INDIAN MISSILE PROGRAMME — TYPES, MAJOR MISSILES AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

INDIAN MISSILE PROGRAMME — TYPES, MAJOR MISSILES AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

1. Introduction

• India has developed a wide range of ballistic, cruise, surface-to-air, air-to-air and anti-tank guided missiles to strengthen national defence and strategic deterrence.
• A major foundation was the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), approved in 1983 and associated closely with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• The programme focused on systems such as Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul and Nag. (DRDO)

2. Agni-I and Agni-II

• Agni-I is a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of about 750 km or more.
• Agni-II is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of about 2,000 km or more.
• Both form part of India’s land-based strategic deterrent and are road-mobile systems. (DRDO)

3. Agni-III and Agni-IV

• Agni-III has a range of about 3,500 km or more, while Agni-IV can strike targets at around 4,000 km or beyond.
• These solid-fuel ballistic missiles provide India with deeper strategic reach.
• Agni-IV incorporates modern guidance, navigation and re-entry technologies. (DRDO)

4. Agni-V and MIRV Technology

• Agni-V has a range exceeding 5,000 km and is India’s longest-range operationally tested Agni missile.
• In March 2024, DRDO successfully conducted Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of Agni-V with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
• MIRV capability allows a single missile to deploy multiple re-entry vehicles towards different targets. (Press Information Bureau)

5. Agni-Prime

• Agni-Prime (Agni-P) is a new-generation ballistic missile incorporating advanced technologies from later Agni systems.
• On 3 April 2024, the Strategic Forces Command and DRDO successfully conducted a flight test from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
• It represents a lighter, more mobile and technologically advanced generation of India’s ballistic missile capability. (Press Information Bureau)

6. Prithvi and Dhanush

• The Prithvi series consists of short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed under the IGMDP.
• Prithvi-II has a range of about 350 km.
• Dhanush is a naval or ship-launched derivative of the Prithvi family with a similar short-range ballistic role.
• These systems strengthened India’s early indigenous tactical missile capability. (DRDO)

7. Akash Surface-to-Air Missile

• Akash is an indigenous short-range surface-to-air missile system designed to protect vulnerable areas and points against aerial attacks.
• It can engage multiple targets and incorporates Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM).
• Akash has been inducted and is operational with both the Indian Army and Indian Air Force. (DRDO)

8. Nag Anti-Tank Guided Missile

• Nag is an indigenous third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile.
• It uses an Imaging Infrared seeker and can engage tanks in both direct-attack and top-attack modes.
• DRDO lists its ground-launched range at approximately 500 metres to 4 km.
• It is carried on the NAMICA tracked missile carrier. (DRDO)

9. BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile

• BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia through BrahMos Aerospace.
• It uses a solid-propellant booster followed by a liquid-fuel ramjet and cruises at about Mach 2.8.
• It operates on the “fire-and-forget” principle and has land, ship and air-launched variants.
• Earlier versions had a range of about 290 km, while subsequent tested variants have demonstrated extended ranges of around 450 km. (Brahmos)

10. Strategic Significance

• India’s missile capability supports conventional defence, air defence and credible strategic deterrence.
• The Agni family forms an important component of India’s nuclear deterrent, while Akash, Nag and BrahMos address tactical and conventional battlefield requirements.
• Indigenous missile development reduces dependence on foreign suppliers and strengthens Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence technology.
• For examination purposes, missiles should be classified carefully: Agni and Prithvi—ballistic; BrahMos—supersonic cruise; Akash—surface-to-air; Nag—anti-tank guided missile.
• India’s missile programme therefore represents the convergence of strategic autonomy, technological self-reliance and national security preparedness.