DRDO plans to test 10 missiles this year

[SpArK]

DRDO plans to test 10 missiles this year​

BALASORE: The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has planned a series of missile tests in the coming months to prove its might. At least 10 missiles, including the country's first intercontinental range ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-V have been slated for flight tests this year.

Defence sources said while the first missile to be test-fired this month is the most sophisticated K-15, the test of other projectiles that are in the pipeline include advanced air defence (AAD) interceptor, Agni-I, Agni-II, Prithvi air defence (PAD) interceptor, BrahMos, Prithvi, Astra and Agni-V. "The focus this year will be on the maiden test of the 5,000 km-range Agni-V, which has been scheduled to be test-fired in September. This is the first ICBM India has developed and it is considered a China-specific missile. If launched from the line of control, it can hit targets in China's northernmost city Habin," said a source.

Besides Agni-V, India has so far developed two long-range missiles the 2,000 km-range Agni-II and 3,500 km-range Agni-III. However, the Agni-V ICBM has been designed by adding a third composite stage to the two-stage Agni-III missile. It is built with high composite content to reduce its weight.

The 17.5-metre-long Agni-V would be a canister launch missile system to ensure it has the requisite operational flexibility to be swiftly transported and fired from anywhere. Though the missile weighs around 49 tonnes, one tonne more than Agni III, its range has gone up to far more.

"But before the test of Agni-V, its shorter-range cousins like the 700 km-range Agni-I and 2,000 km-range Agni-II have been planned to be test-launched in April. While on January 31, the submarine-launched ballistic missile will be tested from a pontoon (replica of a submarine) off the Andhra Pradesh coast, the AAD interceptor test is to be carried out on February 10, which will follow the test of other missiles," the source informed. Apart from the Agni-V, the DRDO is now focusing on the ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. As part of the project, it has already developed two interceptors exoatmospheric (outside the atmosphere) and endoatmospheric (within the atmosphere). After the endoatmospheric AAD test, in which the interceptor will kill the incoming missile at an altitude of 15 km, the test of the exoatmospheric PAD interceptor will be conducted.

"We are trying to programme such a coordination that the PAD interceptor would destroy the incoming enemy missile at an altitude of nearly 150 km. During earlier PAD tests, the missile successfully intercepted the target missile at an altitude of 45 km and 80 km," a defence official said.

The scientists also keep a watch on the flight tests of Prithvi, Agni-II and beyond visual range Astra missiles. Last year, while a user trial of Prithvi-II had failed miserably, the first experimental test of the extended version of Agni-II ended with failures.


While the Agni series of missiles and the interceptors would be launched from the Wheeler Islands, BrahMos, Astra and Prithvi will be tested from the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast.

Read more: DRDO plans to test 10 missiles this year - The Times of India DRDO plans to test 10 missiles this year - The Times of India

 

[Capt.Popeye]

Good to see all the work done under the IGMDP over the years has fructified successfully.

 

[Hindustani]

DRDO plans another K-15 missile launch​

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans another test-firing of the K-15 missile from a pontoon off the coast of Visakhapatnam.

Developed under the Sagarika project, the K-15 has been test-fired several times from submerged pontoons off Visakhapatnam.

The pontoon, simulating the conditions of a submarine, will be positioned about 10 to 20 metres below the sea surface. A gas-charged booster will erupt into life, driving the two-stage missile to the surface. The missile's first stage will then ignite and it will climb 20 km in the air before cutting a parabolic path and travelling over a range of 700 km.

The missile, which is under production, can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. It will form part of the lethal arsenal of the country's first nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant, which is undergoing sea trials. India is building two more such submarines.

The DRDO is developing a K-4 underwater-launched missile, which will have a range of 3,000 km. Developmental tests of the missile's gas-booster have taken place from a pontoon.

The sixth launch of the interceptor missile, developed by the DRDO, is scheduled for the first fortnight of February. A modified Prithvi missile, taking off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on the Orissa coast, will act as an “enemy” missile.

The interceptor, to be fired from the Wheeler Island, off Damra on the State's coast, will ambush the “enemy” missile in endo-atmosphere at an altitude of 15 km.

Sources in the DRDO called it “a tricky mission” because the attacker would have a manoeuvrable trajectory and try to dodge the interceptor from homing in on it. Of the five earlier missions, four were successful.

The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : DRDO plans another K-15 missile launch

 

[Hulk]

Only 10 are they planning not to work this year.

 

[alphaxindia]

all the best may DRDO gets 80% results. Best wishes.

 

[KS]

Looking forward to Agni-5 and BMD missiles.

 

[angeldemon_007]

Are they planning for Agni 2 prime again ... ???/ Also when is the firs test of Brahmos Hypersonic...?

 

[Kinetic]

Looking forward to PDV and Agni-V tests. Feb 10 test of AAD is also very crucial because the target missile will have sophisticated anti-ABM capability.



Sources in the DRDO called it “a tricky mission” because the attacker would have a manoeuvrable trajectory and try to dodge the interceptor from homing in on it.

The Hindu : Cities / Chennai : DRDO plans another K-15 missile launch

 

[Spring Onion]

with different parameters or the same ?