Second User trial of Agni III next month

[AVERAGE INDIAN]

In a bid to make the 3000-km range nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-III fully operational, Indian Army is readying for the second user associate trial of the weapon from a defence base off the Odisha coast next month.

Preparation is on at the Wheeler Island test facility from where the missile has been scheduled to be test-fired in a real time situation on December 18. This will be sixth test of the missile which defence sources said, was all set to go for bulk production after the trial.

After four developmental trials in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010, this 'China Specific' missile was inducted in the Armed Forces in June 2011. While the maiden trial of the missile was a failure, on the rest three occasions, the missile performed as expected. Its first user trial on September 21 last year was also a copy book success.

While the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), a specially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army will carry out the test, DRDO will provide all logistic support to track and monitor the missile's flight path. The test will reconfirm the technical parameters set for the user associate launch and check the Army's readiness to use it.

A defence scientist said the missile had been successfully test-fired four times in last six years making it full proof proven missile. "The technologies incorporated in the missile system and software have also performed as expected. After a couple of more user associate trials, the missile will be made fully operational," he said.

After Agni-III trial, the DRDO has scheduled to conduct third trial of 4000-km range Agni-IV. Even as India adopts a clear-cut 'no-first-use' doctrine, it has an active credible nuclear deterrence and is well capable of its own defence with weapons like Agni series missiles, interceptors capable of destroying enemy missiles in both exo and endo atmospheric region, submarine and ship launched ballistic missiles besides a few short range and medium range surface-to-surface and air-to-air missiles.

Agni III is expected to be the mainstay of India's nuclear deterrence programme when fully operational by providing the country with strategic second-strike capability.

Second trial of Agni III next month - The New Indian Express

 

[makmohan]

2nd User Trial of Agni-III Deferred for Cyclone Madi - The New Indian Express

The second user trial of India's China specific missile Agni-III has been deferred, courtesy cyclone Madi. The surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which was scheduled for launch on December 18, is likely to be test fired on December 23 from a defence base off the Odisha coast.

Defence sources said preparation for the launching of the country's most potent missile Agni-III was near complete at the Wheeler Island test facility and the missile was expected to be flight-tested in full operational configuration with a dummy payload.

Though the 3,000-km range weapon was earlier planned to be tested on Wednesday, the downrange ship carrying tracking equipments could not reach the point of impact due to the tropical cyclone MADI formed over west-central Bay of Bengal.

"The cyclone turned southwest on December 10 and started moving towards the coast of south-eastern states. Though it weakened later, the ship was not sent due to the alert from the Met office thereby hampering the launch preparations," said an official.

While the missile integration is on full swing, tracking systems have been dispatched to their places of deployment. If everything goes as per the programme, the official said the indigenously built nuclear tipped long range missile, which has already been inducted in the armed forces, would be fired on Monday.

The trial to be conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army is one from its limited stock production (LSP) series.

The test will be followed by the third developmental of 4,000-km range Agni-IV and maiden trial of 3,500-km range submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-4 in January next year.

 

[hit&run]

This time of the year is never good for such tests, with plenty of cyclones, at least 1-2, hitting the coast every year. DRDO / ISRO should work out better months.

 

[ladder]

This time of the year is never good for such tests, with plenty of cyclones, at least 1-2, hitting the coast every year. DRDO / ISRO should work out better months.

Multiple launch sites is the answer

 

[hit&run]

Multiple launch sites is the answer

Better near equator; as possible as we can, therefore it becomes a point of no practical relevance having multiple launch sites to avoid such climatical activity.

 

[ladder]

Better near equator; as possible as we can, therefore it becomes a point of no practical relevance having multiple launch sites to avoid such climatical activity.

Sorry but I didn't understand your post.

 

[hit&run]

Actually I was mixing it with space rockets. Launch sites are better near Equator especially the kind of power our rockets can afford. South India is near Equator but then we have to consider launch site's proximity from Sri lanka. So any site built in South India (being near to Equator) means exposure to cyclones during this time of the year. So better we work out our dates.

Yes for missiles, multiple launch sites can be built throughout India. But then it is safer to be at coast and then our telemetry assets are ocean based.

I think to construct a site on west coast will have to take Pakistan's snooping and sniffing range into consideration.

 

[makmohan]

India successfully test fired Agni III from Odisha coast, Odisha Current News, Odisha Latest Headlines

Report by Odisha Diary bureau, Bhubaneswar: India on Monday successfully test fired Agni III from Wheeler Island off of Odisha coast. Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army carried out flight trial of Agni IRBM at 4.55 pm today. Agni III is a 3000-km range nuclear capable ballistic missile. Agni already inducted into the Army. The two-stage surface-to-surface missile, which uses solid propellants, is 17-metres in length, weighs about 50 tonnes and has a diameter of two metres. It can cover a distance of 3,000 to 3,500 km in about 14 minutes. It can carry a nuclear warhead weighing about 1.5 tonnes. The aim of the test was to achieve single digit accuracy reaching close to zero circular error probability (CEP). This test reconfirmed the technical parameters set for the user and its readiness to handle the weapon during the time of crisis

 

[Deccani]

This was answer to the Chinese ICBM test on December 17, 2013.

 

[Yusuf]

This was answer to the Chinese ICBM test on December 17, 2013.

It wasn't. These tests were planned well in advance. India has never engaged in any tit for tat tests.

 

[Deccani]

It wasn't. These tests were planned well in advance. India has never engaged in any tit for tat tests.

Agni III has been already inducted into the armed forces and these tests are made at short notice which is more or less to show the readiness of the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army.

 

[sayareakd]

 

[Bheeshma]

That cant be a production lot missile.

 

[sayareakd]

That cant be a production lot missile.

what makes you say that?

 

[sob]

The size of the missile seems to be very short. That too when you can see the launch pad in the photo.

 

[Deccani]

So does it means that a more advance version Agni III was launched ?

 

[sayareakd]

So does it means that a more advance version Agni III was launched ?

Advance A3 will not weight 50 tons, it will weight around 17 tons. Navigation was advance this time.

 

[Deccani]

Advance A3 will not weight 50 tons, it will weight around 17 tons. Navigation was advance this time.

Good info . Thanks

 

[Yusuf]

Agni III has been already inducted into the armed forces and these tests are made at short notice which is more or less to show the readiness of the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army.

Check when this thread was made.

 

[TrueSpirit1]

Indian inventory of Missiles

SSMs

Prithvi, 100-250km range, liquid fuelled
"¢ Prithvi -1/2/3 - all in service (Prithvi1s to be replaced with Prahar - 160 km range)
"¢ Naval variant: Dhanush, 350km- Navy - in service

Agni: Have MaRVs, while MIRV & countermeasures in development
"¢ 1/2/3 - in production
"¢ 4/5 - development, trials successful, 4000km and 5000 km versions respectively. Use new tech for composite stages, new motors, flex nozzles, onboard avionics including new RLG-INS developed locally
"¢ Agni-6 development noted. Will be a more powerful missile able to accomodate much larger throw weight, will come with MIRVs

K-series/SLBM

"¢ SLBM/B-05: 700 Km range, developed, waiting for Arihant
"¢ Shaurya: Land version, being tweaked for Army
"¢ Next steps, 1500 & 3000 km versions

Prahaar/Strike SSM:

"¢ 150 km, 200 kg warhead missile to "bridge the gap" between the conventional Pinaka MRLS at 40 km range, to the Prithvi which has a range of 250km to 300 km. Being tweaked for the Army. Stated to have datalinked guidance and will hence be more cost effective/precise than "dumb" missiles. Six missiles can be launched at different targets. Developed from the AAD design of the BMD program. DRDO head has now confirmed that Prahar will replace the Prithvi missile series and be in between the Pinaka and Agni 1.

Brahmos:

"¢ Blocks1/2/3 all developed. Block 3 for Navy & Army allows top attack & seeker discrimination of specific targets. In production.
"¢ AF: Development underway; IAF wants 200+ missiles for 40+ Su-30 MKI, order cleared by CCS. Two trials aircraft sent for modification.
"¢ Brahmos 2: In development with Russia for hypersonic Brahmos.

Nuclear deterrent:
"¢ ALA: Air Launched Article, 200km, nuclear missile for Su-30 force. In development

Cruise Missiles:

"¢ LRCM: Ramjet equipped long range cruise missile for all three services, in development, 700km-1000 km range
"¢ Nirbhay: Subsonic, stealthy 750km+ missile for all three services, first test expected this year

BMD:

"¢ Phase 1: PAD & AAD ready for deployment. Seekers, radomes indigenized. PAD also uses new Indian RLG-INS.
"¢ PDV to be trialed this year & will replace PAD for next batch of Phase 1 BMD deployment
"¢ Phase 2: For Target Missiles > 2000 km class, in development. AD-1 and AD-2, hypersonic missiles

ATGM/ General purpose:

Nag
"¢ Army land version version under refinement, 4 km range. Block1 seeker in production at BDL, Block 2 developed for better performance in Indian deserts @ afternoon.
"¢ Helicopter version @7km, called HELINA, in development.
"¢ New land version of Nag to be also spun off from HELINA. 7-8 km range, will be deployed from a new carrier vehicle with launchers deployed on 5mtr tall mast.
"¢ Further variants for fixed wing strike aircraft under development. RF seeker trialed in 2011-12, for this.

SAMHO/CLGM

"¢ Semiactive laser guided missile similar to the LAHAT. Intended for launch by both ground launchers and tanks. In advanced development, in trials as prototypes have been displayed already for couple of years now. Finally, alternative available to Milan/Konkurs as well.

Other programs:

"¢ ARM: New program announced in 2012; single stage, liquid fuelled with 100 km range (similar to Kh-31P?)
"¢ Name unknown: Missile with multiple precision guided warheads, range of 200 km for platform. UAVs variants also being explored to "launch PGMs" and then be recovered for cost effectiveness. Tech demo in 2013, with tests of a configured missile in 2015-16.
"¢ Name unknown: Light antiship missile for naval helicopters: In development, unknown if a formal program is being launched.
"¢ HSTDV: Hypersonic Tech demo program to develop indigenous hypersonic capability independent from Brahmos program, flight trials to begin soon

SAMs:

"¢ SRSAM: Deal with MBDA for codevelopment yet to be signed; reports note range is now 20 km with negotiations concluded with MBDA, only GOI clearance awaited. Trishul development complete but system wont be inducted
"¢ LRSAM/MRSAM with Israel: 70km and 100 km + ER versions being developed; in trials. LRSAM (Navy) trials to be conducted this year, MRSAM to follow thereafter.
"¢ Akash: MK1 development complete, in production (8 Sq for AF, two regiments for Army); MK2 variant being developed - further orders likely and mentioned by AF
"¢ New SAM: Either LRSAM/MRSAM variant or new design, initially stated to be with a range of 150km but now confirmed as 250-300km.

AAMs:

"¢ Astra: MK1 variant was to have a Range of 80 km, MK2 of 110 km. Missile was redesigned in 2010-12 and underwent series of trials in 2012, with problems stated to be resolved and complete redesign done. Range specifications of MK1 similar to baseline R77E and around 80 km in head on & 20 km in tail chase (at similar altitudes) but superior in terms of other new capabilities mentioned - buddy designation, LOBL and HOBs capability (+/-45 degrees). Reports note seeker integration challenges have been overcome, with new info stating ", improved multitarget handling and excellent ECCM". Seeker sourced from Russia to be manufactured in India with TOT.

MLRS:

"¢ Pinaka Mk1: 40km, developed and in production, teething issues with ramping up numbers being resolved
"¢ Pinaka MK2: 60 KM range, to be trialed this year

On related note:

Other PGMs:

"¢ LGB: Sudarshan MK1 in production for AF. 50 ordered in first order. Range of 9 km.
"¢ Sudarshan MK2 with INS/satnav in development, 50 km range noted in 2012, new design will seek to minimize rolling observed with MK1.
DRDO TechFocus article shows a new PGM kit with laser seeker, INS/GPS and fins/guidance sections, to be fitted to the DRDO HSLD dumb bomb. Might be Sudarshan 2 or a new design entirely.
"¢ E-Bomb: Program to create a satellite guided EMP bomb to attack electricity based systems, communications, infrastructure. Warheads to be used on different munitions. To be developed over the next few years.

Courtesy: Teer@KeyPub