INDIAN MISSILE PROGRAMME — TYPES, MAJOR MISSILES AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

PRERNA FOR IAS

         Mehnat Aapki, Guidance Humari

         Roz ki Prelims Practice — Experts ke Saath

INDIAN MISSILE PROGRAMME — TYPES, MAJOR MISSILES AND STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE

1. Introduction

• India has developed a wide range of ballistic, cruise, surface-to-air, air-to-air and anti-tank guided missiles to strengthen national defence and strategic deterrence.
• A major foundation was the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), approved in 1983 and associated closely with Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
• The programme focused on systems such as Prithvi, Agni, Akash, Trishul and Nag. (DRDO)

2. Agni-I and Agni-II

• Agni-I is a medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of about 750 km or more.
• Agni-II is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of about 2,000 km or more.
• Both form part of India’s land-based strategic deterrent and are road-mobile systems. (DRDO)

3. Agni-III and Agni-IV

• Agni-III has a range of about 3,500 km or more, while Agni-IV can strike targets at around 4,000 km or beyond.
• These solid-fuel ballistic missiles provide India with deeper strategic reach.
• Agni-IV incorporates modern guidance, navigation and re-entry technologies. (DRDO)

4. Agni-V and MIRV Technology

• Agni-V has a range exceeding 5,000 km and is India’s longest-range operationally tested Agni missile.
• In March 2024, DRDO successfully conducted Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of Agni-V with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.
• MIRV capability allows a single missile to deploy multiple re-entry vehicles towards different targets. (Press Information Bureau)

5. Agni-Prime

• Agni-Prime (Agni-P) is a new-generation ballistic missile incorporating advanced technologies from later Agni systems.
• On 3 April 2024, the Strategic Forces Command and DRDO successfully conducted a flight test from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
• It represents a lighter, more mobile and technologically advanced generation of India’s ballistic missile capability. (Press Information Bureau)

6. Prithvi and Dhanush