Indian Missile News And Discussion

[Arun_S]

From Ajai Shukla's blog:

[url="http://ajaishukla.blogspot.com/2010/02/shaurya-surfaces-as-indias-underwater.html"]http://ajaishukla.bl...underwater.html[/url]

Now top DRDO scientists have revealed that the Shaurya is not a ballistic missile, as it has been thought to be; it is actually a hypersonic cruise missile, which never leaves the atmosphere. A ballistic missile is like a stone being lobbed towards a target. Rockets toss it upwards and towards the target; after the rocket burns out, gravity pulls the missile warhead down towards the target. Buffeted by wind and re-entry forces, accuracy is a problem; and, since the ballistic missile’s path is predictable, shooting it down is relatively easy.



The Shaurya has none of these issues. Its solid-fuel, two-stage rocket accelerates the missile to six times the speed of sound before it reaches an altitude of 40 kilometers (125,000 feet), after which it levels out and cruises towards the target, powered by its on-board fuel. While ballistic missiles cannot correct their course midway, the Shaurya is an intelligent missile. Onboard navigation computers kick in near the target, guiding the missile to the target and eliminating errors that inevitably creep in during its turbulent journey.

I checked ROCKSIM, and it is feasible that the second stage is a long duration burning sustainer motor, in which case sustained hypersonic cruise using body lift is possible. The motor grain shape and insulation will be a major change from conventional design. That possibly explains the small booster stage (whose grain is very different from second stage), which take the craft to 5 km altitude, and speed when adequate body lift is available.



Sustainer motor configuration allows higher fuel density, and that possibly explains the heavy 6.5 tonne mass in that small missile volume.



Also the [url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zUe7sq7m3h0/S3tVTB05IeI/AAAAAAAAA6s/FqlGJIeRiFI/s1600-h/Shaurya+defexpo.JPG"]high resolution pic of its nose cone from Def Expo[/url](earlier RD Parade images were not as clear) indicate the nose is not blunt but shaped to be optimized for low hypersonic speed, giving credence to lower burn out speed of the rocket.