Indian Missile News And Discussion

[Arun_S]

[quote name='samsam' date='17 February 2010 - 12:11 PM' timestamp='1266388396' post='104286']

arun sir can u pls explain the hyper sonic cruise in shourya missile, there is a lot of confusion about the shurya missile,



and also there is some confusion that K 15 missile and shourya are two different missiles

[/quote]



Development of astra (note its Sanskrit meaning) for Arihant has been a multi pronged effort. Power projection by Nuclear sub required both medium range missile and long range missiles.

Long range MIRV Agni variant for long range sets the 2.3 meter diameter tube constrain. The same tube lends flexibility to host 3 short range missiles (just like some other vessels that launch Tomahawk).



The medium range astra involves both sub-sonic cruise missile (la Nirbhay), and rocket propelled Shourya/Sagarika. Somewhere along the way Rocket fired program took a lead and Shourya has surfaced first. Its a matter of time a subsonic CM will also surface.



Till the dust settles one will not know for sure the original intent of project names like K-15 or Sagarika.



As for hyper sonic cruise in shourya missile, IMVHO people (including Col Shukla) are getting confused (or mis hearing) with high altitude hypersonic gliding of Shourya with hypersonic cruise. Saraswat referring to "hybrid propulsion" could be more like referring to hybrid trajectory using lift and propulsion of rocket and aerodynamics for hybrid ballistic - aero flight.



[url="http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/shaurya-surfaces-as-india%5Cs-underwater-nuclear-missile/385952/"]http://www.business-...missile/385952/[/url]

“I would say the Shaurya is a hybrid propulsion missile”, says Dr Saraswat. “Like a ballistic missile, it is powered by solid fuel. And, like a cruise missile, it can guide itself right up to the target.”

Use of the word "glide" instead of "guide" would have saved some angst. (u -> l)



I.e. it uses gravity to sustain hypersonic flight at high altitude, and after potential energy is expended it drops like a brick (steep angle) on target. A trick learned from Prithvi.