Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme: Difference between revisions

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|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120321081536/http://brahmos.com/content.php?id=10&sid=25

|archive-date = 21 March 2012

}}</ref> The project started in 1982–83 under the leadership of [[A. P. J. Abdul Kalam|Abdul Kalam]] who oversaw its ending in 2008 after these strategic missiles were successfully developed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Siddiqui |first=Huma |date=2022-08-15 |title=From Agni to BrahMos: A look at India’s deadly missile arsenal |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-instruments-of-skyfall-how-missiles-shaped-75-years-of-india-2629276/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref>

On 8 January 2008, the DRDO formally announced the successful rated guided missile programme was completed with its design objectives achieved since most of the missiles in the programme had been developed and inducted by the [[Indian armed forces|Indian Armed Forces]].<ref name="hindu-igmdp-over">{{cite news

| title = India scraps integrated guided missile programme

| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]

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== History ==

{{main|Guided Missiles of India#History}}

By the start of the 1980s, the [[Defence Research and Development Laboratory|DRDL]] (DRDL) had developed competence and expertise in the fields of propulsion, navigation and manufacture of aerospace materials based on the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Soviet space program|rocketry technologies]]. Thus, India's political leadership, which included [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]], [[Defence Minister of India|Defence Minister]] [[R. Venkataraman]], and [[V. S. Arunachalam|V.S. Arunachalam]], the (Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister), decided that all these technologies should be consolidated.

This led to the birth of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme with [[Abdul Kalam|Dr. Abdul Kalam]], who had previously been the project director for the [[Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV-3 programme]] at the [[ISRO|Indian Space Research Organisation]] (ISRO), was inducted as the DRDL Director in 1983 to conceive and lead it. While the scientists proposed the development of each missile consecutively, the Defence Minister R. Venkataraman asked them to reconsider and develop all the missiles simultaneously. Thus, four projects, to be pursued concurrently, were born under the IGMDP:

* Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam started multiple projects simultaneously to develop the following types of Indian Guided Missiles missiles.

*# Short Range Surface to Surface Missile (SSM) ‘Prithvi’

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'''Akash''' (Sanskrit: आकाश meaning ''Sky'') is a medium-range surface-to-air missile developed as part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme to achieve self-sufficiency in the area of surface-to-air missiles. It is the most expensive missile project ever undertaken by the Union government in the 20th century. Development costs skyrocketed to almost {{USD}}120 million, which is far more than other similar systems.<ref name=trishul_shut>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/27trishul.htm "India Shuts Down Trishul Missile Project" ] ''[[Rediff.com]]'' 27 February 2008</ref>

Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile with an intercept range of 30&nbsp;km. It has a launch weight of 720&nbsp;kg, a diameter of 35&nbsp;cm and a length of 5.8 metres. Akash flies at [[supersonic]] speed, reaching around [[Mach number|Mach]] 2.5. It can reach an altitude of 18&nbsp;km. A digital proximity fuse is coupled with a 55&nbsp;kg pre-fragmented warhead, while the safety arming and detonation mechanism enables a controlled detonation sequence. A self-destruct device is also integrated. It is propelled by a solid fuelled booster stage. The missile has a terminal guidance system capable of working through [[electronic countermeasures]]. The entire Akash SAM system allows for attacking multiple targets (up to 4 per battery). The Akash missile's use of [[ramjet]] propulsion system allows it to maintain its speed without deceleration, unlike the [[MIM-104 Patriot|Patriot missiles]].<ref>T.S. Subramanian (11 December 2005) [https://web.archive.org/web/20051212070048/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/11/stories/2005121102871000.htm "Akash missile achieves a milestone"] ''[[The Hindu]]'.' Retrieved 18 October 2006.</ref> The missile is supported by a multi-target and multi-function [[phased array]] fire control [[radar]] called the '[[Rajendra Radar|Rajendra]]' with a range of about 80&nbsp;km in search, and 60&nbsp;km in terms of engagement.<ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/india/akash.htm Global Security.Org] article ''accessed'' 18 October 2006.</ref>

The missile is completely guided by the radar, without any active guidance of its own. This allows it greater capability against jamming as the aircraft self-protection jammer would have to work against the high-power Rajendra, and the aircraft being attacked is not alerted by any terminal seeker on the Akash itself.

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Design of the missile is similar to that of the [[SA-6]], with four long tube ramjet inlet ducts mounted mid-body between wings. For pitch/yaw control four clipped triangular moving wings are mounted on mid-body. For roll control four inline clipped delta fins with ailerons are mounted before the tail. However, internal schema shows a completely modernised layout, including an onboard computer with special optimised trajectories, and an all-digital proximity fuse.

The Akash system meant for the [[Indian Army]] uses the [[T-72]] tank chassis for its launcher and radar vehicles. The Rajendra derivative for the Army is called the Battery Level Radar-III. The Air Force version uses an [[Ashok Leyland]] truck platform to tow the missile launcher, while the Radar is on a [[BMP-2]] chassis and is called the Battery Level Radar-II. In either case, the launchers carry three ready-to-fire Akash missiles each. The launchers are automated, autonomous and networked to a command post and the guidance radar. They are slewable in azimuth and elevation. The Akash system can be deployed by rail, road or air.

The first test flight of Akash missile was conducted in 1990, with development flights up to March 1997.

The [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) has initiated the process to induct the [[Akash missile|Akash]] [[surface-to-air missile]]s developed as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. The Multiple target handling capability of Akash weapon system was demonstrated by live firing in a C4I environment during the trials. Two Akash missiles intercepted two fast moving targets in simultaneous engagement mode in 2005 itself. The Akash System's 3-D central acquisition radar (3-D car) group mode performance was then fully established.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://frontierindia.net/iaf-initiates-process-for-inducting-akash-and-trishul-sams/ |title=IAF initiates process for inducting Akash and Trishul SAM's |publisher=Frontierindia.net |date=3 May 2007 |access-date=2010-08-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325051818/http://frontierindia.net/iaf-initiates-process-for-inducting-akash-and-trishul-sams/ |archive-date=25 March 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.india-defence.com/reports-3629 |title=Air Force Impressed With Akash Surface To Air Missiles Performance |publisher=India-defence.com |access-date=2010-08-31}}</ref>

In December 2007, [[Indianthe Air Force]]IAF completed user trials for the Akash missile system. The trials, which were spread over ten days, were successful, and the missile hit its target on all five occasions. Before the ten-day trial at Chandipur, the Akash system's ECCM Evaluation tests were carried out at Gwalior Air force base while mobility trials for the system vehicles were carried out at Pokhran. The IAF had evolved the user Trial Directive to verify the Akash's consistency in engaging targets. The following trials were conducted: Against low-flying near-range target, long-range high-altitude target, crossing and approaching target and ripple firing of two missiles from the same launcher against a low-altitude receding target.<ref>[http://www.drdo.com/bnews/jan08/akash_test.htm "DRDO report on Akash Air Defence Weapon System"]''[[DRDO]]''</ref>

Following this, the IAF declared that it would initiate the induction of 2 squadrons strength (each squadron with 2 batteries) of this missile system, to begin with. Once deliveries are complete, further orders would be placed to replace retiring SA-3 GOA (Pechora) SAM systems.<ref name="Sify News">{{cite web |url=http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14580887 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231181012/http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14580887 |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2007 |title=IAF to induct indigenous Akash missile |access-date=27 December 2007 |date=26 December 2007<!--, 00:17&nbsp;am-->|website=[[Sify News]]}}</ref><ref>Ajai Shukla (23 January 2008)[http://www.business-standard.com/common/news_article.php?leftnm=lmnu2&subLeft=1&autono=311447&tab=r "Missile mission meets target" ] ''[[Business Standard]]''</ref> In February 2010, the Indian Air Force ordered six more squadrons of the Akash system, taking orders to eight of the type. The Indian Army is also expected to order the Akash system.

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[[File:Nag with NAMICA Defexpo-2008.JPG|thumb|[[Nag Missile]]]]

'''Nag''' ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: नाग meaning ''cobra'') is India's third generation "[[Firefire-and-forget]]" [[Anti-tank guided missile|anti-tank missile]]. It is an all weather, [[top attack]] missile with a range of 0.5 to 4&nbsp;km.

The missile uses an 8&nbsp;kg [[high-explosive anti-tank]] (HEAT) [[tandem warhead]] capable of defeating modern armour including [[Explosive reactive armour#Explosive reactive armour|Explosiveexplosive Reactivereactive Armourarmour]] (ERA) and [[composite armour]]. Nag uses [[infrared homing|Imagingimaging Infrainfra-Redred (IIR)]] guidance with day and night capability. Mode of launch for the IIR seeker is LOBL (lock-on before launch). Nag can be mounted on an infantry vehicle; a helicopter launched version will also be available with integration work being carried out with the [[HAL Dhruv]].

Separate versions for the Army and the Air Force are being developed. For the Army, the missiles will be carried by specialist carrier vehicles (NAMICA-Nag Missile Carrier) equipped with a [[thermographic camera]] for target acquisition. NAMICA is a modified [[BMP-2]] [[infantry fighting vehicle]] licence produced as "Sarath" in India. The carriers are capable of carrying four ready-to-fire missiles in the observation/launch platform which can be elevated with more missiles available for reload within the carrier. For the Air Force, a nose-mounted thermal imaging system has been developed for guiding the missile's trajectory "Helina". The missile has a completely [[fiberglass]] structure and weighs around 42&nbsp;kg.

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Nag was test fired for the 45th time on 19 March 2005 from the Test Range at [[Ahmednagar]] ([[Maharashtra]]), signalling the completion of the developmental phase. It will now enter the production phase, subject to user trials and acceptance by the [[Indian Army]].

Further versions of the missile may make use of an all-weather [[Extremely high frequency|Millimilli-metre Wavewave]] (mmWMMW) seeker as an additional option. This seeker has reportedly been developed and efforts are on to integrate it into the missile.

==See also==