Agni 3 tested successfully

[ramana]

....

So coming back to my previous question, for which I haven't got a response.
Does anybody have an idea of whether it was tested in MIRV config? Looking at warheads and comparing it with Arun_S's drawings (no longer available on BR) it looks it had a single warhead. Which I do not quite understand, because if the idea was to test it on multiple features, then at least 3 warheads should have been included to test whether all of them have the required CEP. Or is it that DRDO is yet to overcome the ghost of first testing in 2006?

it was single payload. And all the things about triggering etc mean that on the DRDo side which is everything but the physics pckg worked. And this is a large RV and indicates its technology. And the SFC commander was in loop showing its a user trial and ready for induction soon.

multiple features refers to guidance etc not payloads.

what you want could be different configuration. PRC wont believe in the other configs after the doubts on POKII tests. So they need a big RV to mean business.

What is the 'ghost of first test in 2006'?

Two things went bad at that time:
a) The second stage didnt separate
b) The aft of the F/S experienced re-entrant nozzle exhaust gases which burnt some cables.

This was fixed with a insulation blanket around the F/S nozzle.
After this three tests worked correctly showing that problem is fixed.

On my side I dont like the heavy RV as it could mean low beta. Need to do some calcs on that.

[SaiK]

http://rcilab.drdo.in/

takes the salute for the accuracy of shaurya, agni-3 and beyond.

---

“The missile reached the pre-designated target in 800 seconds, travelling through a peak height of 350 km with a velocity of more than 4,000 metres/second.

for aam admi like me, can I do this:-?
700km within 800 seconds -> 0.875 km/second average {gnd-peek-target}, but I guess I would have to consider this:-

It reached an altitude of 400 km in full 13 minutes from the take-off and made a perfect re-entry into the earth's atmosphere.

I can't convert this to any aam meanings.
I guess, I could assume within 13-15 minutes, we can be ready for destroying the enemy cities, while our AAD and PADs will cover us from further destruction of first strike++.

If our detection mechanism can be with in 2 minutes of enemy launch, we could prevent the first strike, and continue our second strike by the 3rd minute..

marching towards A5, from the last test report:-

It has validated the robust, light weight, composite material rocket motor casings developed by DRDO.

proved the efficiency of flex nozzles, which are critical in helping change the direction of trajectory of the missile.

has been mastered and the composite nose tip and missile body is able to withstand the high temperatures of between 2500-3000 degrees C.

The two-stage, solid propellant, inertial guidance and propulsion systems have come good this time.

fixed a thermal protection in the missile system, which solved the problem encountered in the maiden, Agni-III flight on July 9, 2006, which resulted in a failure. last time-> "Due to certain interactions in the sub-systems, excess heat was generated causing a fire that was found to be the reason for the flight to nose-dive into the Bay of Bengal, just 70 seconds after lift-off,"


http://www.blonnet.com/2007/04/13/stori ... 811000.htm

[ramana]

Saik, Can you post the text from rci site.

thanks, ramana

One thing to know is that missiles travel an elliptic path with the foci at the launch and the other at the target. Hence there are infiinte solutions to achieve this trajectory. So when they talk of height achieved its the apogee. And the time reported is the elliptic path traverse time. Interesting is the velocity of 4km/sec which is IRBM velocity.

[babbupandey]

“The missile reached the pre-designated target in 800 seconds, travelling through a peak height of 350 km with a velocity of more than 4,000 metres/second.

For a missile to come into ICBM category, it should have a reentry velocity of 6-7 km/s.
And so far, I was secretly hoping that the range is being deliberately suppressed.

[SaiK]

rci : ramana, what you see is what i see.
--
referring the old text:

While 60 per cent of the sub-systems will be similar to those of the 3,500-km-range Agni-III, the rest will comprise new and advanced technologies like the ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer, which provide navigation and guidance. The gyroscope was developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), sister laboratory of ASL, and is part of DRDO’s missile complex here.

[Craig Alpert]

Successful Agni-III missile tests provide India with a credible deterrent, boost for DRDO

08 Feb 2010 8ak: In a significant step forward for India’s missile development program, DRDO has successfully tested the 3,500 km range Agni-III missile on Saturday. The missile, which was tested from the Inner Wheeler Island at Dhamra, a launch site in Bhadrak district, about 200 km from Orissa capital Bhubaneswar, travelled 350 km into the sky before re-entering the atmosphere.

8ak had earlier reported that India was in the process of testing Agni-III. The test was critical for the armed forces because the missiles range gives India the capability to hit territories deep inside China, which includes important cities like Beijing and Shanghai. According to TravelMath, the distance from India's capital New Delhi to Beijing is about 3,800km and 4,200 for Shanghai. (missiles will be fired from eastern borders, not Delhi, hence all major Chinese cities are within the range).
This is the fourth test of the country's most powerful missile. The first test of the missile was conducted on July 9, 2006 from Wheeler Island. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket had failed to separate and the missile had fallen well short of its target. Agni-III was again tested on April 12, 2007, this time successfully, from the Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa. On May 7, 2008 India again successfully test fired this missile. The Agni-III missile is expected to be fully operational by 2012-2013.

The tests are significant as it validates the missiles operational readiness while extending the reach of India's nuclear deterrent to most high-value targets of the nation's most likely adversaries. The missile, with its range, is expected to bolster India’s credible deterrence capability against China.

A top DRDO official told 8ak that the missile’s Circular Error Probable (CEP) is within 40 meters range, which makes it one of the most sophisticated and accurate ballistic missiles of its range class in the world. Work on the upgraded version of Agni-III missile known as Agni-V has commenced. The missile is expected to have a range of 5,000-6,000 km. It is a three stage solid fuelled missile with composite motor casing in the third stage. Two stages of this missile will be made with advanced composite materials. Agni-V will be able to carry multiple warheads and will have countermeasures against Anti-ballistic missile systems.
India has a very ambitious missile development program. Over the years India has tried to develop numerous new missiles to bolster its attack and retaliatory capabilities. In 2009, the 700km-range nuclear-capable submarine- launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Samaria was tested. Other indigenously built missiles to be tested by India in 2009 year are the 350km-range Prithvi and Russia-India developed supersonic missile Brahmos. These missiles are being developed under the aggressive Integrated Guided Missiles Program (IGMP) launched in 1983 by India to develop futuristic missiles technology based on hypersonic rockets to provide a potent weapon to the armed forces in order to enhance national security.

The DRDO is also developing Astra beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air missile (BVRAAM) for which the captive flight trials are going on. However, India has not got much headway in its ambitious missile development program as it lags behind its hostile neighbour Pakistan, which has a far more superior missile program compared to India as reported by Defence.pk.

[ramana]

Samaria = Shaurya

That Hindu BusinessLine article liked by saik has a graphic from the older test which shows who all are covered by AIII.

[SaiK]

well.. this ought to be true for funding to continue.

However, India has not got much headway in its ambitious missile development program as it lags behind its hostile neighbour Pakistan, which has a far more superior missile program compared to India as reported by Defence.pk.

[ramana]

This graphic from the old Businessline article shows that A3 is truely Asia specific. Indian press should quit talking about PRC only.

"Naming enemies, is making them" Adm Kholi







SOURCE

[sumshyam]

"Naming enemies, is making them""Naming enemies, is making them" Adm Kholi

SOURCE

Quite true...!

Anyhow source says that

"We might go for a couple of more tests, before the missile gets inducted into the defence forces," Dr Saraswat said.

Any time line for that of for induction.

[vasu_ray]

using Agni-3 which has the following specs: 1500kg payload to an altitude of 350km and a range of 3500kms when range is reduced to increase altitude, the typical altitude of 600-700kms of LEO where most of our mil sats are deployed is quite covered

1500kg is also with in the weight scale of our mil sats

a ready to fire missile provides minimal prep time to launch a sat

now capabilities such as ship launched Dhanush, should translate to ship launched Agni putting a mil sat in correct orbit, making the launch location agnostic

sending in a fuel tank at later time to rendezvous with a mil sat to boost its operational life would be equivalent to test of ASAT weapons

frequent launches mean time to time checking of the Agni production inventory

and when MIRV comes along things can get interesting

[ramana]

It might be a good idea to collect data about the last three A-III tests.

Eg. range and apogee/altitude tested.

Ignore the first test as its an outlier.

Code: Select all

test  date           range  altitude  Time         Ref:

2    13 April 2007            400km      13 Min        Business Line article *
3     7 May 2008             400km      800sec       Hindu **
4     7 Feb 2010      ?       350km    800sec       Hindu #

* SOURCE

** SOURCE2

# SOURCE3

The crossing Equator was for second test. Looks like the last two tests are a repeat.

[ramana]

Nightwatch says:
Nightwatch 2/8/10

India: IANS reported that yesterday (7 February), India executed its fourth test launch of Indian-built Agni-III ballistic missile. The Agni-III has a range of more than 3,000 kms, which qualifies it as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM).It can carry conventional explosives or a nuclear warhead of up to 1.5 tons.



The press announcement said this was a full range test into the Indian Ocean. The missile’s range covers almost all of China, all of Southeast Asia down to Java, all of Central Asia and all of the Middle East to the Nile River in Sudan.



This missile is a strategic weapon that has no military role in any fight with Pakistan except to threaten China, Pakistan’s principal arms supplier.

[Gerard]

Agni-III: India, China do not pose a threat to each other

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said China and India were having friendly and cooperative relations.

"I don't want to interpret or comment on the reports," Ma said when asked to comment on the February seven launch of Agni-III which put China's major cities within its strike range.

"The China-India relation is friendly and cooperative. China will not be a threat to India, and nor will India pose a threat to China," Ma was quoted as saying by state-run Xinhua news agency.

[Prem]

Notice , PER,Syd and MEL are not that far from the reach . Indians might need to say Hum-aste if Chinese ended up setting their base down under.

[SaiK]

there you go!.. the power speaks for itself!!!!!!!!!!!

the real meaning of panchasheal will be revealed now.

[Prem]

there you go!.. the power speaks for itself!!!!!!!!!!!

the real meaning of panchasheal will be revealed now.

Not panchsheel but s PunchShield in BR speak.

[Craig Alpert]

India Successfully Launches Long-Range Missile System

New Delhi, India (AHN) - India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on the successful launch of the Agni-III missile.

"On behalf of the Nation I commend our scientists and engineers for their dedication, hard work and excellence in our march towards achieving self reliance in high technology areas and meeting the country's defense needs. Our scientists have always done our country proud and I wish them continued success in their future efforts," PM Singh said on Sunday.

The fourth flight of AGNI-3 with a range capability of 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) was tested successfully by DRDO on Sunday morning off the coast of Orissa in eastern India.

The marker pen like AGNI-3 Missile is 56.6 feet (17 meters) long and 6.6 feet (2 meters) in diameter and is equipped with a state of the art computer system, navigated with a most advanced navigation system.

The AGNI-3 Missile tested for the full range, hit the target with pinpoint accuracy and met all the mission objectives. The launch is part of a pre-induction trial and the missile system will now be fully inducted into the Indian armed forces.

[svinayak]

This graphic from the old Businessline article shows that A3 is truely Asia specific. Indian press should quit talking about PRC only.

India is finally a continental power. This is the first time over 1000 years that India is a continental power over asia.

[NRao]

Naming china, IMVVHO, is a good thing.

That is the ONLY language they understand.

But, India needs to continue - at least until Pakistan is shut down as either an independent or a proxy option. Complete shut down, starting with their AF.

[ramana]

No they understand the 1.5 tonnes even better.

[shiv]

Shouldn't a missile fired eastwards have a greater range than one fired westwards due to the earth's rotation?

Recalling info for 4 decades ago - the earth rotates at 1600 kmph - and that would mean 260 Km extra flight (about 8 % extra free) towards the east for a 10 minute flight no?

[negi]

^ Only for Equator iirc the figure decreases as distance from equator increases. .

[Boudhayan]

ok, which one of you updated wikipedia page on A3?

good news but this jingo will be happy only when they induct the agni-V.

Is there no agni4 ?


Yipieee, post number 500!

Initially the plan was to name the present A5 as A4 with A5 being a real ICBM. However political babus did not have the plans to go for a real ICBM and hence the plan was cut short and A4 was named as A5 with plans for the real ICBM being put in the back-burner for now.

[RayC]

Initially the plan was to name the present A5 as A4 with A5 being a real ICBM. However political babus did not have the plans to go for a real ICBM and hence the plan was cut short and A4 was named as A5 with plans for the real ICBM being put in the back-burner for now.

Inside info?

Details, please.

It is really intriguing what they like to decide and why should that be so?

Pleasing China?

[ramana]

no. unkil.

[rakall]

ok, which one of you updated wikipedia page on A3?
Is there no agni4 ?


Yipieee, post number 500!

Initially the plan was to name the present A5 as A4 with A5 being a real ICBM. However political babus did not have the plans to go for a real ICBM and hence the plan was cut short and A4 was named as A5 with plans for the real ICBM being put in the back-burner for now.

Unless there is too much conspiracy theory etc going on -- i think, the reason for naming is just to match with the range.

A3 refers to Agni with 3000-3500+km range.. A5 refers to 5000+km range..

It is likely that GoI will not clear a 5000+km range missile bcoz there is no threat perception.. and any such possibility is factored in (to a certain extent) by warhead dispersion onboard SSBN's...

[Dileep]

Shouldn't a missile fired eastwards have a greater range than one fired westwards due to the earth's rotation?

Recalling info for 4 decades ago - the earth rotates at 1600 kmph - and that would mean 260 Km extra flight (about 8 % extra free) towards the east for a 10 minute flight no?

That is true for reaching orbit, not for hitting back on earth.

[disha]

Shouldn't a missile fired eastwards have a greater range than one fired westwards due to the earth's rotation?

Recalling info for 4 decades ago - the earth rotates at 1600 kmph - and that would mean 260 Km extra flight (about 8 % extra free) towards the east for a 10 minute flight no?

True, though the advantage is significant only for satelliates orbiting along equator and is hence ideal for Geostationary satellites. The boost is approx. 1600 km/hour (earth's rotational speed) at equator. For any deviation of "orbit" away from the equator the advantage decreases. Also as the latitude increases the velocity imparted decreases. Best would be targetting Spratly islands from Port Blair

Added later: Launch from Wheeler Island towards say Hanjin will not give much additional boost, since the trajectory is at an angle to the equator and wheeler island is at a higher latitude.

[Boudhayan]

Initially the plan was to name the present A5 as A4 with A5 being a real ICBM. However political babus did not have the plans to go for a real ICBM and hence the plan was cut short and A4 was named as A5 with plans for the real ICBM being put in the back-burner for now.

Inside info?

Details, please.

It is really intriguing what they like to decide and why should that be so?

Pleasing China?

Check the link below:

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/India_E ... e_999.html

It does talk of the Political Leadership NOT giving the go-ahead for a true ICBM (range > 5500 KM)

I did find other links stating this.

About naming, check the link given below:

http://www.india-defence.com/reports/3645

A5 was initially named as A4

[KrishG]

Agni III launch video
[youtube]WqkmDUOiFCs&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

[SivaVijay]

In the video as the missile is about to reach the max height why does the alt meter shows so much fluctuations, it is not ticking upwards alone? If we dont have the political go head to induct a ICBM can't we atleast demonstrate that we do have the capability like the peaceful nuclear tests....?

[SaiK]

why did we bumped the number to 5 rather 4?

[Sagar G]

^^^ Range 5000km+ maybe that's why

[sumshyam]

I think focus should also be to be able to defeat ABM systems guarding the Subject...rather than Just aiming and firing at them...I mean if we can't hit them hard...Just firing at them will not do us any good.....!

[Prem Kumar]

Shouldn't a missile fired eastwards have a greater range than one fired westwards due to the earth's rotation?

Recalling info for 4 decades ago - the earth rotates at 1600 kmph - and that would mean 260 Km extra flight (about 8 % extra free) towards the east for a 10 minute flight no?

True, though the advantage is significant only for satelliates orbiting along equator and is hence ideal for Geostationary satellites. The boost is approx. 1600 km/hour (earth's rotational speed) at equator. For any deviation of "orbit" away from the equator the advantage decreases. Also as the latitude increases the velocity imparted decreases. Best would be targetting Spratly islands from Port Blair

Added later: Launch from Wheeler Island towards say Hanjin will not give much additional boost, since the trajectory is at an angle to the equator and wheeler island is at a higher latitude.

If the latitude of source and destination is the same (or equidistant from the equator latitude-wise), launching eastward or westward should make zero difference. Remember the earth is rotating at the position of launch as well - so the initial velocity has a vertical component, a longitudinal component and a horizontal (latitudinal) component. The latitudinal component is influenced by the speed of rotation of earth at the point of launch (which is the same for all points of same latitude). So, whether you launch east or west, the missile will cover the same distance in the same time. A simple way to look at this is the following - of you throw a ball up in the air vertically, it will always land on your hand. Both you and the ball are moving at the same horizontal speed at the time of launch.

However, if source and target are at different latitudes, then there is a difference in the horizontal/latitudinal speed of the missile versus target. So, the missile would get an additional "boost" when going from higher to lower latitude when launched eastwards (or) when going from lower to higher latitude when launched westwards.

[Klaus]

Hopefully, we will have a rail launched version of Paanchvi, thanks to the canisterised technology. This might be a good time to build new railways in 7 sister states with the budget coming up in a couple of weeks time! Maybe Mamataji could casually slip it in while continuing to deride Lalu's previous term, that would be very cunning!

Time to start dotting the i's and crossing the t's people

Sorry if OT, could'nt resist though!

[shiv]

Agni III launch video

The missile is 17 meters tall and takes 2.4 seconds to clear its own height. I think that is a 6G kick at launch.

[shiv]

A simple way to look at this is the following - of you throw a ball up in the air vertically, it will always land on your hand. Both you and the ball are moving at the same horizontal speed at the time of launch.

Well someone please correct me if I am wrong.

An object thrown up from earth should keep moving in the same direction as earth unless something slows it down.The atmosphere too is moving among with the earth (otherwise we would have 1000 kmph plus winds at earth level). But I think the atmosphere does not "stick" that well to the earth's surface and rotates slower than earth if you go higher. So I suspect air resistance will inevitably kick in to slow down any object that is moving at the same velocity as the earth's surface. The deceleration should be higher flying eastwards and lower flying westwards.

[disha]

Best would be targetting Spratly islands from Port Blair

However, if source and target are at different latitudes, then there is a difference in the horizontal/latitudinal speed of the missile versus target. So, the missile would get an additional "boost" when going from higher to lower latitude when launched eastwards (or) when going from lower to higher latitude when launched westwards.

The "boost" is negligible and can be discounted. BTW, Spratly Is. is @2500 Km from Port Blair - and hence was mentioned as pun. It surely missed its target, CEP maybe.