Indian Missile News And Discussion

[ramana]

Are they sticking to the 40m CEP for this test of A-III too?

meanwhile Pioneer reports

FRONT PAGE | Thursday, February 11, 2010 | Email | Print |





India to test-fire Agni-5 to counter China’s threat



PNS | New Delhi



In a major step towards countering the threat from China, India on Wednesday announced it would test-fire inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-5 next year.



With a range of 5000 kms and beyond, the missile can target most cities in China and Pakistan and carry a nuclear or conventional weapons system of 1.5 tonnes. In another major development in the arena of space warfare, India said it has acquired the capability to destroy an enemy military satellite system in space. It places the country in the elite league of nations including the US, China and Russia.



Disclosing this here on Wednesday, Director General of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) VK Saraswat said the development of Agni-5 and anti-satellite capabilities came about after the successful conclusion of trials of Agni-3 missiles on Sunday last. He said the Agni-3 missile, capable of hitting a target at 3,500 km and carry weapon payload of 1.5 tonne, was now ready for induction into the Army. Incidentally, all the systems installed in the missile are indigenous and more than 150 Indian industries are involved in the development of the Agni series of missiles.



The public sector Bharat Dynamics Limited was manufacturing the missile and ‘we only need a specific number of missiles,’ Saraswat said during an interaction with the media. As regards Agni-5, he said the missile was ‘earlier on the design board stage. “Now we are testing and evaluating the sub systems and the first trial will take place within a year or so.” He said the technological capabilities developed during the Agni-3 testing gave the confidence to the scientists to go ahead with the Agni-5 programme.



Similarly, the Agni-3 launch showed that its propulsion systems could take the missile to an altitude of more than 1,000 km thereby enabling India to develop anti-satellite capabilities.



China had displayed to the world last year its capabilities in this sphere when it shot down a satellite in space. However, the DRDO chief said India ‘need not do it’ as it had the building blocks for developing such a system. Elaborating upon on this, Saraswat said “it is difficult to shoot down a satellite as its debris can be dangerous. Therefore, we can simulate this capability through an electronic satellite and we have the capacities to do so.”



When asked about the Agni-5 programme, he refrained from stating that India was going in for developing an ICBM. He said, “we are building a 5,000 km range missile and it is adequate for our strategic requirements. The stress is on range and lethality and there is no need to build missiles and store them. We have building blocks and as and when there is a requirement the missile can be manufactured.”



Commenting on the Agni-3 tests, he said, “now we have a mature strategic weapon system. It is a very potent deterrence.” He also said Agni-I and Agni-II were already inducted into the Army and it is rail mobile system. “It gives us the advantage of speedy deployment,” he said. Agni-I has 1,000 km range while Agni-II has 2,500 km range and both of them can carry conventional and nuclear pay loads, he informed.