Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme: Difference between revisions

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{{Current India COTW}}

'''IGMDP''' orThe Integrated Guided Missile Development Program was(IGMDP) initiatedis byan [[India]]Indian program for developingthe development of a comprehensive range of Missilesmissiles, including Missilesmissiles of IR; [[Agni missile]] Ballisticballistic Missilemissile (Surface to Surface), SR; [[Prithvi missile]] Ballisticballistic Missilemissile (Surface to Surface), [[Akash missile]] (Surface to Air), [[Trishul missile]] (Surface to Air) and [[Nag Missile]] (Anti Tank). Most of these missiles are in various stages of development and deployment (Prithvi). [[Astra Missile]] is being developed for an Air to Air, Beyond Visual Range (BVR) role.

The Currentcurrent President OFof India, [[A.P.J.Abdul Kalam]] is considered the person responsible for the success of IGMDP so much so that he is called "The Missile Man Of India".{{fact}}

==Missiles in Indian History==

[[Image:Indian rocketry.gif|thumb|250px|right|Reproduction of a painting showing the use of rockets in 1780 at the Battle of Guntur by Indian troops against the British Army.]]

The use of rockets and missiles inby IndiaIndians date back as early as the 18th century, during the period of [[Tipu Sultan]]. During the fight against the British Troops, Tipu Sultan's Army, used a number of improvised weapons which included rockets to thwart the British invasion.

In the twentieth century, the government of [[History of the Republic of India|independent India]], embarked on a number of subsequent plans to develop missiles which would strengthen the Indian defence structure. In 1958, the government constituted the Special Weapons Development Team which would later become the Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDL), to undertake the development of first-generation anti-tank missiles. In 1970s Indian government decided to manufacture the anti-tank missiles under license from France, At the same time DRDL was entrusted with two other projects, Project Valiant, which involved the development of a long-range ballistic missile, and, Project Devil, which was aimed at reverse engineering the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Both projects were considered failures and Project Valiant was terminated in 1974 and Project Devil in 1980. <ref>[http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/India/Missile/1931.html|Chronology of Indian Missiles, 1947-1970] ''accessed'' [[18 October]] [[2006]].</ref>

However, by this time, DRDL developed the infrastructure and facilities to undertake the design and development of missiles. In 1983, under the leadership of [[Abdul Kalam|Dr. Abdul Kalam]], the Indian government revived the missile program as an Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).