashion, attaining a height of about 900 km and reached the target in the Bay of Bengal. All mission objectives were fully met. All the systems functioned perfectly till the end.
The missile is lighter in weight and the composite rocket motor, which has been used for the first time, is said to have given an excellent performance. “The missile reached the target with very high level of accuracy. Radars and electro-optical systems along the coast of Odisha have tracked and monitored all the parameters of the missile.
Agni IV is based on road mobile launchers. It gives a much higher level of flexibility and is a maintenance free system. It is better in terms of accuracy and performance as well. It belongs to the category of one of the best missiles in the world.
The missile is better than previous ones in various meters such as terminal accuracy, payload delivery capability and also in terms of maintenance and flexible operational deployment.
Agni IV compares with the best in the world today in terms of all technologies whether it is Pershing (American), Chinese DF-31 or any other missile in the world. Along with other features, the missile will be “immune” from counter-measures developed by the adversaries.
Salient Features
* ICBMs have a range of 5,500 km or more. The Agni-V, with a range of 5,000 km, will be classified as a ‘sub-ICBM’.
* The United States, Russia and China have ICBMs that can hit targets more than 9,000-11,000 km away.
* Chinese ICBM, Dong Feng 31, can target areas over a 11,000-km range while Russia and US have had such capabilities from the days of the Cold War.
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