Indian Missiles and Munitions Discussion

Raja Ram · Post by **Raja Ram** » 20 Apr 2012 11:11

The print edition of New Indian Express carried out a story on Agni Sakshi - it is the launch pad for Agni V that has been developed by several DRDO entities. The story termed it as the unsung, not so well recognised technology development amongst the other more prominent technologies that have been mastered.

Couldn't find a link in the online edition.

Can experts explain what key challenges have been mastered in this?

tejas · Post by **tejas** » 20 Apr 2012 11:14

UNSC resolution 1172 was written by China and rubber stamped by the US under Slick Willie. The Indian ambassador was not even allowed to address the Council prior to the vote. India should have left the UN at that time. If India followed that resolution it would be left defenseless against China. The Poaks on the other hand got/get all their missiles directly from China or indirectly from China via North Korea so they were left unscathed. Slick Willie should never be allowed to step foot in India again. ABV to his credit did tell both Clinton and Ziang Zemin where to get off after a joint US-China communique ordering India to cease and desist their nuke program. Things like this should NEVER be forgotten

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 20 Apr 2012 11:27

This missile test is a gamechanger. After the nervous chini reaction, here are some tweets from western reporters in Indian subcontinent reminding India of its place (brits are the most condescending).

Henry Foy @HenryJFoy Reuters

Boys & their (intercontinental) toys. Bravo DRDO, but w/out nukes launchable from nuclear submarines, India is still a B league "superpower"

Dude, relax. Just that w/out sub nukes, no chance of post-attack retaliation if aggressor hits ICBM launch sites

Adam Plowright @ADAMPLOW AFP

Ref Agni V's 'perfect launch', India's 1998 nuke test was declared a success but scientist since claimed it 'fizzled'.

Manoj Joshi says India being 'needlessly boastful' about Agni V. Reminds us there is no independent verification.

Agni V is not an ICBM (a defined category of missile), though it could obviously hit other continents.

Andrew North @NorthAndrew BBC

Are we all getting sucked into a big show of chest-puffing? Quick read up tells me Agni 5 doesn't qualify as intercontinental missile

Andrew Buncombe @AndrewBuncombe The Independent newspaper

India joins 'elite club' with successful missile launch. Next, to feed the population.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 20 Apr 2012 11:28

EXAMPLE OF CHINESE RECENT MARV DEPLOYMENT The above explains the reported MARV (MAaneuvarable Re-entry Vehicle) characteristics shown by the warheads that China shot off the coast of Taiwan in Feb. of 1996. The DF-15 (also known as the M-9 in the export version) launches were observed by Aegis missile cruisers. Previously monitored Chinese launches of the DF-15 noted the warheads were basically unguided during the terminal phase of flight (eg... last few seconds before impact). The warheads used during the 1996 Taiwan crisis were changing directions and speed rapidly, as if practicing to avoid anti-missiles such as the Army Patriot and the US Navy Standard.

http://www.softwar.net/missile.html

We see that US help PRC with al these

Launches 1996-7 and 1998 (successful) Motorola Iridium (Lockheed)

Specific Technology Transferred Validated Chinese upper stage separation technology, vibrational and load coupling analysis, attitude control, and payload mounting. Two Motorola communication satellites were to be delivered with a kick motor and new satellite dispenser of Chinese design. To assure successful launch, the contractor demanded that the Chinese prove that the Chinese systems would work properly and do the job. Concerns included the properly timed release of the satellites, the mounting of the satellites in the delivery bus (would the two satellites break from their moorings due to improper vibrational and load coupling analysis), would the delivery bus's attitude control be alestabilized by the release of the fast satellite, and would the kick motor generate too little or too much thrust at the wrong time.

Military Significance Helped China master the technology needed to develop its own mukiple independently targetable re, entry vehicles for the new solid rocket intercontinental ballistic missile it is trying to drive from SS-25 missile technology with the Russians.

SOURCE: Beyond The Loral-Hughes Controversy: A Decade of US Satellite Transfers And Their Military Significance, by Henry Sokolski, Executive Director, The Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, 1-202-466-4406

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 20 Apr 2012 11:38

NYT

BlakeNYC
FLAG
I believe nuclear weapons contribute to world Peace. It was not accidental that there has been no major war among great powers. Welcome India to the club.

The next big project for India is to get the second gold medal in London this summer. Except field hockey, India has only got one gold medal in the Olympic. The event was shooting, and the place was Beijing. The Chinese were scared. If India got another one in London this time, the vestige of the British imperialism would be eradicated once and for all.

vina · Post by **vina** » 20 Apr 2012 11:43

Singha wrote:in this A5 launch we have taken a proper 101% halal 10,00km ICBM and make a 6000km missile out of it (because thats as far as we need to go), reduced the apogee, depressed the trajectory,

Yes. That is true. In any case a 50 ton ICBM should be able to carry some 7 or 8 MIRVs to a distance of 10K Km. Really, this Agni V shot seems to be "constrained" to 6K km.

increased the RV speed from mach14 in a typical coasting RV design to mach25 powered S-manouvering RV..a nearly 200% increase

Stuff like Maneuvering warheads (S maneuvers esp) and ABM defenses etc need a higher throw weight than the earlier gen missiles. These kind of things sap energy (note, the space shuttle does a series of S maneuvers to decelerate from the around Mach 25 reentry speed down to saner speeds and finally more of the S maneuvers to landing speed) and it is not the same as taking it to near low earth orbits and releasing the MIRVs to coast purely ballistically (where the only force will be Maa Bhoo Devi ki Keenchayi.. ask Maharaj Ji about it though) and land on target.

Sure, even an un-powered RV can do the jinking and other S maneuvers, but will lose speed and will descend down far slowly , allowing even maybe good anti aircraft systems to engage the RVs in the descent phase.

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 20 Apr 2012 11:43

Hmmmmppphhhh...we know, we know

India downplaying Agni-V’s potential: Chinese expert

Beijing: Chinese experts feel that there is to more India’s successful long-range nuclear-capable missile Agni-V than what New Delhi is saying. A Chinese researcher said the missile “actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away”.

Du Wenlong, a researcher at China’s PLA Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times that the Agni-V “actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away”.

Chinese experts feel that there is to more India's successful long-range nuclear-capable missile Agni-V than what New Delhi is saying. PTI
Du added that “the Indian government had deliberately downplayed the missile’s capability in order to avoid causing concern to other countries”.

India Thursday test-fired the Agni-V missile that it said can accurately hit targets more than 5,000 km away. With this launch, India entered an exclusive club of nations that have this capability.

Zhang Zhaozhong, a professor with the People’s Liberation Army National Defence University, told the Global Times that according to China’s standard, an ICBM should have a range of at least 8,000 km.

“The Agni-V’s range could be further enhanced to become an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile,” he said.

dinesha · Post by **dinesha** » 20 Apr 2012 12:12

Agni-V can reach targets 8000 km away: Chinese experts
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-new ... 43359.aspx

D Roy · Post by **D Roy** » 20 Apr 2012 12:19

Accha this is an aside.

I would request all jingoes not to post here what those Gora shit reporters are saying. The briturds have a habit of talking to the "right" people whenever they need to write something.

Its an international anglophonic echo chamber. The Yamrikhans are slightly better but the racism by the Briturds is palpable.

Anant · Post by **Anant** » 20 Apr 2012 12:20

Atleast from what I've seen in the US and in comments sections on CNN and Huffingtonpost, Americans are supporting India and at the worst neutral.

Patni · Post by **Patni** » 20 Apr 2012 12:22

Raja Ram wrote:The print edition of New Indian Express carried out a story on Agni Sakshi - it is the launch pad for Agni V that has been developed by several DRDO entities. The story termed it as the unsung, not so well recognised technology development amongst the other more prominent technologies that have been mastered.

Couldn't find a link in the online edition.

Can experts explain what key challenges have been mastered in this?

here is a link for the artical you referred.
Agni Sakshi: 50-tonne home-grown missile launcher, the real unsung hero

DRDO chief V K Saraswat told Express that the launcher used for Agni-V was a modified version of Agni-3 missile with many 'unique' capabilities. “It's a highly mobile platform that can be used for launching different types of missiles. It can be used to launch canister missiles and comes in road and rail mobile models. Its extremely high mobility makes the execution time (erection or installation) lesser,” Saraswat said.
During a conflict scenario, the launcher comes handy as it requires very less reaction time. “We have been doing launchers for all missiles. By the time Agni-5 gets inducted into the Service, we will be ready with a further more modified launcher exclusively for the missile. Since the Agni class missiles are very heavy, the initial alignment of launcher is a very critical during every mission. The Agni-5 uses inertial navigation systems (INS) and the launcher plays a critical role at the beginning stages,” says Guruprasad Siddalingappa, director, R&D Engineers, Pune.
He said the launcher provides the initial stability which is paramount for any missile launches. “Developing launchers is a specialized area and we had close to 50 scientists working on the Agni-5 launcher,” Guruprasad said.

No expert here but looks like the main achievement seems to be in providing stable low vibration reference to missile in initial few seconds of lift off phase.

Kanishka · Post by **Kanishka** » 20 Apr 2012 12:23

D Roy wrote:Accha this is an aside.

I would request all jingoes not to post here what those Gora shit reporters are saying. The briturds have a habit of talking to the "right" people whenever they need to write something.

Its an international anglophonic echo chamber. The Yamrikhans are slightly better but the racism by the Briturds is palpable.

Britain, Canada and Australia.

svinayak · Post by **svinayak** » 20 Apr 2012 12:30

http://gizmodo.com/5903424/india-just-s ... w-up-china
These are the best comments where even caste it also brought into missile launch

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 20 Apr 2012 12:30

AGNI-V A SMASHING HIT ON TARMAK007 TOO!
Blog records all-time-high 35,224 visitors on single day

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 20 Apr 2012 12:45

Roy sir, I agree.

Americans have been supportive or to say the least have not denounced India. If you read WSJ, it might seem that there is a near-consensus among the Indian and American posters that they are both gunning for China now.

Congrats Anantha sir!

member_19969 · Post by **member_19969** » 20 Apr 2012 13:12

Trajectory of Fire: Agni V

Now, while an Agni V locked and loaded sitting in a canister somewhere in India is not exactly what China likes to hear first thing in the morning, the middle kingdom could actually have more to worry about. The Agni V's re-entry vehicle a.k.a warhead shown in the released pictures may turn out to be rather maneuverable making things difficult for emerging Chinese terminal course anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defences. Indeed, an article in Global Times about the Agni V (for those who came late, Global Times is the Chinese Communist Party's tabloidish mouthpiece) may have indirectly acknowledged this when it quotes a Chinese analyst saying, towards the end of the piece, that "for the sake of regional stability, China should continue to develop defense systems against ballistic missile threats," and added that, "China successfully conducted its first ground-based mid-course ballistic missile interception experiment in January 2010, becoming the second country in the world to conduct this kind of missile defence test." Incidentally, the third stage of the Agni V is a conical motor which allows for greater acceleration in flight and makes it more difficult for mid-course interceptors to tackle it.

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 20 Apr 2012 13:27

A request to all BRF members: Please stop the speculations and stick to the PR narrative. It is a 5000km missile onlee. Thank you.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 20 Apr 2012 13:30

One Appearance of Mahakaal and chin ki aisee ki tessy

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/after-india- ... 490-2.html

"China believes to maintain international peace and stability, to realise general security in the world, we must uphold a new security concept based on mutual trust, benefit, equality, and coordination...," he said.

Murugan · Post by **Murugan** » 20 Apr 2012 13:36

btw, the word Agni is Untranslatable. Many DDMs are translating it as Fire.

Agni - that is not just fire - sometimes is invisible, un-feelable but still 'burns' to ashes

Kam-Agni does not mean sex fire, Trisha-Agni does not mean Thirst Fire.

It is very subtle but burns things like chini grand standing and other blah blahs in 30 minutes

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 20 Apr 2012 13:43

The significance of the successful Agni-V test - Bharat Karnad

Q: We will get into one among the six nation club for the posession of ICBM. Are any other countries in the race to get into this exclusive club ?
A: There are only 3 ICBM states -- Rusiia, US and China. India could be the fourth if Govt okays ICBM project.

Q: Read that AGNI-V can be used for samller Satelite Launch. Will it ease pressure on ASLV & PSLV ? What categories of satelite can teh AGNI-V carry.?
A: No, Agni-5 cannot be used for even small satellite launch.

Q: DRDO is real BHARATRATNA OF INDIA. When India is going to achive the real ICBM 'Range i.e 8000 to 12000km with full load. Will India will have say in International community & in International financial aspect only with agni 5? Will international community will appoint india as a permanant member in security council after agni 5?
A: UN security council seat, etc. will come to India of its own -- we don't have to beg for it, as we do now. All that is required is for India to keep producing thermonuclear weapons of bigger yeilds and fielding Agni long range delivery systems, and in parallel, keep up the econ growth rate, and everybody will damn well make way for India to the high table.

Q: what is our next plan?
A: Hopefully, we'll get teh Agni-5 upto speed, start honing our MIRV-ing technology to enable one missile to engage several targets. And the Manmohan Singh govt gets the guts (from somewhere!) to green signal the ICBM project, which is in the design stage.

Q: Do we need to go beyond 5000 km. Our enemies are our neighbours and 5000 km has thempretty much covered.
A: Yes, but all such strategic weapons have a psychological element. For India to follow-up with a genuine ICBM, will place it centrally in the great power ranks -- because that is the ultimate standard, that will afford the country huge diplomatic and political dividend.

Q: Hi. Does this launch still bring us any closer to China in terms of capabilities? What do you think will be Pakistan's reaction?
A: Yes, it definitely does. Because of the very advanced guidance and last-phase maneuvering technologies that worked well, Agni-5 will be an enormously accurate missile even at extreme range, and depending upon the type of warhead, can even be used in the counter-force sense of taking out major Chinese nuclear and strategic installations and facilities. This hugely changes the military risk calculus for China, and positively for India.

Q: Why Beijing downplayed India's successful launch of agni v ?
A: For the obvious reason, that you do not give your adversary the impression you are too impressed!

Q: First of all congrats to the whole team sir. so how will this launch help the country !
A: Militarily, we have reached strategic deterrence parity with China. Diplomatically and politically it has raised India's profile and credibility with Asian states who fear China and look to India to provide them with overarching security and protection.

Q: Congratulations!!! and proud to be an indian as it is day of national pride.However,residing in New Zealand.Just have a query that What would be the significance of this day as far as India'as position in the world is concerned? How would this have an effect on Indo-US relations ?As they probably will take us as a potential threat
A: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been publicly and privately urging India to become a "net security provider" to a host of Asian states on China's periphery. It is a role that is naturally India's except our Govt lacks the will to see it through. It is imperative that India not squander the opportunity to make capital out of the successful Agni launch -- and initiate policies rightaway with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, and especially Vietnam and the ASEAn states, to flesh out such a role. If we did that, this event could well be the game changer that Dr V saraswat, the DRDO boss, talked about in Asian and global geopolitics.

Q: Sir, this must be a day of Glory for indian Defence as we successfully enroll our self in ICBM club. but just ove question why such big expense in the name of security while recent cases show very well india lacks in defence structure. we are largest importer of Arms, we have largest doemstic budget for Military, we have long list of pending defence projects.... but why cant we divert this money for education to common people or giving health facility for people leave below poverty line? is not this a luxury to have enrolled in ICBM club while people still die of hunger in this country? wish to have a response from you. thank you.
A: Securing the wherewithal to safeguard our liberty and way of life is not a luxury, but a necessity. True, we still rely on arms imports to meet even our basic military needs. But that's the result of failed policies of the Indian government after Nehru, who have been shortsighted in the extreme and strategically blind, and in some sense have become a liability to the country. To repeat, our defence luf=dget is the lowest of any major country at between 1.8% and 2.4%.

Other nuggets. Keep in mind he is going by the official line on the actual range.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2012 14:11

there are 4 ICBM states - he didnt include france for unknown reasons - their M41 and M51 are ICBMs.

apt and correct to leave Bartania out, as they have to my knowledge never even developed on their own a IRBM, forget a trident d5 or poseidon.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2012 14:17

a small pic of the kind of trajectory shaping the topol-M RV can do
http://pics.livejournal.com/sciencesecu ... w/s320x240

the launch seems from near kola peninsula and impact near kamchatka.

as an aside , the apogee shown in that chart is also 500km

short dark rice/beet eating yindu and slav cowards prefer to lie low and hug the ground.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Apr 2012 14:28

Made in India: Anti-satellite (A-SAT), all-composite, intelligent missiles next target: Avinash Chander

Agni-5 Project Director was as cool as a cucumber, despite the smashing hit. “Our next aim is to put satellites to orbit at very short notice using missiles. We can launch low-cost micro-satellites into the orbit with a payload of 60 kg. It can be used for intelligence-gathering purpose and launched within few hours of notice,” Avinash said.

According to him, the next big challenge for DRDO is to master the MIRV (Multiple independently-targeted re-entry vehicles) and MaRV (Manoeuvring re-entry vehicles (MaRV) technologies. “Our next aim is maneuvering warheads for long-range missiles. We want to develop intelligent missiles with highly-accurate warheads for future. Missiles that could counter an incoming missile, by predicting its trajectory is the key,” Avinash said. He said that DRDO is hovering around the idea of developing missiles with anti-satellite capabilities too.

He said the scientists are already on a mission mode to develop an all-composite missile for the future. “A full composite missile with a high-degree of precision. We are moving faster and now we have the technologies to boot. We will have missiles with less radar cross sections soon. The user is part of our thought-process right from the word go. The user has become an integral part and hence the ownership has gone up many folds with all our new projects,” Avinash said.

Among the new technologies used onboard Agni-5 are Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RINS), Micro Inertial Navigation System (MINS), high speed onboard computer based on power-PC design, light-weight composite motors and 100 per cent home-grown software. “The INS worked in dual redundancy configuration. Agni-V uses a three-stage propulsion system and it has onboard less cabling, multi-sensors among others. Around 80 per cent of Agni-5 is made in India, making it a truly value-for-money-weapon,” Avinash said

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Apr 2012 15:40

Why does he say we have to master MaRV technology when it has already been tested on Agni-5 ? MIRV is understandable.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2012 16:00

because I dont think he reads Arun_S

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2012 16:06

pic of DF31 TELAR in launch position
http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/up ... dff4_o.jpg

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Apr 2012 16:14

Singha wrote:because I dont think he reads Arun_S

Perhaps advanced MaRV with BGRV and LLRI capability of Topol-M types ?

rohitvats · Post by **rohitvats** » 20 Apr 2012 16:26

Singha wrote:pic of DF31 TELAR in launch position
http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/up ... dff4_o.jpg

The TELAR seems to be made with express purpose of taking the missile out of mountain side hardened bunker to prepared position through a well laid out road...not the 8x8 off-road capable beasts in Russian inventory which could give a range rover run for their money.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 20 Apr 2012 16:31

in 2011, Rus tested a Topol-M whose boost phase burnt out quickly to make satellite detection tougher, and then RV @ mach24 manouvered sharply ...a course of action where normal RV is said to disintegrate
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... 514-2217r/

Rohit, yes but look at the pic of the North Korean ICBM TELAR I posted made by a chinese co - it is rated to 122 tons and features multiple steerable axles. better than the basic df31 truck telar for sure. still not the off-road beast for siberia, but perhaps chinese operating areas are better served with good roads and such and they dont need such extreme vehicles.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 20 Apr 2012 16:41

Austin wrote:Why does he say we have to master MaRV technology when it has already been tested on Agni-5 ? MIRV is understandable.

So far the main focus of our MaRV is to gain accuracy to the level of few meters and alter the trajectories. That's not the end of all capabilities of MaRV. Mastering of MaRV needs mastering of few more technologies. There are dumb MaRV, semi auto/auto MaRV and then intelligent MaRV with AI capabilities.

Similar to having some MIRV tech and mastering MIRV tech.

If anyone paid attention, the usage of third stage of this missile is very much similar to Agni 4.

mody · Post by **mody** » 20 Apr 2012 16:42

Dr. Selvamurthy is TV interview yesterday confirmed twice that Agni V, even in the current form is MaRV capable, but was not fully tested in the current test. He said it will be mastered over the next couple of tests. He also said that the missile can be cannisterized, but the same was not done for this test and will be done in future tests.

Hence Avinash Chander has just listed the objectives for the future. MaRV and cannister launch is going to be in the near future and I hope that MIRV can also be demonstrated over the next two years.

A full composite missile will probably take a little longer.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Apr 2012 16:45

Singha wrote:in 2011, Rus tested a Topol-M whose boost phase burnt out quickly to make satellite detection tougher, and then RV @ mach24 manouvered sharply ...a course of action where normal RV is said to disintegrate
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... 514-2217r/

Actually Topol-M has capability much beyond the usual MaRV , MaRV/BGRV was perfected in old Topol SS-25 and US has this capability since say 70's where MaRV/BGRV technology was tested , You must have read this on the highly recomended book Lightening Rod , where Arun_S own research work on Agni has been documented and credited.

The author of the book describes Topol-M RV has BGRV with Low Level Run In capability using Ramjet Propulsion to give it a low manouvering but powered flight all the way to target.

I personally thing much of the capability on US/Western and Russian ICBM specially the latter newer ones are highly classified subject and one can just but speculate on the level of technology level existing there , be it weapons design ( Weight/Yeald ratio ) , Materials , RV , Decoys , Jammers etc

But any ways as far as Agni-5 goes its gives us enough ability to break through any defence that China will/could have in near and medium future and thats what really matters.

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 20 Apr 2012 16:48

mody wrote:Dr. Selvamurthy is TV interview yesterday confirmed twice that Agni V, even in the current form is MaRV capable, but was not fully tested in the current test. He said it will be mastered over the next couple of tests. He also said that the missile can be cannisterized, but the same was not done for this test and will be done in future tests.

Hence Avinash Chander has just listed the objectives for the future. MaRV and cannister launch is going to be in the near future and I hope that MIRV can also be demonstrated over the next two years.

Yes.

Austin · Post by **Austin** » 20 Apr 2012 16:53

Dr. Selvamurthy mentioned two more test and then hand over to SFC in 2014 for Agni-5 , after that he said we would be working on MIRVng it

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 20 Apr 2012 16:56

Joined the two launch videos by DRDO into a single one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWrAhRP7PD4

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWrAhRP7PD4[/youtube]

jaladipc · Post by **jaladipc** » 20 Apr 2012 17:27

Agni-V can reach targets 8,000 km away: Chinese researcher

BEIJING: Chinese experts feel that there is to more India's successful long-range nuclear-capable missile Agni-V than what New Delhi is saying. A Chinese researcher said the missile "actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away".

Du Wenlong, a researcher at China's PLA Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times that the Agni-V "actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away".

Du added that "the Indian government had deliberately downplayed the missile's capability in order to avoid causing concern to other countries".

India Thursday test-fired the Agni-V missile that it said can accurately hit targets more than 5,000 km away. With this launch, India entered an exclusive club of nations that have this capability.

Zhang Zhaozhong, a professor with the People's Liberation Army National Defense University, told the Global Times that according to China's standard, an ICBM should have a range of at least 8,000 km.

Now, someone started feeling the heat

We all know what the true potential of A-V is..
Apparently someone got it right in their analysis

kasthuri · Post by **kasthuri** » 20 Apr 2012 17:29

Trajectory of fire: Agni V

The declared range is political. The demonstrated capability is not. Agni V truly epitomises the maturing of India's missile prowess and is a harbinger of many more technological successes to come. Far from being a "me too" effort to the P-5s (minus the UK) payload delivery systems, the solid-fuelled Agni V is a contemporaneous system exhibiting the state-of-the-art in ballistic missile developments. If production-ised quickly, it would give India the "omni deterrence" that one often hears in DRDOspeak.

Well, even if we look at the missile's stipulated range of "more than 5000 km", one finds that India now has the ability to hold all of China at risk from, say, the eastern states of India. But again, there is much more to this missile than its range capability. For one, the Agni V (like the Agni IV launched late last year) uses an extremely potent guidance package that utilises an indigenous ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation system (RLG-INS) coupled with a micro-inertial navigation system or MINGS. Both the RLG-INS and MINGS are capable of receiving multi-constellation updates from satellite navigation systems such as the American NAVSTAR GPS and the Russian GLONASS to remove accumulated errors in their measurements.

However, in the Indian scenario, foreign SATNAV systems cannot always be relied upon for targeting purposes and this feature of the Agni V's navigation system (i.e the ability to receive satellite updates) will come into its own once India establishes its own satellite navigation system. In the interim, it seems that some quarters in DRDO are confident that the combination of RLG-INS and MINGS, the latter being basically a MEMS-based miniaturised magnetometer, is capable of providing sub-200 metre circular error probable (CEP) accuracy at max range for the Agni V. Notably, this may improve considerably if a military grade signal from a SATNAV system can be used for updates.

In any case, the RLG-INS + MINGS guidance package represents a generational jump over older missiles in the Agni series which essentially use 1970s vintage INS coupled with a star-sighting system for navigation. There has even been speculation that the Agni II is capable of receiving updates from an earth station to remove accumulated errors. However, such a set up is naturally less accurate and prone to failures, as compared to the new navigation systems being used.

The superior accuracy of the Agni V can also be attributed to the incorporation of a much more powerful onboard computer. In the past, operating such processors came with weight and space penalties, given that the PCB based hardware enabling such processors consisted of myriad integrated circuits which resulted in the total weight of the onboard computer to reach almost 5 kg. However, Indian missiles will now incorporate system on chip(SOC) based computers that weigh just 200 grams and boast 6-7 times greater processor capability. The embedded SOC concept requires very little power and gives far greater leeway in warhead configuration besides enhancing efficiency.

Agni V is not just more accurate, but is also more reliable and indeed survivable. While its 2.0-m-diameter first stage motor is the same as that of the Agni III (which incidentally has gone into production recently) and made of 250 grade maraging steel, its second and third stages have carbon composite casings. This extensive use of carbon composites lowers the weight of the Agni V relative to a similar missile having only steel motor casings.

It also therefore facilitates greater fuel fraction, thereby enhancing range.

Now maraging steel certainly has very attractive features such as ultrahigh strength coupled with high fracture toughness, but comes with a weight penalty when contrasted with composites like glass reinforced plastic. Moreover maraging steel is also rather expensive compared to carbon composites and is naturally subject to the vagaries of nature via corrosion that carbon composites are not.

In the future, even the first stage of the Agni V may use carbon composite motor casings and that would take care of the issue of corrosion altogether and enhance overall structural integrity.

The Agni V also relies on digitally connected multi-channel communications within its body for the control system, thereby reducing a lot of the cabling that would have otherwise gone into these missiles. This serves to reduce the risk of failure in the missile system and increases dependability.

The use of corrosion-resistant composites and digital connectivity within the missile makes it easier in some sense to turn the Agni-V into the classic "wooden round" i.e a canisterised missile system transportable by road and rail ready to launch on demand. Indeed Agni V will be India's first canisterised long-range strike system and puts the country on the path to emulating Russia and China which operate similar road mobile missiles.

Now, while an Agni V locked and loaded sitting in a canister somewhere in India is not exactly what China likes to hear first thing in the morning, the middle kingdom could actually have more to worry about. The Agni V's re-entry vehicle a.k.a warhead shown in the released pictures may turn out to be rather maneuverable making things difficult for emerging Chinese terminal course anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defences. Indeed, an article in Global Times about the Agni V (for those who came late, Global Times is the Chinese Communist Party's tabloidish mouthpiece) may have indirectly acknowledged this when it quotes a Chinese analyst saying, towards the end of the piece, that "for the sake of regional stability, China should continue to develop defense systems against ballistic missile threats," and added that, "China successfully conducted its first ground-based mid-course ballistic missile interception experiment in January 2010, becoming the second country in the world to conduct this kind of missile defence test." Incidentally, the third stage of the Agni V is a conical motor which allows for greater acceleration in flight and makes it more difficult for mid-course interceptors to tackle it.

Ultimately, however, true strength will emerge out of efficacious production of the Agni V and it seems that progress has been made in this respect as well. For one, DRDO, via its government-owned company operated format (GOCO), has set up facilities that will now directly produce various components for the Indian missile programme that may not be available for import, or beyond the capabilities of the private sector.

Of course, the new Agni missile types in a way also show that the Indian private sector may now be coming into its own in defence production as evidenced by the fact that Premier Explosives based in Andhra Pradesh actually fabricated the composite casing for the second stage of the Agni IV.

Beyond composites, DRDO has also developed a new grade of low alloy steel designated DMR 1700 which can effectively substitute 250 grade maraging steel in missile applications, ranging from the skeleton to the 2.0 m diameter motor casing used in the first stage of the Agni V. DMR 1700 is significantly cheaper than maraging steel and may ensure that the production of strategic missiles advances quickly. So, although, we have waxed eloquent on composite motors, thus far an alternative for even more cost effective and quicker production probably exists.

In the next few years, the Agni V will be upgraded to carry multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV) and probably adapted for undersea launch. However, the development that I will truly look forward to is the emergence of the Agni V as an operationally responsive space launch system which essentially refers to the ability to put small satellite payloads into orbit on demand from the military. In an age where China is proliferating anti-satellite systems, that is one capability that India must certainly have.

Klaus · Post by **Klaus** » 20 Apr 2012 17:30

With regard to the K series, whats the rationale behind development of K-5 when K-4 itself can have all the tech absorption of A4 and A5?

Also is the A6 slated to have the ogival nose-cone, making it a pure MIRV? Again why officially limit it to 6K range when we have already proofed that range with the latest success?

Fidel Guevara · Post by **Fidel Guevara** » 20 Apr 2012 18:34

Anant wrote:A lot of you are asking for video to see how RV's come back to earth. Well, this isn't Indian but it has excellent real footage of America reentry vehicle entry (Minuteman III). I imagine that is how India's Agni did it. I am so proud to be an Indian American. Anyways, enjoy the video. It's wild! Imagine the Indian version. We'll see it soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChhYOO1s ... re=related

From 49 sec, the slower moving RVs might be the decoys, followed by the real RV slamming down at 1.01. At 5:00 there is a simulation which shows the decoys being deployed. Would seem that even the decoys need to be heavy enough to give a good simulation of the real thing, at least up until the upper reaches of the atmosphere; just an aluminum balloon might not be enough.

Is there room in the A5 nose cone for decoys, or maybe those are in the 3rd stage? Perhaps the 3rd stage itself can fragment into multiple parts, and that serves the decoy purpose?

Surya · Post by **Surya** » 20 Apr 2012 19:31

not sure where to post this

another reason to start linking up with Soko on a strategic partnership

Soko tests cruise and ballistic missiles

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/htm ... 00613.html