Agni IV/Agni-2 Prime

[Galaxy]

YES WE CAN: Saraswat dedicates Agni-IV success to youngsters in DRDO

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is on Cloud 9 following the success of the long-range, surface-to-surface missile Agni-IV on November 16. Often battered and bruised by the users for not delivering what has been promised, the DRDO is hogging all the limelight – thanks to the big-bang strike by Agni-IV.

Known for his inimitable straight-forward comments, DRDO chief Dr V K Saraswat dedicated the success of the launch to the young DRDO. "I dedicate this success to all the youngsters who have contributed with a large heart. I am not playing to the gallery as I have already communicated this internally. The mentoring we started a couple of years back is paying rich dividends. Give it to them (youngsters) as they deserve all the laurels," Saraswat told The New Indian Express.

Making mincemeat of technology control regimes, Saraswat said that Agni-IV virtually made these powers futile at one go. "Nobody can stop us and nobody can dictate terms to us. Nobody can get us. It is not DRDO we are talking about, but India. We have shown the world how indigenous new-age technologies can be transferred efficiently on to a top-class product," he said.

The DRDO chief went on to say that the missile technology nuances mastered by his team has put India on par with the best in the world. "We will soon tell another story when Agni-V comes out. It's a constant process and we are all geared up. We have got the momentum and we will get it going," Saraswat said.

The mood in the Missile Complex in Hyderabad too is ecstatic with a strong sense of 'yes-we-can-belief' settling in among various teams that have been working on Agni-IV.

Speaking to Express from Hyderabad over phone, G. Satheesh Reddy, Associate Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), said that DRDO's patience have finally paid off. "After last year's failed campaign, we got on to the basics and dissected every system that went onboard. Today, with the success of Agni-IV we have witnessed the quantum jump in the state-of-the-art technologies in missile-making. We are now steadily moving towards our inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) dream and all efforts will now go into making of Agni-V," says Sateesh, a young DRDO brain, who got recently elevated to the 'Outstanding Scientist' status.

It was Satheesh's team that developed ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (RINS) and micro-navigation system (MINGS) for Agni-IV. "We are thrilled by the telemetry results of the missile and we couldn't have asked for a better launch," he said.

DRDO sources who were part of the Agni-IV campaign said that the missile could go up to a maximum of 3,700 km and during the maiden launch it touched between 3,200-3,400 km, before hitting with target.

 

[Galaxy]

we need long range missiles for submarine launch. for land based as of now 5000+ is good enough. let's get the latest technologies and build our infrastructure first.

Yes, We need K-4,5 (4,000-5,500 KM) range. Hopefully in next few years it will be operational in 2nd SSBN and onwards.

 

[The Messiah]

This is actually sensible move. We are still far behind China, Difficult to manage 2 enemies then why give reason to feel threaten to Russia, Europe, Japan and U.S., We are neither ready nor needed. Cross the bridge when it comes. We need to keep mild positive relation with U.S., Russia and Europe as of now.

May be we can test and operate ICBM with 10,000+ KM but we don't need to highlight it.

We may not need it today but who's to say what will happen tomorrow ? We cant make it overnight either...if we start today then it will be operational after many years.

Having ability to make better weapon and then not to make it is idiotic. No place on earth should be safe from us.

If usa will feel threatened if we have ability to hit them then we should feel threatened that they can hit us. It works both ways. there general has just said India is potential threat and here we are wondering how they would feel ? btw look at history of past 60 years and see who is more of a warmonger usa or India ?

 

[Galaxy]

We may not need it today but who's to say what will happen tomorrow ? We cant make it overnight either...if we start today then it will be operational after many years.

Having ability to make better weapon and then not to make it is idiotic. No place on earth should be safe from us.

ICBM is symbolic.

No country has ever used ICBM but it just shows maximum deterrence against Big powers like Russia, U.S. and now China. Israel and N.K also have and so U.K., France (Sea version). But our situation is different. We still import 70% of our defence equipment. Let face it, We are not independent as of now. U.S., Russia, China are independent. U.K., France and Israel are U.S. allies. Why to give reason to feel threaten when we neither have any threat nor requirement ?

Our threat is within 100 KM -6,000 Km and Agni 1-5 covers all. Now what if U.S., Europe, Russia becomes our enemy ?? Trust me, It won't happen at least not in next few years as per our current diplomacy. May be after 10-15 years once our GDP nominal size will be 5th after U.S., China, Japan, Germany. There is no reason why any country except our few neighbour will be fearful from us. We need to have many more things, Let 1st complete our defence modernization by 2020.

Once, Our economy reaches 5 Bn $, self dependent at least 2/3rd then may be. We should develop the technology and keep in testing mode, so when we need we can test and operate within 2 years or we we can test and induct without any disclosure.

We don't even have enough Nuke. Our priorities are different. Why to waste money when we will not going to use in next few years?? First use Brahmos against Pakistan then think more... 8)

 

[nitesh]

This is interesting, young brains speaking out mind

e are now steadily moving towards our inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) dream and all efforts will now go into making of Agni-V," says Sateesh, a young DRDO brain, who got recently elevated to the 'Outstanding Scientist' status.

DRDO sources who were part of the Agni-IV campaign said that the missile could go up to a maximum of 3,700 km and during the maiden launch it touched between 3,200-3,400 km, before hitting with target.

What it did? It did danced around the target or what? Or does it means that in the terminal phase also commands can be passed to change the course of the RV? (Or multiple RV's falling at different range?) This is really interesting stuff, kind of carrier killer in case if is single RV. Can some one throw some light on this issue.
PS: It may be very trivial matter of the particular person didn't knowing full details, and passed on as guess work, but don't seems like one.

 

[Pintu]

The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : New kid on the nuclear block

Regards

 

[Kunal Biswas]

YES WE CAN: Saraswat dedicates Agni-IV success to youngsters in DRDO

YES WE CAN: Saraswat dedicates Agni-IV success to youngsters in DRDO

Bangalore: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is on Cloud 9 following the success of the long-range, surface-to-surface missile Agni-IV on November 16. Often battered and bruised by the users for not delivering what has been promised, the DRDO is hogging all the limelight – thanks to the big-bang strike by Agni-IV.


Known for his inimitable straight-forward comments, DRDO chief Dr V K Saraswat dedicated the success of the launch to the young DRDO. "I dedicate this success to all the youngsters who have contributed with a large heart. I am not playing to the gallery as I have already communicated this internally. The mentoring we started a couple of years back is paying rich dividends. Give it to them (youngsters) as they deserve all the laurels," Saraswat told The New Indian Express.


Making mincemeat of technology control regimes, Saraswat said that Agni-IV virtually made these powers futile at one go. "Nobody can stop us and nobody can dictate terms to us. Nobody can get us. It is not DRDO we are talking about, but India. We have shown the world how indigenous new-age technologies can be transferred efficiently on to a top-class product," he said.


The DRDO chief went on to say that the missile technology nuances mastered by his team has put India on par with the best in the world. "We will soon tell another story when Agni-V comes out. It's a constant process and we are all geared up. We have got the momentum and we will get it going," Saraswat said.
The mood in the Missile Complex in Hyderabad too is ecstatic with a strong sense of 'yes-we-can-belief' settling in among various teams that have been working on Agni-IV.


Speaking to Express from Hyderabad over phone, G. Satheesh Reddy, Associate Director, Research Centre Imarat (RCI), said that DRDO's patience have finally paid off. "After last year's failed campaign, we got on to the basics and dissected every system that went onboard. Today, with the success of Agni-IV we have witnessed the quantum jump in the state-of-the-art technologies in missile-making. We are now steadily moving towards our inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) dream and all efforts will now go into making of Agni-V," says Sateesh, a young DRDO brain, who got recently elevated to the 'Outstanding Scientist' status.
It was Satheesh's team that developed ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (RINS) and micro-navigation system (MINGS) for Agni-IV. "We are thrilled by the telemetry results of the missile and we couldn't have asked for a better launch," he said.


DRDO sources who were part of the Agni-IV campaign said that the missile could go up to a maximum of 3,700 km and during the maiden launch it touched between 3,200-3,400 km, before hitting with target.

Tarmak007 -- A bold blog on Indian defence: YES WE CAN: Saraswat dedicates Agni-IV success to youngsters in DRDO

 

[sayareakd]

[/FONT][/SIZE]
DRDO sources who were part of the Agni-IV campaign said that the missile could go up to a maximum of 3,700 km and during the maiden launch it touched between 3,200-3,400 km, before hitting with target.

[/url]

i have some thoughts about this part

it did reverse of something like this

its goes past its target and then come back to hit it. that is why the statement.

 

[sayareakd]

if this turn out to be simulator data, dont be surprised. what boss is saying and what this graph is showing does not match plus not official DRDO data chart.

 

[Yusuf]

Why are they naming individual scientists and what job they did? Isn't it a security goof up?

 

[Neil]

what is RINS...ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation system...?? and micro-navigation system (MINGS)...?? two types on navigation system in 1 missile...??!!

 

[sayareakd]

i have some thoughts about this part

it did reverse of something like this

its goes past its target and then come back to hit it. that is why the statement.

this is what i mean



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[Falcon]

EVER HEARD OF THIS NEWS. KIND OF INTERESTING.

Russia Downs US Missile After Norway, Obama Secrets Release

In actions more reminiscent of the Cold War than modern times the foreign military intelligence directorate of the Russian General Staff (GRU) is reporting today that the Northern Fleet's Yekaterinburg nuclear powered submarine successfully fired a RSM-54 Sineva (SS-N-23 Skiff in NATO classification) ballistic missile from the Barents Sea across the North Pole into the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean where upon its deploying of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) "device" succeeded in destroying an American Minuteman III ICBM fired from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

United States Air Force Colonel Matthew Carroll in a statement to American propaganda media organs stated that the destruction of this Minuteman III ICBM was caused by an unexplained "flight anomaly" failing to mention the rapidly deteriorating relations between the US and Russia that in fact caused this incident to occur.

The taking down of this American ICBM was in "direct retaliation" for the United States unprovoked actions in slapping International travel restrictions on over 60 high ranking Russian officials the Obama regime said was justified for their alleged involvement in the killing of a prisoner in 2009.

Presidential press secretary Natalia Timakova stated about this unwarranted action against Russia by the Obama regime that: "We were perplexed by the State Department's position, which chose not to wait for the final results of the investigation and a decision by the Russian court, and instead assumed such unusual responsibilities. Even in the most difficult years of the Cold War, such measures were not taken."

This GRU report further states that after President Medvedev instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare a response to US visa sanctions, and after the downing of the Minuteman III ICBM by Russian Naval Forces, the Obama regime escalated their attacks against Russia by "leaking" a secret report blaming the Kremlin for the bombing of the American Embassy in Georgia this past September.

In noting the continued aggressive stance the Americans are now taking against all their perceived enemies Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin further warned that Russia must ensure the protection of its interests not only against the Obama regime, but in case radical Republicans come to power in the United States. Rogozin chilling stated that after his meeting US Republican senators Jon Kyl and Mark Kirk this week that, "I had a feeling that we traveled back several decades, and I was sitting with two 'monsters of Cold War' who looked at me through targeting sights rather than eyes."

So bad have things become in the United States that one of their top right-wing commentators named Glenn Beck warned his listeners this week that the Obama regime was turning America into a Nazi-like Third Reich and leading the US into a "society of gas chambers".

Beck's astounding comments about the Obama regime appear to have merit as London's Daily Mail is reporting today that US police forces are now performing public executions like their German Nazi counterparts once did in a further bid to further terrorize their citizens, and as we can, in part, read:

"A shocking video has been released allegedly showing police officers tasering and beating a homeless man to death who they claim was resisting arrest. Though the video is not clear, eye witnesses say the homeless man – Kelly Thomas, 37 – was unable to put up any resistance and was lying on the ground on his front when the attack took place on July 5. His screams and cries for his father can be heard amid the tasering noises."

Most interesting to note about the public execution by US police forces of this homeless man was the large crowd of Americans who stood idly by without coming to his aide, and which stands in sharp contrast with Chinese citizens who after their police forces beat a street vendor to death yesterday rioted against this shocking abuse of human rights in their knowing that if injustice isn't stopped it only grows stronger.

To the reasons behind the rapid deterioration of relations between Russia and the United States this GRU report says is due to the ongoing release by the Federal Security Service (FSB) of secret Kremlin reports detailing the true state of our world as opposed to the propaganda being continually streamed at the Western public.

Angering the Americans most, the GRU continues, was the FSB release of information we detailed in our 21 July report titled "Murdoch Threat To Expose Obama As "Christ-Child" Ignites Western Fury" which effectively ended the Obama regimes battle against the media empire of Rupert Murdoch.

Quickly following this setback to the Obama regime and their Western allies was the FSB release of information we detailed in our 25 July report "Norway Premier "Begged" Putin To Stop Massacre Planned By "Elites" showing the shocking complicity of American and British intelligence services in the catastrophic terror attacks upon Norway.

The GRU in their report further says that the Obama regimes fury at Norway lies in this Scandinavian nation's enacting of their Arctic region treaty with Russia on 7 July thus allowing Russian troops to begin deploying to this region to protect vital oil and gas resources also claimed by the Americans on behalf of their Western energy giant masters they have allowed to loot Iraq, Afghanistan and soon Libya of those nations natural wealth.

To what the next move in this Great Game will be it is not in our knowing, other than to note that when in the past the Russian Bear and American Eagle have clashed the whole world, indeed, does tremble.

LINK: Russia Downs US Missile After Norway, Obama Secrets Release | EUTimes.net

 

[nitesh]

quite lot of info, worth full read:

The Week | Reign of fire

Under Tessy's guidance, a number of young talents have bloomed. G. Satheesh Reddy, who designed the Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) for Agni 4 and "¨Agni 5, is one such.
"We are now among the best and have the latest in missile technology," says Reddy, who is his 30s. According to his colleagues, RLG accelerates the missile and turns it invulnerable to the enemy's anti-ballistic missile system. Cruder gyroscopes are used by ships and aircraft but the ones to be used in high-velocity missiles are special. Scientists at DRDO say that the earlier gyroscopes and the navigation systems in Agni 1, 2 and 3 were of the 1970 generation. "With Agni 4, we have embarked on a new quantum of technology. And with Agni 5, we will perfect the sleeker systems," says Chander.
Diplomats at the external affairs ministry, too, say the optical gyroscope of Agni 4 has become a "gamechanger" in the global strategic environment. Apart from RLG, what sets apart Agni 4 and Agni 5 are their higher avionics and their ability to do real-time estimation (on-board improvisation of performance of the missile).

Over the years, Agni missiles have become 'fat-less'. "Past Agni missiles needed a large number of auxiliaries," says Tessy. "Our challenge at hand was to reduce the operational manpower to just one or two officers, whose sole duty will be to launch the missile from a well-placed location once the coded orders were given. We reduced the number of auxiliaries, and as a result, the auxiliaries have become programmes on board the ICBM."
Thanks to the measures, Agni has become sleeker and more efficient. Agni 3 weighed 40 tonnes and had a range of 3,000km. Agni 4 weighs 20 tonnes and travels 3,500km. The lighter components used in the frames of Agni 4 and Agni 5 make possible a high level of flexibility and reach. Also, given that the Agni series uses solid fuel, they can be launched from the high-altitude Himalayan road network as well. "Flexibility, reach, coverage and speed are a few of the features of the latest Agni missiles India is producing," says Chander.

According to DRDO sources, the sleek, powerful Agni missiles, combined with the strength of the armed forces, will translate to a 'do-not-mess-with-India' message. V.K. Saraswat, scientific adviser to the defence minister, says the new age missiles will help India put its rivals on notice so that its vital assets are not targeted in the future.

Buoyed with the success of the Agni 4 and the optimism for Agni 5, scientists at DRDO say that they can come up with an ICBM of 10,000km to 12,000km range. "Developing that weapon will depend on the decision of the political leaders. But the country should know that we have the technology for building missiles that can strike beyond 12,000km," says Chander.

 

[Pintu]

^^^Just what Anup had pointed out .

Regards

 

[sayareakd]

 

[nitesh]

^^^Just what Anup had pointed out .

Regards

This he was saying from a long time, saya boss, great info provided by you, the bits are falling in place slowly.

 

[sayareakd]

A4 test and data release is meant to educate someone special, as if it is saying, that we can mess with your mid course interceptor big time, future tests would be interesting to show what can be done in this regard. After first test of A5 (if successful) then it will be MIRV test for A5, that means more work for mid course interceptor.

 

[Galaxy]

Agni-IV places India on a new generation missile trail


Dec 16, 2011 - Anil Bhat


In what is considered a landmark event in India's missile programme, the Agni-IV missile was successfully test-fired from the Wheelers' Island, off the Orissa coast, on November 15, 2011.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) press release stated that the most advanced long-range missile, launched from a Road Mobile System at 9 am, followed its trajectory "in a textbook fashion", attaining a height of about 900 km and reaching the pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal. All the systems functioned perfectly, encountering the re-entry temperatures of more than 3,000ºC. All mission objectives were fully met.

According to the DRDO, this missile is one of its kind. It showcased many new technologies for the first time and is a quantum leap in terms of missile technology. The missile is light in weight and has two stages of solid propulsion and a payload with re-entry heat shield. The composite rocket motor technology, which has been used for the first time, has also given excellent performance. The missile system is equipped with modern and compact avionics with redundancy to provide high level of reliability. The indigenous ring laser gyros-based high-accuracy INS (Rins) and micro navigation system (Mings) complementing each other in redundant mode, have been successfully flown in guidance mode for the first time.

The high-performance onboard computer with distributed avionics architecture, high-speed reliable communication bus and a full digital control system have harnessed and guided the missile to the target. The missile reached the target with a very high level of accuracy. Radars and electro-optical systems along the Orissa coast have tracked and monitored all the parameters of the missile. Two Indian naval ships located near the target have also witnessed the final event.

Defence minister A.K. Antony congratulated the DRDO team on its achievement.

Dr Vijay Kumar Saraswat, scientific adviser to the defence minister, secretary, department of defence R&D and director-general, DRDO, who witnessed the launch, congratulated all the scientists and employees of the DRDO and the armed forces upon the successful launch of Agni-IV. Mr Avinash Chander, distinguished scientist, chief controller (missiles & strategic systems), DRDO and programme director, Agni, while addressing the scientists after the launch referred to it as a new era in the modern Long Range Navigation System in India. He said, "This test has paved the way ahead for the success of Agni-V mission, which will be launched shortly."

Tessy Thomas, project director, Agni-IV, who with her team prepared and integrated the missile system and launched the missile, jubilantly said that the DRDO has produced and proven many new state-of-the-art technologies in the Agni system. She highlighted the role of the composite rocket motors, highly accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system, micro navigation system, digital controller system and very powerful onboard computer system.

Agni-IV, capable of carrying strategic warheads will be produced in huge numbers and delivered to the armed forces as early as possible. The missile is expected to provide good deterrence against external aggression. The use of rockets and missiles in India dates back to the 18th century, i.e., during the period of ruler Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. They used rocket artillery brigades against infantry formations for mass attacks. Men were trained to launch rockets from a launch angle which was calculated from the diameter of the cylinder and the distance of the target. The launchers had the capability to launch 5-10 rockets in salvo firing mode. Tipu Sultan had 27 brigades and each brigade had a company of rocket specialists.

With such a huge force, he defended the Mysore kingdom against the British until his death in Srirangapatnam in 1799. Even Marathas used rockets at the Battle of Panipat in 1761. With the death of Tipu Sultan, Indian rocketry also met its demise, only to be revived in the 1970s by Dr Vikram Sarabhai and Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, among others. Two of the rockets, captured by the British at Srirangapatnam, are displayed in the Royal Artillery Museum in London.

Defence Science Organisation, formed in 1956 for initiating studies and development of work on futuristic weapon systems, was headed by Dr B.N. Singh who formed the special weapon development team (SWDT) for study and development of guided missiles at Metcalfe House, Delhi. He worked on the first generation of anti-tank missile (ATM) for gaining developmental experience. SWDT later became the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) at old Ahmed Manzil, Hyderabad in June 1962 under Grp. Capt. V. Ganesan as its director.

A project formulated at DRDL in 1964 was supported by the Army after the 1965 Indo-Pak war and was later converted to a "staff project", which tested an indigenously developed anti-tank missile in 1970. It was considered as a major achievement by the DRDL, which later moved to the Defence Research Complex at Kanchanbagh, on the periphery of Hyderabad's Old City. Later, some scientists in collaboration with the Army, Navy and the Air Force officers developed the Devil missile.

All the preliminary understanding and development of electronics sub-systems of the Devil missile, including its airframe and aerodynamics were carried out at Ahmed Manzil lab. Leading scientists like Burman, J.C. Bhattacharya, Admiral Mohan and Surya Kantha Rao gave thrust to electronics, navigation, guidance & control and telemetry & instrumentation areas. Dr Ranga Rao, Dr Rama Rao, Dr Bala Krishnan, Krishnan and Dr Achyuthan gave priority to airframe, structures, aerodynamic and system-related areas.
This was further strengthened by the techno-managerial leadership of Lt. Gen.(Retd) Dr V.J. Sundaram, Lt. Gen. R. Swaminathan and Squadron Leader Shah in the area of airframe controls and integration.

Rocket Test House (RTH, presently near Kanchanbagh) was identified for carrying out propulsion-related design and tests. The liquid and solid propulsion areas were continuing with vibrant leadership of Dr Gopal Swamy and Wg. Cdr. Sen.

Re-entry technology and ballistic missile programmes were spearheaded by R.N. Agarwal. The state-of-the-gyro test facility was initiated by P. Banerjee within the campus. However, the whole facility of Ahmed Manzil was shifted near Kanchanbagh in 1975. Full-scale missile laboratory (DRDL) was built from then onwards.

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) under India's defence ministry, began in early 1980s for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles, including the intermediate range Agni missile (surface-to-surface), and short-range missiles such as the Prithvi ballistic missile (surface-to-surface), Sagarika, the naval version of the Prithvi, Akash missile (surface-to-air), Astra missile (air-to-air), Trishul missile (surface-to-air), Nag missile (anti-tank) and also an inter-continental-ballistic-missile (codenamed Surya missile) with a range of 8,000-12,000 km. Managed by the DRDO in partnership with other Indian government labs and research centres, one of the most prominent chief engineers on the project, Dr Abdul Kalam went on to become the President of India.

The last major missile developed under the programme was Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile which was successfully tested on July 9, 2007. After the third test of Agni-3 on May 7, 2008, the DRDO announced the closure of the IGMDP since most of the missiles in the programme have been developed and inducted into Indian armed forces. These were the Akash, Nag, Prithvi, Trishul and Agni (as re-entry technology demonstrator).

According to a statement to the media by Dr S. Prahlada, former director DRDL and CC, R&D (services interaction and aeronautics) and presently vice-chancellor Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Pune, new missile and weapon systems will be developed in new five-year programmes and will include both Indian private industries as well as foreign partners to reduce costs. Independently continuing further development of Nag missile, the DRDO is also developing a laser-based weapon system as part of its ballistic missile defence programme to intercept and destroy missiles soon after they are launched towards the Indian territory.

In 1998, the government of India signed an agreement with Russia to design, develop, manufacture and market BrahMos (Brahmaputra-Moscow rivers), a supersonic cruise missile system that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft or land. The mission was successfully accomplished by 2006.

At speeds of Mach 2.5 to 2.8, it is the world's fastest cruise missile, about three-and-a-half times faster than the American subsonic Harpoon cruise missile. BrahMos is reportedly attempting a hypersonic Mach 8 version of the missile, BrahMos II, the first ever hypersonic cruise missile, expected to be ready by 2012-13.

According to the Internet, three BrahMos missile regiments raised so far have been deployed in the western sector to counter threat from Pakistan and in the second phase of military expansion along the China front, the government has reportedly given the go-ahead for deployment of BrahMos cruise missiles in Arunachal Pradesh. The fourth regiment cruise missiles, with a 290-km range, will improve India's military reach into the Tibet Autonomous Region and counter China's elaborate missile deployment along the Sino-Indian border.

On December 6, 2011, the first fully-modified aircraft for the indigenously developed Indian Airborne Warning and Control System (AEW&C) took to the skies on its maiden flight at the Embraer Complex, Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil. The Emb 145 AEW&C platform developed for India has about 1,000 mission system components provided by the Centre for Airborne Systems of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (Cabs, DRDO), Bengaluru. The support also includes the critical item AESA (Active Electronic Scanning Antenna) Radar Antenna, which have been certified by the Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, International FAR Certification Agency. The agency is responsible for regulating safety and security matters related to civil aircraft and its components, personnel licensing, operations and aerodromes. While this aircraft will undergo the full certification process over the next two years, the Indian Air Force will receive two aircraft by the middle of 2012 and by 2013 mission systems developed by various DRDO labs, currently undergoing ground integration and evaluation at CABS, are expected to be integrated.

Anil Bhat, a retired Army officer, is a defence and security analyst based in New Delhi.

Agni-IV places India on a new generation missile trail | The Asian Age