Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion

Sanjay · Post by **Sanjay** » 18 Sep 2011 19:59

Rohitvats - thanks for the information. The question really is whether we can extrapolate 2 Agni-2 groups from the different numbers on the Transporters ? The other suggestion might be this - what is stopping the SFC fielding hybrid groups ? Now we need to see the Agni-1 transporter again and review.

On a totally unrelated question, are there any OT-64/ BRDM-2 (recce version not the ATGM variant) or BTR APCs still in IA service ?

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 18 Sep 2011 20:02

Eight years after creating a specialised regiment to handle short-range missiles, the Government has cleared the setting up of similar groups for intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBM), a new magazine on defence issues has reported. Senior Army officials said the report was more or less correct. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, had also hinted at such an initiative while replying to questions in Parliament but the magazine, Force, carries a more detailed account.

According to the journal, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had cleared the raising of the two Agni missile groups. Control on the shorter range IRBM, Agni-I with a range of 700 km, will vest with the Army's 334 rocket missile group and the medium range Agni-II with a range of 1,500 km will be handled by the 335 missile group.

The Government has also cleared the raising of two new Prithvi groups for the Army, which would be named 444 and 555 missile groups.

The Army has deployed two Prithvi missile groups 222 and 333. While it is going ahead with the raising of new missile groups for the longer-range missiles, the creation of the additional short-range missile will await financial allocation by the Government.

http://www.hindu.com/2003/09/24/stories ... 841300.htm

Phorce ki yeh purani kahani hai.

lekin aur ek prithvi group ka kabhi kabhi zikar aata hai: (from 2004)

It has already raised two missile groups 333 and 355 for 150 to 350 km range Prithvi missiles.

http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullst ... wsid=35647

This finds a consistent echo in the BAS reports as well:

Though we know that Prithvi missiles are deployed with the 333rd and 355th Missile Groups

http://bos.sagepub.com/content/66/5/76.full

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 18 Sep 2011 20:05

On a totally unrelated question, are there any OT-64/ BRDM-2 (recce version not the ATGM variant) or BTR APCs still in IA service ?

BRDM-2 bahut hai. Baaki sab retired. maybe some skots are still driven around but BTR-60s have been mothballed.

BTW SBM,

I need your email id.

Sanjay · Post by **Sanjay** » 18 Sep 2011 21:02

sbmvv_2000@yahoo.com.

I remember the reports on the Agni + Prithvi groups. My problem with them is the lack of consistency in reporting and the complete absence of follow-up and the changing position of Force depending on how much the choose to ridicule DRDO in a given issue.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 18 Sep 2011 21:07

Shrinivasan wrote:A pooch to Gurus... Mr. CG claims
deliveries of the (Prithvi SRBM) SS-150s got underway from 1993 and lasted till early 2009, with about 180 being built by the MoD-owned, Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Ltd. These missiles presently equip the 333 (raised in June 1993 in Panchmarhi and commissioned in October 1995 under the Ambala-based 40 Artillery Division of the Mathura-based I Corps), 444 (raised in October 2001 under the Pune-based 41 Artillery Division of the Jodhpur-based XII Corps) and 555 Missile Groups (operational by January 2005 under the 42 Artillery Division of the Ambala-based II Corps), with each Group being equipped with 60 liquid-fuelled SS-150s.
My questions:
1) 333rd Missile regiment was raised in Kamtee in Maharashtra, isn't it?
2) Div-Corps correspondence seems to be iffy?
3) Do we have only 180 Prithvi missiles?

Appreciate a response.

1) 333rd Missile regiment was raised in Kamtee in Maharashtra, isn't it?

By October 1995, 20 pre-production Prithvi SS-150s were delivered to the Army to form the 333rd Missile Group based in Secunderabad.

Force magazine is saying for a very long time the same story about the 333 Group. So i guess it just a rehash.

3) Do we have only 180 Prithvi missiles?
Yes, if you believe the production rate is only ~10 missiles/year. Another view from BR main page:

Each group will have 12 launchers, with possibly another three more acting as reserves. Around 120 Prithvis (both variants) have been produced to date, at BDL, with 40-50% of them being the SS-250 and is now the only production version at BDL.

Another view:

Prithvi was test tested in 1988 and inducted into the Army in 1994. At present, 10 to 30 missiles are manufactured each year for all versions of the Prithvi.

Hi Sanjay, Welcome.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 18 Sep 2011 21:21

Austin wrote:
Kanson wrote:Some insights into Nato-Russian BMD Cooperation:
Apparently those co-operation did not make any headway and NATO and Russia are exactly on the opposite side of pole as far as missile defence co-operation goes , if any thing else Missile Defence has just escalated war of words between two parties.

Yes, Russians are wary but they are continuing the dialogue. Do we have further information. Thank You.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 19 Sep 2011 00:04

Sanjay wrote:Rohitvats - thanks for the information. The question really is whether we can extrapolate 2 Agni-2 groups from the different numbers on the Transporters ? The other suggestion might be this - what is stopping the SFC fielding hybrid groups ? Now we need to see the Agni-1 transporter again and review.

On a totally unrelated question, are there any OT-64/ BRDM-2 (recce version not the ATGM variant) or BTR APCs still in IA service ?

SBM sahab,

This is the best one can do using the public sources. As Kasnon has pointed out, there are news reports about various Missile Groups for Prithvi and Agni-1/2 but it is difficult to comment on them with certainty or take them at face value. Some sources like The Hindu are more credible than others.

As for composite Missile Groups - I would not go down that route for multiple reasons but then, you do not know.

Coming to Force magazine and Mr. Sengupta, well, he says lots of things and most of it needs to be taken with pinch of salt. As I said earlier, there is only that much one can copy from brochures...other things need to be learned, applied and analyzed.

Sanjay · Post by **Sanjay** » 19 Sep 2011 00:50

Agree with your views.

See this article re Prithvi production from 2007:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... ike-weapon

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 19 Sep 2011 01:29

Sanjay wrote:Agree with your views.

See this article re Prithvi production from 2007:

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes ... ike-weapon

Sirji,

One thing that might have become apparent to you by now is that, there is a short of shadow-boxing between Mr. PCG (we affecionately call him that here

- given his proclivity to copy and paste w/o due reference) and BRF. Your questions here are being answered 'there'. There are cases of 'anonymous' posters asking the very same question(s) on his blog which have been asked here and replied to. He of course, comes up with contrary reply to the same question in an attempt to prove 'superior' credentials - like the case of BRDM-2 and BMP-2 BFSR platform. So, for all the love, he does follow BRF - what an irony

The thing is, given the nature of posting on blog, -ve comments and cross-questions can be masked/removed. Here, people will take you to task for anything you say - you're reputation not withstanding.

Now coming to BRDM-2 - well, they are very much there and primarily with R&S Battalions of RAPIDs and couple of other Infantry Divisions. BRDM-2 provides the much needed ATGM capability. The BMP-2 equipped BFSR is well, for surveillance and equips the Armored Regiment Recce Troop as well (in place of Jeeps earlier).

On Brahmos - as of 2009 - as per reply given to Parliamentary Standing Committe - there was only one regiment authorized till then. And while the Brahmos are likely to form the part of Composite Missile Brigade of Arty Divisions, the pics so far show Brahmos as part of SFC. As I said earlier, it carried the same 3 digit tac number (3**) starting with 3 (364). TEL from this unit are displayed at all occasions that I've seen in the media.

Please see the pic here: http://www.armyrecognition.com/images/s ... my_003.jpg

So, the chances are that first Brahmos Regiment formed under SFC and as more are raised, they'll form part of Arty Divisions.

Sanjay · Post by **Sanjay** » 19 Sep 2011 05:18

Wherever I learn something - I appreciate it - BR or Trishul. I know of the dispute between BR and Sengupta. As far as I am concerned, I still learn from both parties and then assess things. Your answers are appreciated. But the BRDM-2s I am talking about aren't the Striker ATGM variants but the ones with MG turrets. Are they around still ?

hnair · Post by **hnair** » 19 Sep 2011 07:02

BrahMos airborne launcher prototype undergoing tests

The BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Limited (BATL) has been contracted to build five prototype airborne launchers of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile with its first flight test on a Su-30 MKI aircraft slated to take place by the end of 2012.

Designed by BrahMos engineers and approved by the Sukhoi Design Bureau, original makers of Sukhoi, the launcher was indigenously developed by BATL, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer of Indo-Russian BrahMos Aerospace, told The Hindu over telephone.

Fabricated using high strength aluminium, the 6-metre-long airborne launcher — the largest in the world — weighs 350 kg.

“The first prototype is undergoing various tests in Hyderabad. Four more prototypes will be fabricated at BATL with tests conducted in a staggered fashion,” Mr. Pillai said.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 19 Sep 2011 08:28

Another interesting nugget from the above:

Concurrently, test-firing of BrahMos from a submerged pontoon off Visakhapatnam is also on the cards.

“This should happen during the current season in the window between November this year and March next,” said Mr. Pillai. Once proven, the submarine version of the missile is tipped to arm the Navy's next line of P75-I submarines.

Kersi D · Post by **Kersi D** » 19 Sep 2011 08:49

abhik wrote:^^^
How can anybody be so sure that our missiles have the 300km cap? Who is checking?

Inshah Allah.

K

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 19 Sep 2011 09:11

Sanjay wrote:Wherever I learn something - I appreciate it - BR or Trishul. I know of the dispute between BR and Sengupta. As far as I am concerned, I still learn from both parties and then assess things. Your answers are appreciated. But the BRDM-2s I am talking about aren't the Striker ATGM variants but the ones with MG turrets. Are they around still ?

Ofcourse.

Coming to the MG turret BRDM, well, haven't seen them in a long time...may well have been phased out. But that is a cojecture at this point.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 19 Sep 2011 22:28

rohitvats wrote:On Brahmos - as of 2009 - as per reply given to Parliamentary Standing Committe - there was only one regiment authorized till then. And while the Brahmos are likely to form the part of Composite Missile Brigade of Arty Divisions, the pics so far show Brahmos as part of SFC. As I said earlier, it carried the same 3 digit tac number (3**) starting with 3 (364). TEL from this unit are displayed at all occasions that I've seen in the media.
So, the chances are that first Brahmos Regiment formed under SFC and as more are raised, they'll form part of Arty Divisions.

Rohit, Brahmos launchers have a Tac # of 354 and not 364. There is another tac # for the Command vehcile (this does not carry any missiles) but the # is not clear.
Apart form IA HQ sign, there is also a Brahmos regiment in 40th Arty div too, I have seen Brahmos carrying TATRA trucks in RD Parade with 40th Arty Formation sign (and 354 as the Tac#). I am yet to see one with a Corps formation sign or any other formation sign.

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 20 Sep 2011 09:17

^^^Please share the pic of Brahmos with formation sign of Arty Division..thanks.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 20 Sep 2011 11:36

rohitvats wrote:^^^Please share the pic of Brahmos with formation sign of Arty Division..thanks.

Jo aagya, check e chitti

saurav.jha · Post by **saurav.jha** » 20 Sep 2011 11:40

Asian Age Reporting..

http://www.asianage.com/india/india-sel ... ietnam-157

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 22 Sep 2011 15:53

Rafael fires Spike missiles in Indian evaluation

A test launch of three Rafael Spike ER multi-purpose air-to-surface missiles from an Israeli air force helicopter on 19 September completed the Indian air force's evaluation of the candidates hoping to equip some of its helicopters.

Performed at the Shedma test range in southern Israel, the firings were successful, according to a source.

With a maximum range of 8km (4.3nm), the electro-optically-guided Spike ER is available with a variety of warhead options designed to destroy tanks with special armour and other reinforced targets.

The relatively slow velocity of the weapon and its use of a fibreoptic data link allows "pinpoint" accuracy, even in adverse weather conditions and at night, Rafael said.

The Israeli company faces competition from European rival MBDA Deutschland, which is promoting its PARS 3 missile.

Armed with a tandem warhead, the "fire and forget" weapon is capable of engaging targets to a range of around 7km.

A German army Eurocopter Tiger was used to fire three of the missiles at the Vidsel test range in Sweden in April 2011, with each weapon striking its intended target.

The Indian army is seeking to arm some of its Hindustan Aeronautics Dhruv advanced light helicopters with the selected weapon.

It could potentially also be integrated with the Kamov Ka-52 or Mil Mi-28, if either of these are selected for the service's future attack helicopter requirement.

Shrinivasan · Post by **Shrinivasan** » 22 Sep 2011 20:29

Austin wrote:Rafael fires Spike missiles in Indian evaluation
It could potentially also be integrated with the Kamov Ka-52 or Mil Mi-28, if either of these are selected for the service's future attack helicopter requirement.

I thought India was evaluating Mi-28 and Apache, did the KA-52 also join the fray or is this a Lifafa?
Spike looks a better bet than Pars-3, IMMHO.

sivab · Post by **sivab** » 24 Sep 2011 05:23

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a ... 480100.ece

DRDO to test-fire three missiles from today

T. S. Subramanian
Y. Mallikarjun

It will be a busy week from Saturday for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) — it will test-fire three surface-to-surface missiles, which can carry nuclear weapons, from Orissa's coast.

Hypersonic missile Shourya (valour), which can also carry conventional warheads, will be test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur near Balasore.

This will be followed by the launch of Prithvi-II on September 26, also from Chandipur, and Agni-II on September 30 from the Wheeler Island off Damra.

It will be the third launch of Shourya, which can fly at six-seven times the speed of sound (Mach 6 to 7) at low altitudes. The first launch was on November 12, 2008, and the second was kept a secret. It is the land-variant of underwater-launched missile K-15 that is being fitted into nuclear-powered submarine Arihant. K-15 is already under production.

DRDO missile technologists said the Saturday launch of Shourya would be “a proving trial with the user's [Services'] participation.” Since the first two launches were successful, the missile would be inducted into the Army if this flight too turned out to be a success. There would be no change in the configuration of the missile that can hit targets 750 km away.

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said the final version of Shourya was picked up from the production lot for the trial.

A highly manoeuvrable, two-stage missile, it can be launched at different altitudes, and even from a canister. Its manoeuvrability makes it less vulnerable to the present-day anti-missile defence systems.

S.K. Chaudhuri, Associate Director of the Research Centre, Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad, said the reliability and the final design of Shourya would be tested on Saturday. A test was conducted at the RCI's simulation laboratory under his supervision. “The simulation has shown good results, according to our expectations,” he said.

The sleek, single-stage Prithvi-II is an Air Force version. With a range of 250 km, it can carry warheads weighing 500 kg.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 24 Sep 2011 05:35

So its double test:production evaluation and reliability test. The third one is user control. A triple if its a go!

It would be the least number of trials leading to induction.

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 24 Sep 2011 09:06

It is the land-variant of underwater-launched missile K-15 that is being fitted into nuclear-powered submarine Arihant. K-15 is already under production.
.......
The sleek, single-stage Prithvi-II is an Air Force version. With a range of 250 km, it can carry warheads weighing 500 kg.

So arihant has bullets ready once he is ready.

Also airforce version = air launched?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 24 Sep 2011 09:16

No ground launched. AF wanted a 500kg warhead to be useful.

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 24 Sep 2011 10:25

^

What is the weight of AF version ?

Prasad · Post by **Prasad** » 24 Sep 2011 12:00

ramana wrote:No ground launched. AF wanted a 500kg warhead to be useful.

Why would the air force want a ground launched missile?

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Sep 2011 13:31

^^ To use in airfield denial roles, like getting PAF airbases/runways out of action when the shooting match begins, given that the Paoks at-least have a pretty decent AD network to risk too many of our aircraft to do that stuff?

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 24 Sep 2011 13:40

IAF can very well ask IA to do that.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Sep 2011 14:01

^^ Yes, but that is the typical inter-service stuff. If IAF asked IA to do the runway bombing etc, it might also demand cutting down aviation wing of IA as quid-pro since helos should come under IAF..

all this is IMHO..

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 24 Sep 2011 14:12

sum wrote:^^ To use in airfield denial roles, like getting PAF airbases/runways out of action when the shooting match begins, given that the Paoks at-least have a pretty decent AD network to risk too many of our aircraft to do that stuff?

Sum please don't get me wrong. I have actually known and spoken to a number of pilots who have put their lives on line doing exactly this job. It is completely wrong to say that the Air Force won't risk aircraft or pilots to take out an airfield. A Prithvi will not cut it and if not taken out that airfield may in turn actually change the course of a war. Airfields that are not taken out will launch aircraft that will shoot down your own pilots. Pilots train for that role and aircraft and pilots will be risked for precisely that role in war . Even BR has stories of Indian attacks on airfields that were followed by Paki counterattacks on the airfields that launched the Indian aircraft and stories of how Indian aircraft actually expected such attacks and set up ambushes for them.

I presume you have read this story
https://rapidshare.com/files/409373561/petewilson.pdf

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Sep 2011 14:14

Sum please don't get me wrong. I have actually known and spoken to a number of pilots who have put their lives on line doing exactly this job. It is completely wrong to say that the Air Force won't risk aircraft or pilots to take out an airfield. A Prithvi will not cut it and if not taken out that airfield may in turn actually change the course of a war.

Shiv-avare,

I understand about the pilots being used for such roles but my understanding was that the AF version Prithvi was to help relieve ( not eliminate) some of the workload off the pilots?

What other role is Prithvi envisaged for in the IAF if not for such airfield denial roles?

Upendra · Post by **Upendra** » 24 Sep 2011 14:17

Indian Army to Have Another BrahMos Missile Regiment

As part of efforts to upgrade military capabilities in the north-east, the induction of an advanced variant of the 290-km range supersonic cruise missile in the army for mountain warfare has been approved by the government.

The approval by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) -- Ministry's apex decision making body-- will pave the way for induction of the fourth missile regiment in the army, Defence Ministry sources told PTI here.

The sanction for inducting a regiment of the Block III steep-dive variant of the BrahMos, granted recently in a DAC meeting chaired by the Defence Minister, is expected to enhance the lethality of army's firepower in the north-east region.

The steep-dive attack cruise missile can hit enemy targets hidden in the shadows of mountains, they said.

The army has inducted a total of three regiments already including two of the Block II variant, which can precisely hit the intended enemy building or assets even in a cluster of buildings.

In the backdrop of massive military infrastructure buildup by China in its areas along the frontiers, India has taken several measures to improve its preparedness in the north-east.

These steps include deployment of two squadrons of the Su-30 MKI fighter jet aircraft in Tezpur and Chhabua in Assam and raising of two mountain divisions for deployment in Arunachal Pradesh and adjoining areas.

The government also revised its old military doctrine of not developing roads along the border and is working on developing over 70 strategic roads on the Sino-Indian border.

BrahMos is a stealth supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land and has been inducted in all the three services.

JE Menon · Post by **JE Menon** » 24 Sep 2011 14:24

Shourya has been tested, says NDTV - no link yet as far as I can see.

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 24 Sep 2011 14:29

sum wrote:
Sum please don't get me wrong. I have actually known and spoken to a number of pilots who have put their lives on line doing exactly this job. It is completely wrong to say that the Air Force won't risk aircraft or pilots to take out an airfield. A Prithvi will not cut it and if not taken out that airfield may in turn actually change the course of a war.
Shiv-avare,

I understand about the pilots being used for such roles but my understanding was that the AF version Prithvi was to help relieve ( not eliminate) some of the workload off the pilots?

What other role is Prithvi envisaged for in the IAF if not for such airfield denial roles?

My guess. Radar installations. Command and control bunkers. Single accurate shot. Airfields are too big a target to be damaged by anything but repeated attacks to crater runways and re-crater them when repaired. Spread over hundreds of acres they will need a nuke to be taken out by a single bomb. Nuclear tipped Prithvi? Yes.

sum · Post by **sum** » 24 Sep 2011 14:47

My guess. Radar installations. Command and control bunkers. Single accurate shot.

Ok...so would assume that the Prithvis will slowly make way for the Brahmos in IAF arsanel then since the Brahmos would be much more well suited for such pinpoint shots.

Narad · Post by **Narad** » 24 Sep 2011 15:03

Shaurya Test Fired

New Delhi: Shaurya, a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface medium range missile, was test-fired from Chandipur-on-sea off the Orissa coast at 2.30 PM on Saturday. The missile with a maximum range of 750 km was test-fired from an underground silo at Integrated Test Range of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
Shaurya is being developed for use by both the Army and the Navy, and can carry a warhead of one tonne. The missile is a two stage, solid fueled weapon and can carry conventional as well as nuclear warheads.
Shaurya is 10 metre in length and about half-a-metre in width. It uses solid fuel that gives it a longer service-life and shorter launch time compared to the missiles which use liquid fuel.
As the missile has been canisterised for increased mobility and can be fired from silos, so its development gives India second-strike capability in keeping with the country's states doctrine of no first-use of nuclear weapons.
The last test of Shaurya was conducted in November 2008.
All the people residing within 2 km radius of the testing range were temporarily shifted to a safer spot.

manu_vashist · Post by **manu_vashist** » 24 Sep 2011 16:53

Shourya missile launch successful - http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... 482010.ece

This was the third successful launch of Shourya, a surface-to-surface missile and it paves the way for its production and induction into the Navy . It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. Shourya is the land-variant of the K-15 underwater missile that is being fitted into India’s nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. So Shourya can be used by both the Navy and the Army. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said “the flight went off absolutely perfectly” and it met all the mission objectives. The radars located at the ITR, Chandipur and at Damra, also in Orissa, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile’s entire flight. They reported on “the excellent performance” of the missile.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 24 Sep 2011 17:28

Extremely positive news. The DRDO is clearly benefiting in terms of developing systems & productionizing them, since the amount of technology that has been developed by strategic & tactical programs is now mature and fit to be leveraged, and is also being developed further!

TS Subramaniam/Hindu wrote: It will be the third launch of Shourya, which can fly at six-seven times the speed of sound (Mach 6 to 7) at low altitudes. The first launch was on November 12, 2008, and the second was kept a secret. It is the land-variant of underwater-launched missile K-15 that is being fitted into nuclear-powered submarine Arihant. K-15 is already under production.

So much for the claims that "political reasons to support Shourya" meant it would not be inducted as versus the Agni etc. Sandeep Unnithan's sources clearly fed him the wrong stuff, as on the VKS issue.

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/scienc ... epage=true

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said “the flight went off absolutely perfectly” and it met all the mission objectives. The radars located at the ITR, Chandipur and at Damra, also in Orissa, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile’s entire flight. They reported on “the excellent performance” of the missile.

“It gave us full confidence for the production of this class of systems. The launch was to certify the production process and offer the missile for further production,” he said.

Asked what was the altitude at which Shourya flew, Mr. Chander said it “was an entirely atmospheric flight” at a height of 40 km.

V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad, called it “a good flight” and he was confident that the production of Shourya would go on as per plan because the missile this time was picked up from the production lot. “We achieved the full range for the ground launch configuration,” he said.

The ASL had developed the rocket motors for the two-stage missile and built the canister from which it took off, Dr. Sekaran said. Both the stages use solid propellants. The missile is 10 metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes.

It was ejected from the canister fixed on the ground, by means of a gas generator developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, Pune and the ASL, both DRDO laboratories.

The references to production batch speak for themselves.

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 24 Sep 2011 18:44

Sandeep Unnithan's sources clearly fed him the wrong stuff, as on the VKS issue.

I would keep the VKS thing out and let it be in the army thread as it is more than just being fed wrong information

SaiK · Post by **SaiK** » 24 Sep 2011 19:03

700km per 500 s looks like a hypersonic mission speed of 1.4 kmps. Am I reading this correct?

[mach ~ 4.1]?