Turning Agni 3 into Agni 5 : A Speculation

[IND151]

poll added

 

[IND151]

an old but sill important article

Hyderabad, Sept. 24 With an intention to make the country’s missiles lighter, cost-effective and possess greater hit power, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is augmenting its composite materials facilities and capabilities.

An independent centre for composite testing and evaluation is being set up at the Hyderabad-based Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), the premier lab guiding the long range missile — Agni programme and providing key technology inputs to other missiles.

ASL already has composites production centre (Comproc), which fabricates the lightweight material for Agni and other missiles “In 6-7 years, we want to make all the stages of the Agni missile composite structured,” said Mr Avinash Chander, Director of the Laboratory under DRDO.

“At present, the payload and a small portion (nose tip) of Agni is made of composites, while the rest is metallic. Progressively, we will make the airframe, the upper stages and payload completely composite,” he told Business Line. There is lot of interest from the private sector in the composites arena and no dearth of raw materials, he added. Composite material, which can withstand very high temperatures and are robust, finds application in aerospace, the light combat aircraft and satellites.

The ASL provides composites and solid propulsion systems to most missiles such as Prithvi, Akash, Nag and Astra, Mr Chander said.Another initiative taken up by ASL is in the area of non-destructive evaluation of materials. This would help in assessing the health of the missile systems and components.

Cost-effective

Since we cannot bring these back from the field, the testing done through NDE tools and methods on site would make it cost-effective, he added.

These techniques are useful in detecting degradation of materials, cracks or other minor defects, which can reduce the life of the missile or make it ineffective.

Typically, ultrasound and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques are used. Asked about Agni-3, the long-range, surface to surface missile, Mr Chander said it has been cleared for induction into the Defence forces.

“We will do user trials when required, but it is ready for manufacture and induction,” he said. The missile was tested thrice between July 2006 to May 2008, with the first being a failure.

On Agni-V, he said the development is progressing.

“We can test it in two to two and half years. Two out of three stages will be composite, which will reduce its weight and increase range,” he added.

(This article was published in the Business Line print edition dated September 25, 2008)

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092550721200.htm

 

[IND151]

guys today a thought came accross my mind

may be unlike Agni 3 , Agni 5 follows flat trajectory (like Topol M)

this seems the only way Agni 5 can have minimum range of 5,000 KM with 1500 KG Payload with just 50 ton weight

The first stage has three rocket motors developed by the Soyuz Federal Center for Dual-Use Technologies. This gives the missile a much higher acceleration than other ICBM types. It enables the missile to accelerate to the speed of 7,320 m/s and to travel a flatter trajectory to distances of up to 10,000 km.[/B][15]

The missile also has a relatively flat ballistic trajectory, complicating defense acquisition and interception.[23]

RT-2UTTKh Topol-M - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Screambowl]

self deleted

 

[Screambowl]

guys today a thought came accross my mind

may be unlike Agni 3 , Agni 5 follows flat trajectory (like Topol M)

this seems the only way Agni 5 can have minimum range of 5,000 KM with 1500 KG Payload with just 50 ton weight



RT-2UTTKh Topol-M - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

even Bulava has the low flight trajectory but Agni-4 has rather much steeper, around 300kms the maxima.

But not sure about the maxima of the trajectory of Topol M and Bulava.


If the missile flies really low, say 50 kms or 100km, how to they rotate the missile to distribute the heat evenly, produced by friction,, because the missile has no fins?

 

[IND151]

even Bulava has the low flight trajectory but Agni-4 has rather much steeper, around 300kms the maxima.

But not sure about the maxima of the trajectory of Topol M and Bulava.


If the missile flies really low, say 50 kms or 100km, how to they rotate the missile to distribute the heat evenly, produced by friction,, because the missile has no fins?

flight attitude of Agni 3 is >450 KMs

if we reduce flight attitude by 100 to 130 KM and if Agni 3 follows relatively flat trajectory Agni 3 can have minimum range of 5000 KM with 1500 Kg payload.

and then making it canister launched and adding small third stage (2 to 4 tons) it can be converted into Agni 5

i think DRDO has taken this path

Specifications
Weight 48,000 kg[3]
Length 17 m[4]
Diameter 2.0 m[4]
Warhead Strategic nuclear (~15 KT to ~250 KT[~2,000Kg-~2,500Kg]), conventional, Thermobaric
Engine Two stage solid propellant engine
Operational
range 3,500 km - 5,000 km [6]
Flight altitude > 450 km [7]
Speed 5-6 km/s (Agni-II)[5]
Guidance
system Ring Laser Gyro- INS (Inertial Navigation System), optionally augmented by GPS terminal guidance with possible radar scene correlation
Launch
platform 8 x 8 TELAR (Transporter erector launcher) Rail Mobile Launcher

 

[tvsram1992]

if we reduce flight attitude by 100 to 130 KM and if Agni 3 follows relatively flat trajectory Agni 3 can have minimum range of 5000 KM with 1500 Kg payload.

No remember Agni 3 is a Ballistic missile as there is no/less air resistance the more height it can be raised ie the more the power can be increased gives more time before reaching its target increasing its range . And cruising(flat trajectory) requires much fuel which still increases the payload and decreases range. So the Hybrid missiles like Shourya are better solutions which will be inducted as soon as possible . Remember the fuel required is less for Ballistic missiles and range is more because of the fact that it is not completely powered flight . Maintaining flat trajectory requires more fuel and equipment .

 

[Screambowl]

flight attitude of Agni 3 is >450 KMs

if we reduce flight attitude by 100 to 130 KM and if Agni 3 follows relatively flat trajectory Agni 3 can have minimum range of 5000 KM with 1500 Kg payload.

and then making it canister launched and adding small third stage (2 to 4 tons) it can be converted into Agni 5

i think DRDO has taken this path

what you are talking about is a quasi ballistic missile. Where as Agni is a Ballistic missile. But Shaurya is of this category, which requires heavy rocket motor and very critical technology to rotate the missile to distribute heat due to friction evenly without the fins, which is found in Topal M and Bulava only(Quasi ICBM).

Agni 3 and onwards, range is based on Payload and the 2 stages after reaching in the orbit. May be in future the first stage of Agni could be replaced with much powerful motor and make it a Quasi BM.

 

[IND151]

i guess Agni 5 will have 2 versions

Ver.1> a canister-ed Agni 3 weighing 50 tons, 1500 Kg payload and range of 3500-5000 KM

Ver.2> Real Agni 5 weighing 70 to 75 tons, 1500 Kg payload, Silo Launched and with range of 5000 to 6500 KM

 

[IND151]

guys i need your replies on post number 39