At 10 m Shaurya is longer than Nirbhay and at 6.2t is also heavier. Shaurya can deliver a warhead up to 1000 kg, far higher than Nirbhay. Flight characteristics too are very different and so is the time to target. Nirbhay can be carries by Su30-MKI and can be launched from very near the border. In fact if the MKI's can breach the air-defences of the enemy then Nirbhay can even be launched from deep within the enemy territory. Shaurya will most likely be deployed away from the border and certainly never from withing the enemy territory unless we have complete ground control. So overall operational flexibility of our armed forces increases.Philip wrote:In terms of range,it and Shourya straddle similar range,therefore which missile would be better used for tactical strike,a ballistic or cruise missile and which would have better survivability? In the Paki context,we have several options as mentioned above.The missile has both conventional and nuclear warhead options.What is/will be the protocol for its different modes?
Shaurya should be seen as a replacement for Agni-I.