Indian Missile News And Discussion

[Arun_S]

[quote name='balai_c' date='21 April 2012 - 05:09 PM' timestamp='1335007902' post='114709']

So, when do you believe would the large scale manufacture of our ballistic missiles begin? Would we be having individual MRBM ,IRBM , ICBM, or would there be one missile (like AGNI 5 ) serving all the purposes of a battlefield commander? Thanking you in advance!

[/quote]

War fighting as well as deterrence requires a set of weapons best suited for a range of options.



IMHO:

1. SFC will use A-1 for short range. Prithvi will transition out fully to battlefield use.
2. Agni-2 is a stopgap, but there is quite some inventory in hand and will be kept in inventory till final weapon set is in place.
3. The final weapon set is to for desired set of ranges, warhead mass and yld options, robustness, hardened to counter measures, in a cost effective architure, built on re-use, economies of scale, and skill.
4. Agni-2-AT( now officially called Agni-2 prime) of which we have seen maiden flight of Agni-4, will morph to final confign soon. This family based on motor diameter that is bit bigger than 1m dia of Agni-II.
5. Shourya and its navel version is a system to watch out. Great weapon for use without raising escalation ladder. depending on mission profile max range of 700 to 2000 km
6. The master platform is missile family built on 2 meter dia motor.
7. ---- 2 stages of 2 m dia. missiles: Agni-3 and its MIRV variant Agni-3C, with or witout small upper motor (SUM).
8. ---- 3 stages of 2 m dia: Agni-V and its varient: Agni-3A, Agni-3B, with and without SUM.
9. Submarine launched large dia MIRV missile Agni-3SL (possibly be called K-4) will have large dia motors (2 m dia or 2.4 m dia) and a SUM