Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion

vic · Post by **vic** » 27 May 2013 21:26

Prahaar can also do lot of jobs earmarked for super costly Brahmos!

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 27 May 2013 23:35

What jobs ?

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 27 May 2013 23:55

Strikes beyond the tactical battle area. Currently army only has regular MLRS - some 10 overall planned i think, and tube arty till 40 km, then it's Brahmos. A few Smerch units range to 90 km- just 3 regiments. Prithvis I think belong to the SFC. Don't know if the IA intends to use them or can use them in the conventional role. The prahaar would be a huge force multiplier if each arty division had a regiment of these. There are 3 divisions and if India raised say 10 prahaar regiments, that would be great.

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 28 May 2013 07:08

abhik wrote:
Pranav wrote:Re accuracy, the most accurate munitions would use seekers with lock-on capability, with data-link and man-in-loop. That can give essentially direct hit capability.

With L2 military grade GPS signals high accuracy is possible; one can also use enhancements like WAAS or DGPS for 1 meter accuracy.
But are there any existing missile that claim accuracy of much less than 5m?

Certainly, Delilah, e.g.

Re CIWS, why do you insist that one should not think beyond the neighborhood and not plan for tomorrow.
Are there any anti ballistic missile/rocket CIWS that are being tested? Else what is the point, might as well put in a requirement for the missile to be able to perpetrate Force-Fields just in case of an alien invasion.

err ... CIWS is being compared to an "alien invasion"? Do carry on.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 May 2013 07:19

Agni-V to be modified to attack multiple targets - Y.Mallikarjun, The Hindu

The configuration of Agni-V, India’s long-range nuclear weapons capable ballistic missile, is set to be changed to make the 5,000-km weapon system deadlier and capable of attacking multiple targets.

The modification is to enable fitting Agni-V with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs), V.K. Saraswat, Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation and Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu . Another test in the present configuration of the three-stage missile would be conducted later this year. {So, it is not in May or anytime soon}
Besides imparting canister-launch capability, Agni-V would be equipped with MIRVs. “Work on that is going on and it is at design stage.”

The resounding success of the maiden flight test of Agni-V in April 2012 catapulted India into a select league of nations having the technological prowess to develop Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles, he said.

The Agni series will form the bulwark of land version of India’s nuclear deterrence triad.

Meanwhile, the reactor on board the indigenously-built nuclear powered submarine, INS Arihant, is expected to go critical in a few weeks. The powering of the system should happen in a week or two, Dr. Saraswat said. {I hope that this time around, the two weeks would be 'real' two weeks because we have been hearing this 'two weeks' for some months now}

(Once that happens, the 80-MWt (thermal) reactor would be in a position to deliver power to the platform and sea trials of Arihant would begin subsequently when the submarine is expected to move at the designed speed, go to the diving depth, attain maximum speed and perform all safety and emergency operations).

New interceptor missile

Referring to the home-grown Ballistic Missile Defence programme, he said the next interceptor missile test to be conducted at a higher altitude of 100-150 km in July would be the most important one. “We have developed a new interceptor missile for it.”

Another crucial DRDO missile test this year would be a “repeat launch” of ‘Nirbhay’. During the maiden trial of the subsonic cruise missile, the flight had to be terminated midway after it strayed from its trajectory. Dr. Saraswat attributed the problem to a manufacturing defect in the navigation sensor. Flight tests of air-to-air Astra and anti-tank Nag missiles would be also conducted.

abhik · Post by **abhik** » 28 May 2013 09:02

Pranav wrote: Certainly, Delilah, e.g.

ballistic missiles not cruise missiles.

err ... CIWS is being compared to an "alien invasion"? Do carry on.

You are the one who brought in CIWS as an defense against ballistic missiles or rockets which the Prahaar or a similar system would have to beat. So it is incumbent upon you to show how it is credible. Else one might a well put up a requirement for the missile to able to penetrate force fields and we will call it "planning for the future".

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 28 May 2013 10:01

abhik wrote:
Pranav wrote: Certainly, Delilah, e.g.
ballistic missiles not cruise missiles.
err ... CIWS is being compared to an "alien invasion"? Do carry on.
You are the one who brought in CIWS as an defense against ballistic missiles or rockets which the Prahaar or a similar system would have to beat. So it is incumbent upon you to show how it is credible. Else one might a well put up a requirement for the missile to able to penetrate force fields and we will call it "planning for the future".

Prahaar is a shaped trajectory missile, not a ballistic missile. You would not use ballistic missiles to make precision attacks on high value targets at 150-200 km range. Brahmos could be used but Prahaar is lighter and much faster, and probably cheaper.

It is now standard practice for all high value assets to be protected by systems with close-in defense capabilities. For example, an S-300 system would typically itself be protected by Pantsir systems.

nits · Post by **nits** » 28 May 2013 12:16

New interceptor missile test in July : DRDO

V.K. Saraswat Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, told The Hindu , That the next interceptor missile test will be conducted at a higher altitude of 100-150 km in July it would be the most important one. “We have developed a new interceptor missile for it.”

Sources close to idrw.org have informed us that new Interceptor missile will be named the PDV , which is a advanced variant of Prithiv interceptor missile , In Current Phase – I Advanced Air Defense (AAD) missile and Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) forms a combination which are used to intercept enemy ballistic missiles . but PDV new missile will be replacing PAD and will have performance improvement .

PDV is a two-stage missile and both the stages will be powered by solid propellants. where else PAD was also a two-stage missile but first stage was solid fueled motor while the second stage was Liquid fueled, it will also have IIR seeker . once PDV is tested successfully , Phase-I of India’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) will be completed and Mumbai and Delhi will likely get PDV and AAD cover against missile defence by year end .

Phase-II will cover development of two new missile (AD-1 and AD-2) interceptors that can intercept IRBMs, new missile will be similar to the THAAD missile deployed by the U.S.A. These missiles will travel at hyper sonic speeds and will require radars with scan capability of over 1,500 km (930 mi) to successfully intercept the target and likely will be ready for deployment by 2016.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 28 May 2013 13:03

Avaliable for for Mumbai and Delhi by year end??? So fast for such system which is now under testing??? Are we sure???

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 28 May 2013 13:27

PDV intercept altitude corresponds to that of THAAD , at that high altitude I expect it to get 2-3 shots at the target and most likely doubling to what PAD offers today .....most likely PDV with IIR seeker would cover BM in higher IRBM range which is 3000-4000 km. While PAD would cover the 1000-3000 km spectrum.

NRao · Post by **NRao** » 28 May 2013 15:13

Austin wrote:PDV intercept altitude corresponds to that of THAAD , at that high altitude I expect it to get 2-3 shots at the target and most likely doubling to what PAD offers today .....most likely PDV with IIR seeker would cover BM in higher IRBM range which is 3000-4000 km. While PAD would cover the 1000-3000 km spectrum.

but PDV new missile will be replacing PAD and will have performance improvement .

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 28 May 2013 18:51

John wrote:Sagar cost effective and cheap are totally different things it is cost effective because it is more accurate better than firing multiple salvos of Grad or Pinaka missile because it is far more accurate saving $$$. Unless we use dirt cheap components and sacrifice accuracy like Eyran no chance that will be mass manufacturing these cheap (even those Fatahs supposedly cost couple hundred thousand according to IDF).

By saying cheap I meant saving $$$ only and please stop bringing Iran or NoKo while discussing Indian capabilities.

John wrote:He is talking about Prahaar not the Br fantasy 400 km Super Prahaar which would be 3-4 ton category...

Even that would be cheaper than Brahmos. But still both of them have different roles to carry out.

One of the major reasons why western equipments cost so much is that their labour cost is very high w.r.t. India.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 28 May 2013 18:55

nits wrote:New interceptor missile test in July : DRDO

it will also have IIR seeker

Is it indigenous ???

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 28 May 2013 20:12

Sagar G wrote: DRDO Launches `PRAHAAR’ - Surface to Surface Tactical Missile

[Don't know about that but Dr. Saraswat has to say this

A few Prahaar missiles could do the job of many Pinaka rockets, in devastating wide areas, Dr. Saraswat said.

First link:

DRDO Launches `PRAHAAR’ - Surface to Surface Tactical Missile
DRDO successfully flight tested its latest surface to surface Missile `PRAHAAR’ from Launch Complex III, off Chandipur Coast, ITR, Balasore, Orissa today. The Missile with a range of 150 kms, comparable to ATACMS Missile of United States of America, fills the vital gap between Multi Barrel Rockets and Medium Range Ballistic Missiles. The Missile capable of carrying different types of warheads, operates as battle field support system to the Indian Army.

The Missile with a length of 7.3 meters and diameter of 420 mm weighing 1280 kgs, and a single stage solid propulsion system went to a height of 35 kms before reaching the targets of the range of 150 kms in about 250 seconds. Equipped with state of the art high accuracy navigation, guidance and electro mechanical actuation systems with latest onboard computer, it achieved terminal accuracy of less than 10 meters.

The Missile with a pay load of 200 kgs has a fast reaction time, which is essential for the battle field tactical missile. The Missile was launched from a Road Mobile System, which can carry six missiles at a time and can be fired in salvo mode in all directions covering the entire azimuth plane.

The Missile system is developed to provide Indian Army a cost effective, quick reaction, all weather, all terrain, high accurate battle field support tactical system. The development of Missile was carried out by the DRDO Scientists in a short span of less than two years.

The flight path of the Missile was tracked and monitored by the various Radar systems and Electro Optical systems located along the coast of Orissa. An Indian Naval ship located near target point in Bay of Bengal witnessed the final event.

The launch operations were witnessed by Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to Raksha Mantri and Secretary Defence R & D, Lt Gen Vinod Nayanar, AVSM, Director General of Artillery, IHQ of MoD (Army). A team of scientists headed by Shri Avinash Chander, Chief Controller R&D, DRDO coordinated the entire launching operations.

Defence Minister Shri AK Antony has congratulated the Scientists of DRDO for the successful maiden launch of the new Missile.

Kind of validates most of what was wanted for a battlefield support system.

- 10m accuracy at 150 km for a 200 kg payload.

vic · Post by **vic** » 28 May 2013 21:22

Brahmos would be an overkill in lot of situations and Prahaar can do the job at 1/10th to 1/20th the cost in most of tactical strikes.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 28 May 2013 21:50

well, inshallah we shall test them on muridke soon...

John · Post by **John** » 28 May 2013 22:05

By saying cheap I meant saving $$$ only and please stop bringing Iran or NoKo while discussing Indian capabilities.

Even that would be cheaper than Brahmos. But still both of them have different roles to carry out.

Where is the proof? Any 400 km TBM will cost in 1+ million range, just look at how much Prithvi costs'. Also you are talking about entirely new missile not simply adding a booster and doubling the range. As i said before doesn't even make sense for DRDO to talk on such a project. As for the cost just because it is built in india doesn't mean it will be whole lot cheaper, look back to discussion on Nirbhay (10 crores) and how it costs significantly more than Tomahawk.

Besides let's not get ahead of our self lets wait till system is inducted before talks 1000s of Prahaar or Super Prahaar etc.

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 28 May 2013 22:57

John wrote:
By saying cheap I meant saving $$$ only and please stop bringing Iran or NoKo while discussing Indian capabilities.

Even that would be cheaper than Brahmos. But still both of them have different roles to carry out.
Where is the proof? Any 400 km TBM will cost in 1+ million range, just look at how much Prithvi costs'. Also you are talking about entirely new missile not simply adding a booster and doubling the range. As i said before doesn't even make sense for DRDO to talk on such a project. As for the cost just because it is built in india doesn't mean it will be whole lot cheaper, look back to discussion on Nirbhay (10 crores) and how it costs significantly more than Tomahawk.

Besides let's not get ahead of our self lets wait till system is inducted before talks 1000s of Prahaar or Super Prahaar etc.

Right now my "proof" is based on my understanding of both the systems. Since we are paying a lot of money to get the tech inside Brahmos and that's not the case with Prahaar that's why I am speculating that it might very well be less costly than Brahmos. I am still not sure about the guidance thing in Prahaar so my speculation can end up being totally wrong. The cost per unit is also affected by the size of the orderbook so yeah a lot of things to look into before we can agree upon a no. Indian weapon systems having greater indigenous content cost less than equivalent foreign systems.
I must have missed the Nirbhay cost discussion but how come members were able to deduce the cost per unit after a single launch ???

P.S. I am talking about the 400 KM range paper Prahaar.

John · Post by **John** » 29 May 2013 01:44

Tarmak reported that current estimated cost for Nirbhay by DRDO is 10 crores'.

member_26622 · Post by **member_26622** » 29 May 2013 11:18

Prahaar seems to mark the coming of age of DRDO and Indian Army's relationship. A quick reaction precision missile coupled with UAV will provide much needed counter strike capabilities especially against terrorist camps or retaliatory strikes.

With this accuracy and supposedly cost effectiveness, we can retaliate at will against medium value targets and induct in much higher numbers than say Brahmos and Prithvi's.

Given our needs, systems which we can make in high numbers without getting bankrupt have much more deterrent value (where is the LCA now). They might not be republic day parade materials but for sure get the job done.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 29 May 2013 12:32

dumb question: what is the flight profile of prahaar? can it be interpreted on pak radar as something bigger and more strategic in nature? can it trigger a brown shalwar nuke response?

Kersi D · Post by **Kersi D** » 29 May 2013 12:35

Is the IAF still using P 19 radars ?

YES

I say them last week at an civil / military airport. I saw two of them fairly close to each other.

And near them was a ubiquitous SA 3 battery with the ‘Low Blow’ radar.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 May 2013 19:42

Lalmohan wrote:dumb question: what is the flight profile of prahaar? can it be interpreted on pak radar as something bigger and more strategic in nature? can it trigger a brown shalwar nuke response?

its a ballistic missile with end trajectory correction/steering giving it the 10m accuracy.
The Pakis already said many times they have redlines and will go full on nuke if they face prospect of gas when in the toilet.

Prahaar and the recent Shyam Saran speech will ensure that TSP does not launch on warning. Prahaar's conventional payload means that it cannot be msitaken for a nuke armed vehicle. SS said a nuke strike anywhere even on Indian troops in TSP will be retaliated with full nuke response from India.
So TSP has to think twice before crossing the threshold needlessly. Do they want ot lose a crops(e) or two or the whole nation-state along with their allies?

Sagar G · Post by **Sagar G** » 29 May 2013 19:55

John wrote:Tarmak reported that current estimated cost for Nirbhay by DRDO is 10 crores'.

Saw the report and it also says that the engine is Russian, so as I said before that Indian weapon systems having greater indigenous content cost less than equivalent foreign systems. Let's see how things play out and what would be the final price of Nirbhay.

ShauryaT · Post by **ShauryaT** » 29 May 2013 20:52

Prahaar's depressed flight trajectory + warhead limitations + "credible" Indian declarations on India's doctrine will preclude it from being mistaken as a nuclear warhead delivery vehicle. In addition, it will allow India to replace the 150KM range Prithvi's, the one'e that had a conventional warhead. India's further deployment of Prahaar to non SFC missile groups will further clarify any mistaken presumptions. Also, I do not think, we have to limit Prahaar to TSP only, great use against PLA too. Do not know of its feasibility as a ship launched sea to shore missile?

shyamd · Post by **shyamd** » 29 May 2013 21:00

TSP or PRC don't have ability to detect Prahaar after launch, so can't respond with nuke straight away. They'll only realise after it struck. This won't be a problem as it won't be nuke laden anyway

ramana wrote: its a ballistic missile with end trajectory correction/steering giving it the 10m accuracy.
The Pakis already said many times they have redlines and will go full on nuke if they face prospect of gas when in the toilet.

Prahaar and the recent Shyam Saran speech will ensure that TSP does not launch on warning. Prahaar's conventional payload means that it cannot be msitaken for a nuke armed vehicle. SS said a nuke strike anywhere even on Indian troops in TSP will be retaliated with full nuke response from India.
So TSP has to think twice before crossing the threshold needlessly. Do they want ot lose a crops(e) or two or the whole nation-state along with their allies?

The smartest thing about Shyam Saran speech is basically he/india has rendered the TSP plan of using tactical nukes as useless.

vasu raya · Post by **vasu raya** » 29 May 2013 21:14

With the recent launch demo of Brahmos from UVLM (Universal Vertical Launch Module) on INS Tarkash, Prahaar, Nirbhay etc can be vertical launched using the same module. PDV would be interesting to watch.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 May 2013 21:35

The only thing ShauryaT is the Prithvi had a one tonne payload i.e. equal to five Prahaars!

Also due to the limited range it does not re-enter just as the Prithivi. It goes to 35km height.

Lalmohan · Post by **Lalmohan** » 29 May 2013 21:56

why is prahaar difficult to detect?

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 May 2013 21:58

Its trajectory is all in the aero-layer. It does not have to reenter. And its cross section doesn't have large fins to give a return.
Off ocurse one can view it from the side. So need a lot of radars sited to look sideways and not head on.

merlin · Post by **merlin** » 30 May 2013 11:17

What about AWACS? Will they not be able to detect the Prahaar once its in the air?

nits · Post by **nits** » 30 May 2013 16:43

Gurus - Can anyone let me know what is the closest we have in Indian Inventory compared to S 300

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 May 2013 20:25

I don't get how the AV wont be tested now when the earlier article stated that the build up of the vehicle had commenced and would lead to the test by month end May?

You can't unbuild the bird.

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 3#p1446543

....
India is readying for the second developmental trial of 5,000-km range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V which put the country in the elite club of six nations including the US, the UK, China, France and Russia, having intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.

Defence sources on Tuesday said the missile, considered as a “game-changer”, had been planned to be test-fired from the Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast any time in the third week of May. A successful launch of the missile would be another step forward towards its induction in the armed forces, possibly in 2015, though it has to undergo two more trials in the next couple of years.

The missile was first tested successfully on April 19 last year. While the preparation for the second test has already begun, officials are busy fixing the schedule and logistic issues since the missile has to traverse across the Indian Ocean. “Though the Union Cabinet has already given a go-ahead for the mission, the exact date of firing has not been fixed yet,” said a source. As the missile has the striking capabilities close to intercontinental range, prior to the test, an official said, India will have to alert a number of countries including Indonesia and Australia along with the international air and maritime traffic within the test zone.

Sources said a group of scientists associated with Agni-V missile would arrive here on Saturday to oversee the launch preparation. .....

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 31 May 2013 01:54

dinesha wrote:Problem in Nirbhay cruise missile identified: Antony
http://www.ptinews.com/news/3616682_Pro ... d--Antony-

New Delhi, May 8 (PTI) Scientists have identified the problem in Nirbhay cruise missile, which led to its malfunction during the first test flight last month, and corrective design is being implemented, Defence Minister A K Antony today said.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, he said, "Scientists have identified that Inertial Navigation System has malfunctioned and corrective design/modification are being implemented."

On whether the missile achieved only partial success, Antony said, "Yes.
Problem in Nirbhay cruise missile identified: Antony

http://www.business-standard.com/articl ... 450_1.html

Scientists have identified the problem in Nirbhay cruise missile, which led to its malfunction during the first test flight last month, and corrective design is being implemented, Defence Minister A K Antony today said.

In a written reply in Rajya Sabha, he said, "Scientists have identified that Inertial Navigation System has malfunctioned and corrective design/modification are being implemented."

On whether the missile achieved only partial success, Antony said, "Yes. Except for covering the full range by flying in all way points, all the objectives set for the cruise missile functionality have been met fully."

Maintaining that the missile had a perfect launch with the navigation systems correctly touching the "first way point", he said, "Deviation was observed while going to second way point. When the deviation extended the safety limit, mission abort command was issued from the ground and the destruction mechanism inside the missile was activated."

On March 20th I had wondered :

http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 3#p1427573

I am willing to bet its the RLG that gave out. The only thing that explains the flight drift after the 2nd way point is if the stable platform sees an anomaly. And the RLG non-performance would match the worry of the scientists about proven system giving up.

Karan M · Post by **Karan M** » 31 May 2013 04:46

Ramana, another report mentions that the RLG failure was noted as a manufacturing defect and not a design flaw. Note RLGs have now been used in other Agni, BMD test without a problem.

jai · Post by **jai** » 31 May 2013 12:03

nits wrote:Gurus - Can anyone let me know what is the closest we have in Indian Inventory compared to S 300

I am no guru, but the answer is - Currently and deployed - Nothing !

Things may change once LRSAM and PD/AD are deployed.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 31 May 2013 15:52

Air Force Briefing: from FAS
India
India is listed with four nuclear modernizations, all of which are well known: Agni V ICBM, Arihant SSBN, “Sagurika” SLBM, and a new warhead.The U.S. Intelligence Community normally refers to “Sagurika” as Sagarika, which is known as K-15 in India.

Neither the Agni III nor Agni IV are listed in the briefing, which might indicate, if correct, that the two systems, both of which were test launched in 2012, are in fact technology development programs intended to develop the technology to field the Agni V.

The U.S. Intelligence Community asserts that the Agni V will be capable of carrying multiple warheads, as recently stated by an India defense industry official – a dangerous development that could well motivate China to deploy multiple warheads on some of its missiles and trigger a new round of nuclear competition between India and China.

The new warhead might be for the SLBM and/or for Agni V.

http://blogs.fas.org/security/2013/05/a ... ightbox/0/

http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/nukes/n ... ay2013.pdf

tushar_m · Post by **tushar_m** » 31 May 2013 20:44

A 60km tactical ballistic missile is a threat but 3000+ km Agni series of missile are not treated as a threat , neither is Agni 4 considered modernization over other missiles

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 01 Jun 2013 03:44

Avinash Chander — the long distance missile man.

If India’s missiles have successfully achieved the fire (Agni) power and long strike distance, credit to a large extent has to go to 62-year-old Avinash Chander.

A dedicated Defence scientist, Chander has been stewarding the country’s long-range Agni ballistic missile programme for a decade. In this period, the successes, especially of Agni V (the inter-continental ballistic missile), have made even China sit up and take serious note of India’s missile-strike capabilities.

Soft-spoken, simple, focussed and committed, Avinash Chander will take over as the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and Director-General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), from Dr V. K. Saraswat today. His appointment for a three-year tenure was announced on Friday in New Delhi.

A firm believer in indigenous technology, Avinash will have his share of challenges, especially with mega projects such as Light Combat Aircraft, Main Battle Tank, Field Gun, AWACS and UAVs suffering delays and cost overruns.

Similarly, pressures from the Defence forces to deliver quality products on time as well as the huge Defence deals in the pipeline with offset clauses will test his managerial skills. Priority, he says, will be for induction of Agni V and Tejas, the Light Combat Aircraft.

Avinash Chander is at present the Chief Controller (R&D) of DRDO in charge of strategic missions. Having joined the DRDO in 1972, he worked his way to the top, making significant contributions to missile and critical technology areas. He served as the Director of the Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad, which drives the Agni programme.

It is indeed a strange coincidence that the Agni programme has been led by scientists whose names start with ‘A’ — A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, R.N. Agarwal and now Avinash Chander — in its three-decade-long journey, starting from the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGDMP) in 1983.

An alumnus of IIT Delhi and with an MS in Spatial Information Technology, Avinash Chander was instrumental in integrating several indigenous technologies and materials into the Agni V missile. Launched successfully in 2012, the missile propelled India into the elite club of a few nations with long-range capability.

A recipient of the Padma Shri, Avinash motivated the large team of scientists to overcome glitches that faced Agni III and IV.

Though he has a lot of confidence in the domestic industry, his constant refrain is that quality has to improve considerably and rise up to global standards.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 01 Jun 2013 10:22

Avinash is appointed DRDO Chief

Avinash Chander appointed DRDO chief

NEW DELHI: AvinashChander, chief architect of India's long-range missile programmes including Agni, was on Friday appointed DRDO chief and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister.

"Chander has been appointed as the new Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, Secretary Department of Defence Research and Development and DG DRDO," a DRDO release said today.

Chander, who will succeed V K Saraswat, said, "I feel honoured to take up this new responsibility. Saraswat has set DRDO on a good course, I have to continue and take it to the next level." An eminent missile scientist, he is considered the chief architect of the long-range Agni ballistic missile programme.

"Chander envisioned and evolved the strategies for long-range missiles and led the design and development of Agni-1, Agni-2, Agni-3 and Agni-4 and led to development of the nation's pride over 5,000 km range Agni-V missile propelling India to join the elite club of five advanced nations," the DRDO said.

The Agni-series missiles were developed at a time when India was facing sanctions of highly restrictive international control regimes. "Chander created the infrastructure, industry base, production lines and integration facilities to produce different classes of Agni missile systems," the defence research agency said.

Under him, DRDO laboratories have carried out extensive research and indigenously developed the critical technologies such as composite rocket motors and re-entry carbon composite heat shield.

"His long term expertise has been providing necessary thrust for programmes of national importance such as underwater missiles, BrahMos cruise missiles, Nag and the Air Defence Systems," the release said.

A graduate of IIT-Delhi, Chander joined DRDO in 1972 and obtained MS in Spatial Information Technology from JNTU, Hyderabad.