Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 05:13, 18 October 2006

Revision as of 05:27, 18 October 2006

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===Prithvi III===

*'''Prithvi III''' class (''codenamed'' '''Sagarika''' ''meaning'' '''Oceanic''') <ref>[http://www.tribuneindia.com/1998/98sep07/head6.htm Article in The Tribune, dated [[7 September]] [[1998]], ''accessed'' [[18 October]] [[2006]].</ref> is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile in the developmental stages. The first stage is solid fuelled with a 16 [[kilogram-force|metric ton force]] (157 [[kilonewton|kN]]) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid fuelled. The missile can carry a 1000 kg warhead to a distance of 350 km and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 kilometres and a 250 kilogram warhead upto a distance of 750 kilometres. The design is developed while keeping the navy in mind. '''Sagarika''' will be a nuclear-capable, cruise missile, capable of being mounted in ships or submarines. Considering the upward capability developments, Prithvi could be reclassified from short-range ballistic missile to a medium range cruise missile.

'''Sagarika''' will be a nuclear-capable, cruise missile, capable of being mounted in ships or submarines. Considering the upward capability developments, Prithvi class of missiles could be reclassified from short-range ballistic missile to a medium range ballistic missile. The current codename of the operational variant '''Dhanush''' could pave way for the new codename '''Sagarika''' as Sagarika becomes operational. '''Sagarika''' will be inducted into the [[Advanced Technology Vessel]] being developed for Indian Navy. <ref>[http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=so05norris The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists] ''dated'' [[September]]/[[October]] [[2005]], ''accessed'' [[18 October]] [[2006]].</ref>

There were a number of shortcoming in the initial version of Prithvi missiles namely, High circular error probability (CEP) of around 500 meters and volatility of the liquid-fuelled propulsion system requiring fuelling only just before launching. These shortcomings are being overcome in the latest developmental versions by incorporating of global positioning system (GPS) into the missiles to reduce the CEP to as low as 75 meters and use of solid fuel in the propulsion system.