<b> Mysore firms cushioning for first Indian submarine</b>
From Preethi Nagaraj, Mysore:
<i>When Indias first indigenous submarine - Advanced Technology Vehicle (ATV) - takes a dip in Bay of Bengal towards the end of this year, it would have specially designed rubber tiles from Mysore to cover it.</i>
The submarine, now stationed at Naval Base at Vishakapatnam, will be used to carry nuclear missiles inside deep waters with about 500 persons working on board. <b>Cutting edge technology has been used to build the ATV.</b>
Owner of Mysore-based Shakti Rubber Industries P N Shivaprasad is the sole manufacturer of ATVâs rubber tiles, and perhaps the only manufacturer in the country. India, so far, has imported submarines from Russia, France, England and US.
Shivaprasad, the entrepreneur who has dabbled in farming, poultry business and agriculture, started his rubber factory in 1984 as an ancillary to Vikrant Tyres and supplied rubber patches to other brands too.
It was in 1992 that Navy officials approached him with a request to make âacousticâ rubber tiles. Shivaprasad prepared the 1X1 ft sample and sent it to them. It took a good 10 years for the project to be assigned to him.
With the first order being placed by the Navy in 2002, Shivaprasad was informed about the significance of these tiles, their use and also that two officials would be posted on site to overlook the quality and confidentiality of the entire process by Navy officials. <b>After having supplied 8000 tiles required by ATV alone, Shivaprasad and his 30 local workers are busy making tiles for two more submarines.</b>
Soundproof tiles
These tiles not only protect the submarine from salt water, oil and grease from affecting its body, they also absorb sounds sent out by radars from the enemy camp to detect submarines or any metal object underwater. They do not let out the sounds from inside the submarine either, and can withstand extreme temperatures from - 50 deg Celsius to + 70 deg Celsius.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Shivaprasad said each tile weighs 51 kg and has a life span of nearly 15 years. âWe procure raw material from Korea and Japan. I have used local technology to change machinery in my factory to suit the needs of this project. Ever since I began this work, I have not taken up any external orders. I am just glad to be associated with such prestigious work,â he says.
<b> DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS AWACS</b> <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Monday, March 10, 2008
Defence Research and Development Organisation is pursuing development of Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) at a cost of Rs. 1,800 cr with a probable date of completion in the year 2011.
Development and manufacture of indigenous Radar is included in AWACS programme.
The possibilities of marketing Indian technology for surveillance equipment in world markets have not been assessed.
This information was given by Defence Minister Shri A K Antony in a written reply to Shri Naveen Jindal in Lok Sabha today.
<b> Launch of Sagarika</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->T.S. SUBRAMANIAN
<i>The successful launch of Sagarika, or K-15, demonstrates Indiaâs submarine-to-surface missile capabilities.</i>
IN missile technology, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has arrived. In the past few months, it has had a phenomenal run of success with its various missiles, and it proved on February 26 that it had acquired the capability to launch ballistic missiles from under the sea. On that day, a ballistic missile named Sagarika, or K-15, blasted off flawlessly from a pontoon submerged to a depth of 50 metres in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It knifed upwards as the water around it sizzled, rose into the sky, traced a parabola, and reached its full range, a point more than 700 kilometres away. The pontoon simulated the conditions of a submarine.
India thus joins the select club of countries, which includes Russia, the United States, France, China and the United Kingdom, with submarine launch capabilities. What affirmed Indiaâs entry into this league was that this was the fifth launch of the Sagarika missile from a submerged pontoon and, according to DRDO missile technologists, all the five were âconsistently successfulâ. While the previous four launches were kept a secret, the DRDO did not fight shy of revealing the launch date of the fifth mission. Sagarika is a submarine-to-surface ballistic missile that can carry nuclear warheads.
The top brass of the DRDO and the Navy monitoring the missileâs flight from a naval vessel included M. Natarajan, DRDO chief and Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister; A.K. Chakrabarti, Project Director, who belongs to the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad; and Prahlada, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO. A top DRDO official called it an âexcellent mission and a copybook flightâ. Another missile technologist called it âa thumping successâ.
The successful launch takes India closer to its plan of completing the triad, that is, the launching of missiles with nuclear warheads from sea, land and air, as part of establishing a credible, minimum nuclear deterrence. India has already acquired the capability of launching nuclear-tipped missiles from the ground (that is, surface-to-surface missiles) with its Agni-II, Agni-I and Agni-III types of missiles and its Prithvi-I and Prithvi-II missile variants. The Indian Air Forceâs Mirage and Sukhoi-M30 fighter aircraft are capable of delivering nuclear weapons. âIt is a great day for the countryâs missile technology and national defence capability,â said a missile technologist. âWe are getting into the possibility of completing the triad. This successful launch will give us the sea capability.â
If things go as planned, in about two years India will launch the Sagarika missile from a submarine reconfigured for the purpose and later from the nuclear-powered submarine that is being built at Visakhapatnam and at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. The indigenous nuclear-powered submarine project is called Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV), and the partners in that programme are the DRDO, the Navy and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Admiral Sureesh Mehta, the Chief of the Naval Staff, said in December 2007 that the ATV would be ready for sea trials in two years. It was the first time that a top-ranking official had gone on record about the highly classified ATV project. The Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Mehta as saying: âOur scientists have confirmed that they would have the Advanced Technology Vessel project ready for trials by 2009â¦. Placing of nuclear weapons under the sea is the third [leg of the] triad, which at present we donât have and we hope at one point we will.â
Sagarika is a product of the DRDOâs missile complex at Hyderabad. The missile complex consists of the DRDL, the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) which is headed by Avinash Chander, and the Research Center Imarat (RCI). Sagarika is a versatile missile that can be launched from different platforms: from submarines, from the ground and from mobile launchers. It is about 6.5 m long and weighs about 7 tonnes. It can carry nuclear warheads weighing up to 600 kg. According to another version, it is 10 m long. It is a single-stage missile powered by solid propellants. DRDO officials describe it as âlight and shortâ. It was miniaturised and canisterised. It has advanced avionics, propulsion, control and guidance, and inertial navigation systems. While its underwater booster propels it out of the water, its powerful air booster fires and can take it over a distance of more than 700 km.
On the launch day, there was no one aboard the pontoon when the missile was fired. A naval ship was positioned several kilometres away, and the missileâs fire-control systems were in place on this ship, which was linked to the pontoon by an underwater cable and through wireless communication. So the test-firing was a remote operation. Several naval vessels were in position to track Sagarikaâs trajectory. The Integrated Test Range had moved some of its equipment from Balasore to Visakhapatnam to track the missile.
The DRDL designed and developed Sagarika and the ASL contributed to its propulsion systems, including its powerful motors. The RCI contributed to its avionics, including control and guidance and inertial navigation systems. Sagarika is similar to Agni-I, which is also a single-stage missile powered by solid propellants and with a range of 700 km.
The mood is upbeat in the missile complex because Sagarikaâs success closely follows Indiaâs demonstration of its capability to defend itself against ballistic missile attacks. India fired a hypersonic interceptor missile that intercepted and destroyed an incoming target missile in a direct hit over the Bay of Bengal on December 6, 2007. The interception took place at an altitude of 15 km, in what is called the âendo-atmosphereâ. What was outstanding about that mission was that it was a âhit to killâ. The success gave India an entry into the club comprising Russia, the U.S. and Israel, all of whom have missiles that can block incoming ballistic missiles.
In November 2006, India demonstrated its air defence capabilities against incoming ballistic missiles when it shot down an âenemyâ missile in the exo-atmosphere, that is, 50 km above the earth. That too was a hit-to-kill mission. In April 2007, the DRDO successfully fired its Agni-III missile, which has a range of more than 3,500 km and can carry nuclear warheads weighing 1 tonne. Akash, the surface-to-air missile, underwent a series of âdrillsâ in December 2007, and the IAF was pleased with its performance.
On February 22, four days before the Sagarika launch, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, one of the architects of Indiaâs missile programme and the founder of the RCI, pointed out that India had conducted two tests of interceptor missiles in the exo-atmosphere and endo-atmosphere.
âFrom the results of their performance, I can say we really have the capabilityâ to intercept any foreign object at an altitude of 200 km, he said. âOf course, they [the DRDO] have to do more tests. They have definitely arrived. Their technology is reliable,â Kalam added. He was speaking to reporters at the RCI on the sidelines of an international conference on âAvionics systemsâ. He made this observation in response to a question on the U.S. launching a missile from a naval vessel on February 21 to destroy a non-functioning satellite about 247 km above the Pacific Ocean. Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, chipped in to say that India had the capability to destroy both an adversarial missile and a wayward satellite. âWe have the technological strength to obstruct and destroy them,â he said.
As far as Indiaâs missile programme was concerned, Saraswat said, the Agni-II and Agni-I ballistic missiles were already in the inventory of the armed forces. There have been two flights of Agni-III. India will soon go in for âthe next level of Agni-III flightâ. Akash was ready for induction into the IAF. The process of its production was under way.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Women scientists' role is critical, says DRDO chief</b>
March 13, 2008
Bangalore, DHNS: Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chief, M. Natarajan on Wednesday emphasised the need for women scientists to take up diversified activities to ensure the successful development of DRDO's critical products.
Delivering the inaugural address at a workshop on '50 years of DRDO : Women in Science, Engineering, Administration and Technology', Mr Natarajan said that the role of women scientists - who comprise 15 per cent of its workforce - was critical in the successful development of DRDO's products.
"We need a large number of dedicated people in diverse disciplines. Our women scientists can share the activities which include field activity, field trials and combat engineering," he said.
He added that it was a challenging decade for DRDO, as the public had a narrowing perspective about its activities, and that it was young scientists, especially women, to take up this challenge and ensure that the institution churns out its products.
"We are involved in an array of India-Specific tactical systems, ranging from radars to combat systems. <b>We are developing the Tejas which would be followed by the Fifth Generation Aircraft or even an Unmanned Combat Aircraft (UCA)</b>. It is important that every volunteer takes up the tasks," he added.
He also said that DRDO, in order to encourage it's scientists and to cover for the attrition rate, has evolved various policies, where married women can choose the job location of their convenience after their marriage. The DRDO also offers flexible work timings, he added.
<b> Light combat aircraft Tejas : India's finest achievement</b>
<b>The aeronautical development agencyâs Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) is the only such fourth-generation aircraft to be developed by a Third World country â that too, without any experience of third-generation aircraft development. Experience with the 40-year-old second-generation HF-24 does not help.</b>
It is also the only such Asian aircraft with an indigenous design, engine, avionics, and the like. Lastly, it is one of only six such aircraft types in the world â the others being the F/A-22, the Typhoon, Rafale, Gripen and the Japanese F-2.
<b>Importantly, a large number of advanced technologies and equipment for it have been developed indigenously â co-cured co-bonded composites, the mission and flight control computers, use of computational fluid dynamics for aerodynamic design, the fly-by-wire flight control system, full-glass cockpit, complex software, avionics integration, sensor fusion, and the like. These have greatly enhanced Indiaâs technological base.</b>
Interestingly, carbon fibre composites make up about 45% of LCAâs structural weight â about the highest for any such aircraft that makes LCA lighter by about 20% than a comparable all-metal aircraft, and makes it easier to manufacture due to its lower parts count. That will give LCA an exceptional payload/range performance. Though the smallest combat aircraft in the world, and single-engined, it will have about the same four-tonne warload as the twin-engined MiG-29. Its small size will also give it a low radar cross-section, making it more difficult to detect.
There have to-date been only two problems â both with systems. The GTRE Kaveri engine has performed poorly so far. Safran, selected as a partner, may help set things right. The second problem system is the mechanically-scanned array radar. To exploit the full capabilities of LCA, it should have an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Government recently announced a deal with the European company EADS for the joint development of such a radar.
LCAâs more than 800 test flights to-date have been very smooth. Some other aircraft have been less fortunate. The test programme has been slow, as the flight envelope needs to be opened up with great caution. Things will speed up now that six aircraft, including LSP-1, the first of eight limited series production aircraft, are flying, and external 800 litre drop tanks are being installed, to increase its 40 minute flight time by about an hour. Thus, initial operational clearance could be achieved by 2010, or soon thereafter.
It is claimed that LCA will be outdated by the time it enters service. Not true. All fourth-generation aircraft types, including LCA, will be under continuous development throughout their service lives. Several new technologies are currently under development, like voice recognition, which will free the pilotsâ hands from some of the comparatively less-important work in the cockpit.
There is need for an AESA radar mentioned earlier. A multi-axis thrust vector control system is being developed for the Kaveri engine. There will also be regular upgradation of the various systems and subsystems over the decades to keep LCA a frontline aircraft as long as itâs in service. The technologies that have been incorporated into LCA are on par with those on other fourth-generation aircraft.
<b>
Importantly, LCA will have exceptional standards of maintainability and reliability. It will require far fewer maintenance man-hours per flight-hour than earlier aircraft. As a result, its life-cycle cost â its overall cost of purchase, operation and maintenance over its entire service life â will be the very lowest for any aircraft the IAF has ever had.</b>
The so-called âcheapâ Soviet-era aircraft were cheap in every sense of the term â starting with quality. Their maintainability and reliability were poor, they had very limited structural service lives, and their overall lifecycle costs must have bled their users white.
<b>Amazingly, LCA may also have the very lowest flyaway (or initial purchase) cost of any current combat aircraft. Estimates range from as low as $20 million to about $35 million. By contrast, the 3+ generation F-16 had a flyaway cost of $55 million about two years ago â and could be even higher today. While a precise figure has yet to be worked out, LCA is sure to be the lowest-cost fourth-generation combat aircraft in the world, by a handsome margin.</b>
Lastly, as combat aircraft become more complex, and training pilots to fly them becomes more challenging, advanced jet trainers may need to have a supersonic capability. The old, second-generation Northrop T-38 was the very first such AJT â and differed from the F-5B type trainer.
Today, the third-generation Korea Aerospace Industries T-50 and the Hongdu L-15 are already flying. A watered-down variant of the 13-tonne LCA may be just right as a supersonic advanced jet trainer â should the IAF want it. It would be the worldâs first such fourth-generation aircraft, and could be developed at a very low cost and on a short time-scale.
LCA is outstandingly the very finest Indian engineering achievement in any field.
A dated article but not posted before.
<b> DRDO develops transgenic tomato for growing in the cold desert regions</b>
ASHOK B SHARMA
Tuesday , January 08, 2008
Visakhapatnam January 7: The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a transgenic tomato for growing in the cold desert regions of Ladhak.
âThis transgenic tomato is in the fourth generation and after its fifth generation, it would be subjected to controlled trials under the supervision of the Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM),â said the chief controller of R&D in life sciences in DRDO, W Selvamurthy at a plenary session in the 95 th Indian Science Congress here on Monday.
<b>He said that care has been taken to make the transgenic tomato resistant to cold temperatures below 20 degree Celsius and water stress conditions of the region.</b>
According to Selvamurthy, the Pusa Ruby tomato has been introgressed with Osmotin gene through agro-bacterium mediated genetic transformation to enhance inbuilt cold stress tolerance.
In vitro selection against selectable marker Kanamycin and PCR analysis of regenerated tomato plantlets for promoter (CaMV), Kanamycin (npt-II) and Osmotin gene has confirmed the gene integration.
Further confirmation of integration of Osmotic gene has been done by Southern Blot and Western Blot techniques.
The T1 plants along with control have also been screened for tolerance to cold stress at a temperature of 3 degree C for three and half days and then exposed to ambient temperature.
The morpho-logical, physiological and biochemical studies are underway on these transformed plants. The confirmed lines are being advanced and are under process of evaluation for different agronomically important parameters, he said.
<b> Indian Defence scientists achieve major breakthrough</b>
New Delhi (PTI): Indian Defence scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in missile technology by indigenously developing composite rocket motor casing for missiles.
<b>"One meter diameter composite material rocket motor has been developed and tested by DRDO"</b>, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha on Monday.
He said the motor was used for missile propulsion system. The development of such a system had been eluding Indian missile scientists so far.
<b>"Composite material rocket motor is lighter in weight and easier to fabricate", the minister said. DRDO is now using the motor casing for test flights of its most advanced Agni Range of missiles.</b>
On the Development of the Akash surface-to-air missile, the minister told the House in written replies that all trial objectives of the missile were "completely met" during recent series of trials undertaken at the Interim test Range in Orissa.
Antony said while Air Force was processing the case of procurment of these missiles, Army had informed that it would take a final view after studying the IAF user trials.
"The test trials have conclusively established the readiness and effectiveness of the Akash weapon system", the Defence Minister said. He said the missile could now engage diverse targets including target in "ripple mode".
<b> Indian anti-tank missile NAG to be user tested this year</b>
March 19, 2008 â 6:25 pm | by FIDSNS |
NAG, the third Generation Anti Tank Missile is under development as part of Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The probable date completion is December 2008.
User Trials of NAG third generation anti-tank missile is scheduled during 2nd half of 2008.
Nag missile will be tested for mobility and effectiveness.
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme has a very successful track record and has put India in a position to develop next generation of missiles.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b> BrahMos underwater launch in 2008, air-to-air launch in 2009- Hindustan Times</b>
Chennai, March 19, 2008
The next two stages of the BrahMos missile programme would be completed by 2009, with its underwater launch likely this year, a Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) official said in Chennai on Wednesday.
The BrahMos category missile capable of being launched from underwater would be test fired in 2008, said A. Sivathanu Pillai, scientist and chief controller (R&D) and in charge of the programme at DRDO.
"The missile is fully ready," he said on the sidelines of the Nanotechnology Conclave 2008, sponsored by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The universal launch platform that will be used underwater to stage the missile is, however, yet to be found, he said.
It could be a platform supported by a submarine or it would have to be a portable platform, to be built, carried and submerged at a pre-determined location, said Pillai.
As the Brahmos are cruise missiles, "their velocity does not change" and they cannot weigh more than three tonnes, the scientist said. India is also bound by the international Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR - imposed by the five nuclear powers) and cannot go beyond the 290 km/500kg range for the BrahMos category of missiles.
DRDO's BrahMos group and the Russians are negotiating underwater launch mechanisms. The air-to air version of the Brahmos missile is also in its finishing stages and is expected to be tested in 2009, Pillai said.
"There is need to reduce the weight of the booster engines," he explained, adding, "We are also still working on the avionics." Pillai also said that India was now looking at hypersonic technology - five times the speed of sound and therefore faster than supersonic.
On March 5, India successfully tested the ship-to-shore version of the supersonic BrahMos missile, firing at an uninhabited island in the Andaman & Nicobar group. The missile had a range of more than 290 km and was launched from the Russia-acquired missile destroyer INS Rajput.
This was the 15th test of the missile jointly developed by Russia and India. The launch-and-strike time for BrahMos is much less than any other missile, giving it a distinct advantage as a weapon.
Indian and Russian scientists have already carried out successful tests of four versions of the Brahmos, said to be the only "supersonic" cruise missile system in the world - the technology shared by India and Russia.
"All other countries, including the US have subsonic systems," Pillai said.
The ship-to-shore test added to India's arsenal of ship-to-ship, land to ship and surface-to-surface versions of the multi-role missiles.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b> HAPP to develop delegate weapons for Navy, IAF</b>
Tiruchirapalli, March 19 The Heavy Alloy Penetrator Project (HAPP) here is all set to develop and produce delegate weapons for the Navy and the Indian Air Force, according to its General Manager R R Yadava.
Talking to newspersons after inaugurating a technical-cum-photo exhibition as part of ordnance factory day-2008 celebrations here last night, he said <b>HAPP was developing anti-submarine naval rockets (RGB-12) to the requirements of the Indian Navy and the production would soon begin.
These torpedoes fired from ships, developed in coordination with the Ordnance factory at Kirkee, were hitherto imported from foreign manufacturers.</b>
Mr Yadava said HAPP was in the process of developing Kinetic Energy Projectiles, which could destroy multiple targets. The pre-fragmented ammunition would be the future weapon of armed forces.
He said the next step would be to develop weapons or gadgets meant for the Indian Air Force.
For the last few years, HAPP had been supplying Balancing Mass made out of Tungsten Granules for Helicopters produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). HAPP, in collaboration with the Defence Metallurgic Research Laboratories, Hyderabad, would come out with more futuristic weapons in line with kinetic energy modules, he added.
Regarding civilian applications, Mr Yadava suggested that the manufacturers of lifts and escalators could utilise Tungsten pellets as balance mass instead of the conventional iron masses, thereby reducing the cost and size of operation.
About its future, he said HAPP would introduce Metal Injection Moulding (MIM) technology and HAPP Tiruchirapalli would make a foray into steel powder metallurgy with the advent of MIM.
<b>DRDO sets its sights on launch of Agni-III ballistic missile in April</b>
Link
March 24 2008
CHENNAI: After the successful firing of Agni-1 missile on Sunday, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on March 5 and the K-15 (Sagarika) missile from a submerged pontoon on February 26, the <b>Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has set its sights on launching the Agni-III ballistic missile in April 2008.</b>
Agni-III is the most powerful, surface-to-surface missile built by India, which can carry nuclear warheads. It has a range of more than 3,500 km. It has been described as not just âa missile, but a system for the future with which various configurations can be developed.â
It will be the third launch of Agni-III, which will take place from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast.
Agni, Agni-II, Agni-I and Agni-III form the group of Indiaâs surface-to-surface, ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads.
Agni-III is a two-stage, long-range missile that weighs 48.3 tonnes and is 16.7 metres long. It can carry warheads weighing 1.5 tonnes over a distance of more than 3,500 km.
Celebrations broke out at the Launch Control Centre on Sunday on the Wheeler Island after the successful launch of Agni-1 missile that reached a distance of more than 700 km. A release from the DRDO from New Delhi said the missile had a textbook performance in terms of range, accuracy and lethality.
Agni-I missile was developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), the premier missile development centre of the DRDO, in collaboration with its neighbours, that is, the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Research Centre, Imarat, all of which form the missile complex at Hyderabad.
It was integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, also located in Hyderabad. The ASL is headed by Avinash Chander, who was the Mission Director for the launch. The Vehicle Research and Development Establishment at Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, the ITR and public and private sector industries contributed to the launch.
V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said the success of Agni-1 gave a tremendous boost to Indiaâs strategic defence. The terminal event of the flight was recorded by a downrange ship and the results validated the entire technology of the strategic defence, he added.
Dr. V.G. Sekaran, Project Director, ASL, was present during the launch.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju congratulated the scientists and the operational team of the Strategic Force Command.
<b>Missile systems on display at the RCI, DRDO in Hyderabad on Tuesday</b>
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200803260399.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<b>Interceptor Missile</b>
Link
The DRDO is looking at testing the enhanced version of the Exo Atmospheric Interceptor, PAD Missile, in June-July this year.
âThe earlier PAD Missile, tested in November 2006, which had a 600 km range has now been enhanced to intercept a target fired from a 1,500 km to 2,000 km. It had a kill altitude of 47 km, which has now been enhanced to between 75 and 90 km,â Mr Adalat Ali, Deputy Project Director of the Air Defence Project, said.
The DRDO wants to develop an interceptor for a missile fired from a 5,000 km range which would require a kill altitude of 250 km by 2011-12.
Earlier, the Defence Minister visited the missile lab- Research Centre Imarat (RCI), saw an exhibition on missile development and addressed the scientists of the various DRDO labs in Hyderabad.
<b>India chartering a new success story with missiles: Antony</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> Link
26 Mar 2008
NEW DELHI: Indian Defence Scientists have chartered a new success story in the country's missile programme, Defence Minister A K Antony said in New Delhi on Wednesday.
"We have tasted new success in improving and upgrading our various ranges of missiles," he told newsmen on the sidelines of a function at South Block.
He said the DRDO scientists have achieved major success in enhancing the capability and robustness of all ranges of missiles, including Intermediate Range Agni group of missiles, Surface to Air Akash missile and with attempts to indigenously develop an anti-missile system.
Antony said along with missiles, the DRDO scientists have also achieved major breakthrough in developing indigenously the various electronic warfare systems.
The Defence Minister's comments assume significance as he yesterday did an extensive tour of the DRDO Laboratories in Hyderabad, which are engaged in research in highly advanced technologies.
The tour includes a visit to Bharat Dynamics, the sole missile manufacturer in the country.
The Minister's visit to the DRDO labs comes against the backdrop of DRDO scientists carrying out a series of successful tests of Surface to Surface, Surface to Air and other missiles.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>3,500km range Agni-III to be testfired this month</b>
http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/35...how/2918418.cms
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->2 Apr 2008
<b>NEW DELHI: India plans to test-fire its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-III, which can hit high-value targets deep inside China with a strike range of 3,500-km, towards April-end.</b>
Sources said the test-firing is likely to take place in the "window" between April 20 to 30, but the exact launch date will depend on technical, environmental and other parameters.
This will be the third test of the rail-mobile Agni-III â which can carry a 1.5 tonne nuclear payload â from the integrated test range on Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa.
While the first test of the two-stage, solid-fuelled Agni-III in July 2006 had failed, with scientists losing control of the missile over the Bay of Bengal barely 65 seconds into its flight, the second test in April 2007 had proved successful during its entire flight path of 15 minutes.
"If the third test is successful, then the ballistic missile will require just one or two more tests before it can go for limited series production and training trials by the armed forces. Its operational deployment should be possible by 2010-2011," said a source.
Till now, the armed forces have inducted the 700-km Agni-I and 2,000-km-plus Agni-II missiles, which are primarily meant for Pakistan, apart from different versions of the short-range Prithvi missile.
The government, however, is yet to give defence scientists the green signal for an advanced version of Agni-III, with a miniaturised third-stage to increase the strike distance to around 5,000-km.
"If the political directive comes, we can test this Agni-III-plus missile in a year or so," the source said.
A missile is termed an ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) if it can travel distances beyond 5,500-km. ICBMs have largely remained the preserve of the five UNSC permanent members, with US and Russia leading the pack since the 1960s. China, too, has made progress by developing new-generation solid-fuelled road-mobile ICBMs like DF-31 (7,250-km-plus) and DF-31A (11,270-km).
With China even having SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) like JL-1 and the under-development JL-2 (8,000-km range), every major city in India is within the strike envelope of Chinese missiles.
But despite the stark asymmetry with China in terms of its huge missile and nuclear arsenal, Agni-III makes it possible to bring even Beijing and Shanghai within India's strike range. The 16.7-metre high Agni-III is a totally new system, with a massive lift-off weight of 48 tonnes, unlike the much lighter Agni-I (12 tonnes) and Agni-II (17 tonnes) missiles.
<b>Scientists say Agni-III has many "firsts" to its credit like the "flex nozzle controls of rocket motor during the powered phase" and the "specially designed composite propellant with high specific impulse for the rocket".</b>
The mobile land-based Agni missiles constitute a crucial part of India's nuclear deterrent posture. Though India has a declared "no-first use" policy, the nuclear doctrine holds that nuclear retaliation to a first strike by an adversary "will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link
<b>DRDO up for overhaul, weapons prog to be prioritised</b>
Thu, Apr 3 04:46 PM
A high-powered Committee set up by the government to suggest revamping of the Defence Research and Development Organisation has recommended that the DRDO focus on critical weapons programme and offload research in other areas to private sector.
The report of the committee, headed by eminent scientist P Rama Rao, has suggested that the DRDO focus all its attention on 10 to 14 critical projects like missiles, anti-missiles systems, light combat aircraft, aero engines, electronic warfare, development of high altitude extreme endurance weaponised unmanned aerial vehicles.
The report submitted to Defence Minister AK Antony has still not been made public. Antony had set up a team of two senior Defence Ministry officials to analyse it and make an operative draft for putting it up before the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS), which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
In other far reaching recommendations, the Committee has also proposed setting up of more Brahmos style joint military ventures, making all new futuristic weapons programme time bound and suggested that changes be undertaken in the administrative structure of the organisation. The Committee has called for increasing the number of top rung scientists, recruit more middle rung scientists and suggested that Rs 600 crore be earmarked as a corpus for setting up advanced weapons research. The Committee feels that 10 to 14 projects which the DRDO takes up should have a culmination time of 10 to 12 years and these should include extensive research to be undertaken in specialised alloys and metals. One of the most significant recommendations made by the Rama Rao Committee is calling for establishment of the Defence Technology Commission (DTC) to the Defence Minister, which would act as his think tank on military research.
Experts feel that setting up of such a commission would give the DRDO a " significant say" in defence purchases. The committee, experts said wants DRDO to have a greater say in weapons purchases as often its comments are some times overruled by the three services--- Army, Navy and IAF. Rama Rao Committee says that the proposed DTC should restore the role of DRDO in rendering scientific advice in acquisition of weapon systems and also formulate a" clear-cut policy on self-reliance'".
The Committee has remained silent on the demand made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that the Secretary DRDO, should be divested of many roles that he currently has. The Committee wants that the Secretary,DRDO who also acts as the Director General, should be renamed as Chairman DRDO and head the Science and Technology Management Mission.
He should also be made a member-convenor of the DTC, which should be chaired by the Defence Minister, the Committee suggested.
<!--emo&<_<--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='dry.gif' /><!--endemo--> http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.as...umentid=1326713
India ready to export missiles: DRDO
Hyderabad: India is ready to export missiles to countries whose names are cleared by the government, top DRDO scientist S Prahlada said here disclosing that trade inquiries had been received from at least five nations.
"Government, in principle, is in favour of exports of missiles," he said, adding Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in a position to meet such sale orders.
<b>India ready to export missiles to shortlisted countries: DRDO</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> http://in.news.yahoo.com/pti/20080406/r_t_...sh-114a2da.html
Apr 6, 2008
India is ready to export missiles to countries whose names are cleared by the government, top DRDO scientist S Prahlada said here disclosing that trade inquiries had been received from at least five nations. "Government, in principle, is in favour of exports of missiles," he said, adding Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is in a position to meet such sale orders.
Though Prahlada did not name the missiles which could be offered in world market but sources said that India could place Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile Brahmos and recently tested surface-to-air Akash for sale. "Countries are looking at Indian products like missile systems and at a recent export exhibition several nations had come and discussed prospects," Prahlada, the Chief Controller (Hqrs) at DRDO told PTI.
Referring to the air-to-air beyond visual range Astra missile, he said the missile would undergo ground testing later this year and would subsequently be integrated with the Sukhoi multi-role fighter by 2009-10. He also said more tests would be undertaken of India's longest range surface-to-surface nuclear capable 3,500 km range Agni III missile.
Claiming that DRDO's missile programme had come of age, Prahlada said user trials of the anti-tank Nag missile would be undertaken next month and it would be offered to the Army for induction by July.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>Chandipur to be expanded three fold</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandip...how/2930189.cms
India's ballistic missile and weapons testing facility in Orissa's Chandipur is being expanded to thrice its present size and modernised to test indigenously-developed weapons for India's defence forces.
"The test site would be expanded 50 km southward and 50 km into the sea to test home-made tanks, rocket launchers and artillery," Army's spokesperson in Eastern Command, Group Captain R K Das told reporters.
The test site which is now 19.5 km in length along Orissa coast and 3 km in width will not need land acquisition for the expansion as it has been acquired earlier, Das said.
The test site known as Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) is Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) oldest weapons testing facility.
According to Das, the facility would also be modernised. "The ammunition storage and handling systems will also be modernised. Upgraded PXE will be better equipped to test indigeneously-developed tanks and weapons to cater to the future demands of the country's defence forces," Das said.
The trial of Arjun tanks, multi-barrel PINAKA rocket launchers, Remotely-delivered Minelet System, Modular Charge System, Enhanced Range Rocket and cargo ammunition are currently being carried out here, the spokesman said.
Other ammunition which are also being tested there include, T-72 ammunition, 155 mm illuminating ammunition, 130 mm HE ammunition, fuses, ordnance for 155, 130 and 120 mm guns, propellant charges, armour plates and Super Rapid Gun Mounting. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<b>India's lethal Pinaka Multi-barrel rocket system</b> <!--emo&:cool--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/specool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='specool.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:ind--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/india.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='india.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> http://timesnow.tv/NewsDtls.aspx?NewsID=7035
4/7/2008 10:29:15 PM
India's Pinaka missile
It is India's first indigenously developed multi barrel rocket system - the Pinaka has occupied the place of pride in the Indian artillery. India's very own Multi barrel rocket system-Pinaka has the capability to destroy every thing within a 40km range.
Researched and developed wholly at the Armament Research and Development Establishment in Pune, the Pinaka system comprises a launch vehicle, a loader, and a battery of six launchers. With a maximum range of 40km, and rate of fire of 40 seconds, one salvo of the 6 launchers can cause destruction within an area of about 3.9 sq km. With a variety of warheads, the Pinaka has the capability to devastate solid structures and bunkers with deadly precision.
Range: 7 km - 40 km
Rocket Diameter: 214 mm
Warheads: fragmentation high explosive
incendiary
anti-tank and anti-personnel minelettes
anti-tank bomlettes
Rate of Fire: 40 seconds
A salvo from 6 launchers: neutralise 3.9 sq km area Pinaka was first tried out at the Kargil war and had soon become the toast of the Indian Army.
Comparison with other similar weapons
Compared to other multi-barrel rocket systems across the world, the Pinaka is deadlier and far more cost effective. The Pinaka at a cost of 23 million rupees has a better range than the American m270 multi barrel rocket system which cost 195 million rupees.
And though it has most of the attributes of the Russian 9P140 URAGAN, itâs around fifteen million rupees cheaper. As for the Brazilian Astros III, the Pinaka can deploy more variety of warheads.
PINAKA: Indian flag
COST:Rs 23 million
Maximum Range: 40km
Warheads: fragmentation high explosive
incendiary
anti-tank and anti-personnel minelettes
anti-tank bomlettes
M270 MLRS: American Flag
COST: Rs 195 million
Maximum range: 32 km
Warhead: Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions
9P140 URAGAN: Russian flag
COST: Rs 38 million
Maximum range: 40 km
Warhead : High-explosive fragmentation, chemical, and scatterable-mine submunition warheads.
ASTROS-II: Brazilian flag
COST: Rs 38 million
Maximum range: 42 km
Warhead: High Explosives
So far, the Indian Army was purchasing its rocket launchers from Russia. Now the Pinaka comes as a jewel in the crown for Indian artillery, with a Made in India tag.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Video of Pinaka MBRLS on Youtube
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