Missile Test Notification

[RPK]

link

Captive flight trials of Astra missile carried out



India’s missile programme took a crucial step forward on Saturday with Indian Air Force test pilots carrying out the captive flight trials of the indigenously designed and developed Astra beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM).

A Su-30MKI combat aircraft especially tasked for the trials took off from Air Force Station Lohegaon (Pune) for a 90-minute sortie with the Astra missile. Till Thursday, four sorties, including flying the missile to super sonic speeds and to 7Gs, had been accomplished. Captive trials are mandatory to actual firing of the missile from the aircraft.
The active, radar homing Astra — India’s first air-to-air missile — which, at its design altitude of 15 km, will enable fighter pilots to lock-on, evade radar and shoot down enemy aircraft about 80 km away, is part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and has been under development at a number of defence laboratories led by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory.

Astra can be compared to the U.S.’ AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, France’s MICA (Missile d’interception et de combat aérien, “Interception and Aerial Combat Missile”) and Russia’s R77 (RVV-AE) missile.

The ground launch of Astra was successfully conducted at Chandipur-on-Sea, off the Orissa coast in September 2008.

Captive flight trials involve the Su-30MKI carrying under its wings at one of its six hard points (stations designated for the carrying of stores) an inert missile (with no explosives but simulating the real missile) which has not been electrically or electronically ‘connected’ to the aircraft’s on-board systems.

Captive or aero mechanical integrity tests allows a verification of aspects such as the mechanical, structural and electrical compatibility between the missile and the aircraft, and whether vibrations, strain, stress, etc. are within design levels.

Only after the missile is proven in captive flight trials can it be fired from an aircraft.

Disclosing news of Phase 1 of the captive flight trails which have come after about four years of planning and certification, senior officials said the trials would cover the entire flight envelope of the Su-30MKI, including attaining the fighter’s altitude ceiling of 18 km and a speed of 1.8 Mach, and undertaking the various complicated manoeuvres that the aircraft is designed for. The trials are likely to involve around 15 sorties.

Russian launcher

Though the missile has been indigenously developed, Astra currently depends on a Russian launcher and seeker head. The seeker is yet to be integrated with the missile’s radar, algorithms, etc.

Officials said Astra has been designed to pull a latax (lateral acceleration) of 40g. (40 times the acceleration due to gravity).

The second phase of the trials — avionics integrity tests — are expected early next year and will involve the integration of the missile’s avionics with that of the aircraft, and a dialoguing between the cockpit and the missile. Officials also disclosed that “some guided flights with a seeker to check for guidance will take place early next year.” The actual firing of Astra from the Su-30MKI is expected in July-August 2010.

Astra is to be initially fitted on the Su-30MKI and the Mirage 2000, with the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and the MiG-29 scheduled to be equipped with it later.

 

[Chota]

Agni-II test deferred

Agni-II test deferred - Bhubaneswar - City - The Times of India

BALASORE: The test of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-II has been postponed. The 2,000-km plus range missile was scheduled to be test-fired from the Wheelers Island, off the Orissa coast, at the end of this week.

Sources at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur said here on Wednesday that the test, to be conducted by the Indian Army with logistic support from the DRDO, has been postponed due to some technical snags in the pneumatic system of the missile.

“The problem is being sorted out by the scientists at a Hyderabad-based laboratory. Once it is resolved, a fresh schedule will be fixed for the test. If it takes some more time, then the test may be further put off,” said a source. Agni-II missile is 21 metres long with a diameter of 1.3 metres and weighs 19 tonnes. It is designed to carry ‘special weapons’ nuclear payload of over 1,000 kg. The missile has already been inducted into the Army and will be used by 555th missile group of the Army.

 

[Pintu]

Link of outlook :

news.outlookindia.com | India Likely to Test-Fire BrahMos Supersonic Missile in Dec

Regards

 

[nitesh]

tests underway:

Astra air-to-air missile makes first flight - Pune - City - The Times of India

 

[RPK]

Fresh anti-ballistic missile tests soon

Fresh tests of the endo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile system may be conducted in December-January, VK Saraswat, scientific advisor to the defence minister, said on Wednesday.

“The first phase of the missile defence shield has been going on for years now and fresh tests are likely in December-January,” he said at a seminar on fuel cell technology.
The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), which Saraswat heads, aims to develop interceptors that can destroy intermediate-range ballistic missiles. In phase-II, DRDO will develop missiles to neutralise inter-continental ballistic missiles. The phase, however, is in the design stage.

 

[nitesh]

great news testing in night hmmm

Nuke-capable Agni-II to be tested during night

A special 'strategic forces team' raised by the Army would conduct the trial with necessary logistic support by various ITR laboratories and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists.

 

[Agantrope]

Dhanush test fired successfully in Orissa.

Source: NDTV Just in News

 

[Pintu]

Dhanush missile successfully test fired- Hindustan Times

Dhanush missile successfully test fired

Press Trust Of India
Balasore (Orissa), December 13, 2009
First Published: 12:58 IST(13/12/2009)
Last Updated: 13:06 IST(13/12/2009)

India on Sunday successfully test fired its nuclear-capable ballistic missile 'Dhanush', with a range of 350 km, from a naval ship off the Orissa coast.

The single-stage ship-based missile was flight-tested at around 11.30 am and the trial was successful, defence sources said.

'Dhanush' has a payload capacity of 500 kg and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. It can hit both sea and shore-based targets.

The missile, which has liquid propellant, is the naval version of India's indigenously developed surface-to-surface 'Prithvi' missile system, the sources said.

"Dhanush, being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was put to trial jointly by a team of scientists and officers from the Navy," they said.

"Today's test launch has been tracked from its take-off to impact point through an integrated network of sophisticated radars and electro-optic instruments for post-mission data analyses," the sources said.

The missile had failed in its first test at the development stage on April 11, 2000 due to certain technical problems relating to the take-off stage but subsequent trials were successful.

The last trial of 'Dhanush' was successfully conducted from a naval ship off Orissa coast on March 30, 2007, the sources said.

 

[plugwater]

Scientists now brace up for Agni tests in Jan

BALASORE: After the twin failures of India’s first long range missile Agni-II, the successful trial of nuke-capable surface-to-surface Dhanush missile came as a face saver for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Now the organisation is eyeing the success of the two proposed tests of Agni-II and Agni-III missiles in January.

Dhanush, Naval version of Prithvi ballistic missile, was flight tested by the Indian Navy from the warship INS Subhadra, 35 km away from Balasore coast yesterday.

With the test, India has joined the elite club of US and China which have the similar kind of missiles in their arsenal.

Defence sources said, the missile travelled almost 350 km within nearly 500 seconds before zeroing in on the target with a circular error probability (CEP) of less than 10 metres.

“It met the velocity, height and guidance parameters. The flight path was very smooth without any variation and deviation'', said ITR director SP Dash.

The pre-decided coordinates - elevation, trajectory and azimuth were also well as expected and the missile splashed down at the target point with pinpoint accuracy, added Dash.

Buoyed by the success, the DRDO scientists are now planning a fresh trial of the 2000-km plus range Agni-II missile. The trial will be conducted by the Indian Army.

Earlier, in May and November the missile trials conducted by the Army had failed to deliver desired results.

In the last test the missile developed a technical snag during the ignition of the second stage and its flex nozzle did not function properly.

Sources said, the user trial will be followed by a developmental trial of the country’s longest 3500-km range missile Agni-III.

Agni-III, which has a velocity of five km per second, is a short and stubby, two-stage missile that weighs 48.3 tonnes and is 16.7 metres tall with an overall diameter of 1.8 meters. It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing around 1.5 tonnes.

It will be propelled by solid fuels, facilitating swifter deployment compared to missiles using a mix of solid and liquid fuels.

“Agni-II has already been inducted in the armed forces. Even though the Agni-III is said to be ready for induction but still it will require two or three more tests before it can go for limited series production (LSP) trials by the armed forces. However, two years more will be required for its operational deployment,” the sources added.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/...ID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=

 

[A.V.]

CBC News - World - Iran test fires new long-range missile

Iran successfully test fired a new version of a long-range missile, Iranian state television reported Wednesday.

The latest Sajjil-2 missile has a longer range than a previous model, which Iranian officials said could reach targets almost 2,000 kilometres away.

Iran's Defence Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi described the Sajjil-2 as a high-speed, surface-to-surface missile. He said it would be a "strong deterrent" against any foreign attack.

"Given its high speed, it is impossible to destroy the missile with anti-missile systems because of its radar-evading ability," he said on state television.

The new missile's range puts Israel, U.S. bases in the Gulf, parts of southern Europe within reach.

The missile test coincides with increased tension over Iran's nuclear program. Iran has threatened retaliation if Israel or the U.S. launch a military strike on its nuclear facilities.

Iran is already under UN sanctions over its nuclear program, and Western countries are mulling their next step as they push for Iran to pull back on nuclear development.

"This is a matter of serious concern to the international community and it does make the case for us moving further on sanctions," said U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, after a meeting at the Copenhagen climate conference with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

"We will treat this with the seriousness it deserves," Brown said.

 

[A chauhan]

Crucial tests for Agni - 2 & 3 in new year- TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos

India is going to conduct crucial tests to iron out some flaws in the Agni 2 and Agni 3 missiles. Agni 2 is already inducted into Indian defence and Agni 3 is in the process of being inducted.

But recently, trials of both these missiles had fallen below expectataions. In fact, the night trials of Agni 2 had failed last month.

Now, the DRDO has ordered fresh tests on both missiles. They are both nuclear capable missiles and can hit China.

The DRDO says the main flaws are due to production gaps and the Defence Minister too has said the rough edges will be soon be sorted out.

Dr V K Saraswat, Chief, DRDO, says quality control was very important and this problem of production had to be looked into.

A K Antony, Defence Minister said he is confident that the missile problems will be sorted out.

From last post...

domain-b.com : DRDO lines up Agni-II and Agni-III tests for January 2010


DRDO lines up Agni-II and Agni-III tests for January 2010 news
21 December 2009


Balasore: Smarting over the twin failures of its 2,000 km intermediate range ballistic missile, Agni-II in separate tests this year, the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is now pressing ahead to test both Agni-II as well as the longer range, 3,500 km, Agni-III missiles. The organisation says the reasons for the failure were related to production glitches.

Agni-III
User test trials of the Agni-II conducted by the Indian Army in May and November this year had failed. In the last test, officials said, a technical snag developed at the time of the ignition of the second stage and its flex nozzle did not function properly.

According to sources, the user trial of the Agni-II will be followed by a developmental trial of the country's 3500-km range Agni-III. Both Agni-II and Agni-III can strike deep inside Chinese territory.

The Agni-III is a two-stage missile that can carry conventional and nuclear payloads of about 1.5 tonnes. It is propelled by solid fuels, which allows for swifter deployment, as compared to liquid fuelled missiles.

''Agni-II has already been inducted in the armed forces. Even though the Agni-III is said to be ready for induction but still it will require two or three more tests before it can go for limited series production (LSP) trials by the armed forces. However, two years more will be required for its operational deployment,'' the sources added.

 

[RPK]

DRDO braces up for a series of tests

BALASORE: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which is planning a series of missile tests in the next few months has a host of challenges before it to fit into the defence requirements of the country in the light of the heightening tension in and around India.


Sources said, at least five different ranges and variants of missiles are likely to be tested by the defence scientists and Indian Army in the first quarter of the year. The missiles to be tested from the integrated test range (ITR) off the Orissa coast are India’s longest range Agni-III, Agni-II, an interceptor, Shourya (the land version of submarine launched ballistic missile K-15) and BrahMos.

While 2000 km plus range Agni-II missile is scheduled for trial between January 6 and 9, the 3500 km range Agni-III will be test-fired by this month end.

The three other missile tests will be conducted one after another to gauge their accuracy and performances, said a source at the ITR in Chandipur-on-sea.

Defence analysts feel the scientists have to come out credibly to hold high the reputation of DRDO and to fit into the shoes of eminent defence scientists like APJ Abdul Kalam. ‘’Challenges are many and it is yet to see how it comes over the failures of the preceding years. Success and failures although tread along, keeping in view the defence requirements of the country, people have got a zero tolerance level as far as failures of the DRDO is concerned,’’ they remarked.

‘’While BrahMos and Shourya will be test fired from the ITR at Chandipur from a silo launcher, the Agni variants will be tested from the Wheelers Island off Dhamra coast in Bhadrak district.

During the advanced air defence (AAD) interceptor test, a Prithvi missile, modified to mimic a hostile ballistic missile with a 300 km -1,000 km range, will be fired from the Chandipur base and will be intercepted by another missile fired few seconds later from Wheeler Island,” said a defence scientist.

Defence sources said, the 2000 km plus range Agni-II missile, which was first tested in 1999 has a length of 21 meters, a diameter of 1.3 meters and weighs 19 tonnes. Having South China as the main target, the missile is designed to carry a one-tonne weapon. The Agni-III has a range of over 3,000 km and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. ‘’India is now developing Agni-V having a strike range of 5000 km which will probably fly in the air early next year,’’ said a source.

Apart from its long range missiles, the DRDO is now focusing on the ballistic missile defence (BMD) system. As part of the project it has already developed two interceptors – exo-atmospheric (outside the atmosphere) and endo-atmospheric (within the atmosphere).

‘’While the exo-atmospheric PAD has been tested twice, the second test of the endo-atmospheric AAD interceptor will be conducted this time,’’ the source informed.

Similarly, the newly developed 600-km range ‘Shourya’ ballistic missile, which can be fired from underground silos unlike the Prithvi and Agni missiles will be tested for the second time.

It is meant to boost the country’s second strike capabilities.

Significantly, Shourya missiles can remain camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage-cum-launch canisters.

 

[Sridhar]

India test fires short range Astra missile

Updated on Monday, January 11, 2010, 11:24 IST ​

Tags:Astra missile, Test firing, Indian missile
​

Balasore (Orissa): India successfully test fired its short range Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast Monday.

The beyond visual range missile was tested at the Chandipur test range, about 230 km from the state capital Bhubaneswar, at about 9.45 am.

"It was a very good flight," ITR Director SP Dash said.

Another Astra missile was scheduled to be tested from the same test range later in the day, he added.

Astra is a high-end tactical missile and is envisaged to intercept enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in tail-chase mode at 20 km.

India test fires short range Astra missile

 

[NSG_Blackcats]

India Test Fires Astra Missile Twice

Balasore (Orissa), Jan 11 (IANS) India Monday twice successfully test-fired the home-grown short-range Astra air-to-air missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast, an official said.

The beyond visual range missile was first test-fired at 9.45 a.m. and then at 12.06 p.m.

'It was a very good flight,' ITR Director S.P. Dash told IANS after the tests.

Astra is a high-end tactical missile that is envisaged to intercept enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds in head-on mode at a range of 80 km and in a chase mode at 20 km.

The missile is intended for the Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage 2000H, Mirage 2000, MiG-29, MiG-21 Bison and Tejas combat jets, as also the Indian Navy's Sea Harrier jump jets.

 

[nitesh]

from lifefist for LGB testing:

 

[sandeepdg]

India to soon test N-capable Agni-III, missile defence system
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: After beginning to base Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jets in the Northeast, India is now finally gearing up to conduct another test of the China-specific 3,500-kmrange Agni-III ballistic missile in February-March.
DRDO scientists are also on course to shortly test their fledgling two-tier ballistic missile defence (BMD), which has been tested three times till now and is designed to track and destroy hostile missiles both inside (endo) and outside (exo) the earth’s atmosphere. As reported by TOI earlier, the ongoing Phase-I BMD system is geared towards tackling enemy missiles with a 2,000-km range, Phase-II is being designed to intercept incoming missiles in the 5,000-km class range. But it will take some years for the BMD system to become fully operational.
Similarly, Agni-III will be ready only by 2012-2013. The first test of the rail-mobile missile, which is 16.7-metre tall and has a lift-off weight of 50 tonnes, in July 2006 had flopped miserably. But the subsequent two tests, in April 2007 and May 2008, were deemed successful. Agni-III is crucial since it will provide India with the capability to strike deep into China, bringing cities like Shanghai and Beijing within its potent reach. Both Agni-III and Agni-V are primarily designed to bolster India’s ‘‘active credible deterrence posture’’ against China, especially since it has a clear-cut ‘‘no-first use’’ nuclear doctrine.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Defa...eLabel=18&EntityId=Ar01804&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

 

[plugwater]

China-specific Agni III to be tested

BALASORE: The China-specific nuclear capable missile Agni III will be flight-tested any time between February 6 and 8. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is planning to conduct the test at the Inner Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast. Sources at the defence base in Chandipur said the surface-tosurface missile, with a strike range of about 3,500 km, would be test-fired in full operational stage.

“Massive preparation is on with more than a hundred scientists camping at the test range. The first test of the missile in 2006 was a failure, though its second trial in 2007 and third in 2008 were successful. Its proposed trial in 2009 was put off for unknown reasons,” the source added.

Agni-III is a new system and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. It will be propelled by solid fuels, facilitating swifter deployment compared to missiles using both solid and liquid fuels.

“The ballistic missile will require two or three more tests before it can go for limited series production (LSP) trials by the armed forces. However, two more years will be required for its operational deployment. Its successful test will propel India to go for the maiden test of 5,500 km range Agni-V missile, which is being developed now,’’ a scientist said.

Agni-V has been designed keeping in view the credible minimum deterrence against China. The ongoing work on Agni-V revolves around incorporating a third composite stage in the two-stage Agni-III, along with some advanced technologies like ring laser gyroscope and accelerator for navigation and guidance.

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/...ID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=nUFeEOBkuKw=&SEO=

 

[A.V.]

Nuclear-capable Agni-III missile test-fired

India on Sunday "successfully" test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile with a range of more than 3,000 km from the Wheeler Island off Orissa coast.
The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile was tested from a rail mobile launcher near Dhamara, about 100 km from here, at about 1046 hours, defence sources said.
"All mission parameters were met," they said, adding the test was a success.
This was the fourth flight test in the Agni-III series carried out to establish the "repeatability" of the missile's performance, they said.
The entire trajectory of today's trial was monitored through various telemetry stations, electro-optic systems and sophisticated radars located along the coast, in Port Blair and by Naval ships anchored near the impact point in the down range area for data analysis, the sources said.
Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system. With a length of 17 metres, the missile's diameter is 2 metres and launch weight is 50 tonnes.
It can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes which is protected by carbon-carbon all composite heat shield.

Press Trust Of India
Bhadrak (Orissa), February 07, 2010

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India...able-Agni-III-missile/H1-Article1-506250.aspx

 

[s_bman]

IAI Conducts Successful Firing Trial of LAHAT Missiles from IAF COBRA Helicopter
[JASSM]

06 Feb 2010 8ak: Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has conducted a successful firing trial of two Laser Homing Attack (LAHAT) laser- guided missiles from an Israel Air Force (IAF) COBRA helicopter. The missiles were fired from the helicopter at ranges of 3.5 km and 7 km, resulting in direct impact on the targets.

"The LAHAT missile system was based on the company's long history of advanced laser weapon systems for air and ground forces," said Itzhak Nissan, President and CEO of IAI. "For more then 30 years, IAI's MBT Division has been the main Israeli supplier for laser guided munitions for the Israel Defence Forces, as well as for many other satisfied customers worldwide. We are very satisfied with this latest round of firing trials."

The LAHAT is a multi-mission missile fired from wide variety of Land Vehicles, Helicopters, and Tanks. LAHAT, with a length of just one meter and weight of less than 13 kg, is very well suited for use on light-weight helicopters. A LAHAT launcher fully loaded with four missiles weight less than 80 kg.

Despite its small size and light weight, LAHAT is highly effective against a variety of target types, including tanks, at ranges well over 8 km. LAHAT can accurately hit moving targets, including enemy helicopters LAHAT's long range enable helicopters to engage and destroy enemy forces while avoiding the enemy's air defenses.

In its tank version LAHAT is handled by the 105mm or 120mm gunner, as a standard gun round. The missile performs precision homing on a laser-designated target, ensuring first shot, tank-kill at ranges over 6Km. The missile hits the target at an accuracy of 0.7 meter CEP and an angle of over 30 degrees, providing effective penetration of up to 800 mm of armor steel with its tandem warhead to deal with add-on reactive armour.
http://www.8ak.in/8ak_india_defence_news/page/2/

 

[Sridhar]

coming Brahmos test

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/national/article107287.ece