Indian Defense
Agni Prime Is The New Missile In India’s Nuclear Arsenal; This Is Why It’s Special
Next generation, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni P, and what it means for India. DRDO successfully flight-tested nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni P from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, Balasore
New Delhi: India successfully test-fired Agni-P, also known as Agni Prime, the next generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile in India’s nuclear arsenal, from Odisha’s Balasore earlier this week.
The missile comes with its own unique technology giving it more accuracy while making it difficult to intercept.
With a range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres, the deadly missile is capable of covering vital targets all across Pakistan. While it is popularly believed that the new missile will replace Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 series of ballistic nuclear missiles, government sources said it will not.
“It is not a replacement for any of the existing missiles. Agni P is part of the Agni series of missiles with new modern features which makes it very manoeuvrable and increases the accuracy,” a source said.
Sources also said the missile was made using the same technology used in the longer-range Agni 4 and Agni 5 missiles.
Here is a look at the technology behind the latest ballistic missile, why it is difficult to intercept, and why it is a boost for the Indian armed forces.
Lighter And More Agile
The Agni P, initially named Agni-1P, is said to weigh 50 per cent less than Agni 3 and is the lightest and smallest of the Agni series because of technological advancements, sources said.
The missile comes with new composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms, besides the latest navigation systems.
Adding to the usefulness of the missile is that it is a cannisterised system. This means that the movement and launch options increase for the Strategic Forces Command, which oversees India’s nuclear arsenal.
The missile can be launched from rail or road and can be transported to various parts of the country.
The two-stage and solid-fuelled weapon system comes with new propulsion systems, composite motor casings, and inertial navigation systems based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes. Gyroscopes show the location of the missile and the trajectory it is taking.
Sources said that the ring-laser gyroscopes are more accurate.
“The missile can even be manoeuvred at one point if need be,” a source said. This feature, which is usually not available in a ballistic missile, makes it more difficult to intercept.
India’s ‘No First Use’ Policy
Experts explained that usually, upon launch, the target and the trajectory that the ballistic missile will take can be fairly understood, which makes interception possible.
However, the stress on accuracy has led some, including nuclear policy expert Vipin Narang, to see Agni P as a counterforce weapon.
Counterforce doctrine, in nuclear strategy, is the targeting of an opponent’s nuclear weapons infrastructure with a nuclear strike. The counterforce doctrine is differentiated from the counter value doctrine, which targets the enemy’s cities, destroying its civilian population and economic base.
However, government sources insisted that India has a strong ‘No first use’ (NFU) policy. They added that nuclear weapons are for deterrence, something which Defence Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted too.
During his Prime Ministerial campaign in 2014, Narendra Modi had said, “No first use was a great initiative of Atal Bihari Vajpayee — there is no compromise on that. We are very clear. No first use is a reflection of our cultural inheritance.”
But in 2016, the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar had spoken about the nuclear policy saying, “Why should I bind myself? I should say I am a responsible nuclear power and I will not use it irresponsibly. This is my (personal) thinking.”
As his comments gathered a storm, the defence ministry issued a clarification stating that it was Parrikar’s personal opinion.
“What he said was that India, being a responsible power, should not get into first-use debate. But once again, it is clarified that this was his personal opinion,” a ministry spokesperson had said.
In August 2019, Singh had said that while India has strictly adhered to the NFU doctrine, “what happens in future depends on the circumstances”.
Indian Defense
INS Arihant’s Nuke-Capable K-4 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile ‘Ready To Roll’
The solid-fuelled K-4 missile is being developed by DRDO to arm the country’s nuclear-powered submarines in the shape of INS Arihant and its under-development sister vessels. INS Arihant, which became fully operational in November 2018 to complete India’s nuclear triad, is currently armed with the much shorter K-15 missiles with a 750 km range.
“The K-4 is now virtually ready for its serial production to kick-off. The two tests have demonstrated its capability to emerge straight from underwater and undertake its parabolic trajectory,” said a source.
India has the land-based Agni missiles, with the over 5,000-km Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile now in the process of being inducted, and fighter jets jury-rigged to deliver nuclear weapons. But INS Arihant gives the country’s deterrence posture much more credibility because nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear-tipped missiles are considered the most secure, survivable and potent platforms for retaliatory strikes.
Once the K-4 missiles are inducted, they will help India narrow the gap with countries like the US, Russia and China, which have over 5,000-km range SLBMs. The K-4 missiles are to be followed by the K-5 and K-6 missiles in the 5,000-6,000 km range class.
The 6,000-ton INS Arihant, which is propelled by an 83 MW pressurised light-water reactor at its core, in turn, is to be followed by INS Arighat, which was launched in 2017. The next generation of nuclear submarines, currently called S-4 and S-4*, will be much larger in size.
Indian Defense
After Upgradation, Sukhoi Su-30MKI Indigenisation To Reach 78%
India has received clearance to upgrade 84 Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, which will result in 78% indigenization after the upgrade
In a significant step towards bolstering its military might with indigenously developed technology, India is poised to witness its Russian-origin Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets evolve into a domestic platform. Speaking at a recent lecture.
The upgrade program is being led by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in partnership with the Indian Air Force and other partners. The upgrade is expected to cost US$7.5 billion.
This initiative is a part of a larger effort by the Indian Air Force to modernize its ageing fleet. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari asserted the critical role of an offensive air force as demonstrated in current global conflicts and emphasized India’s move towards an indigenized arsenal. To this end, the IAF has been proactive, from upgrading its Mirage 2000 to enhancing its MiG-29 fleet.
In summary, the IAF’s commitment to updating their combat forces with the latest technology, including shifting to fifth-generation fighter jets, ensures operational preparedness and a strong deterrence capability. The gradual indigenization of its air fleet marks a pivotal shift in India’s defence landscape, reducing dependency on foreign imports and fostering technological sovereignty.
Indian Defense
Akash Weapon System Exports For The Armenian Armed Forces Gathers Pace
According to unconfirmed reports, Armenia is a top contender for an export order for Akash SAM system manufactured by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL).
The Akash export version will also be slightly different from the one inducted by the armed forces. The 100-km range air-to-air Astra missiles, now entering production after successful trials from Sukhoi-30MKI fighters, also have “good export potential”, said sources.
Akash is a “tried, tested and successfully inducted systems”. Indian armed forces have ordered Akash systems worth Rs 24,000 crore over the years, and MoD inked a contract in Mar 2023 of over Rs 9,100 crores for improved Akash Weapon System
BDL is a government enterprise under the Ministry of Defence that was established in 1970. BDL manufactures surface-to-air missiles and delivers them to the Indian Army. BDL also offers its products for export.
Akash Weapon System
The AWS is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile (SRSAM) Air Defence System, indigenously designed and developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). In order to meet aerial threats, two additional Regiments of AWS with Upgradation are being procured for Indian Army for the Northern borders. Improved AWS has Seeker Technology, Reduced Foot Print, 360° Engagement Capability and improved environmental parameters.
The project will give a boost to the Indian missile manufacturing industry in particular and the indigenous defence manufacturing ecosystem as a whole. The project has overall indigenous content of 82% which will be increased to 93% by 2026-27.
The induction of the improved AWS into the Indian Army will increase India’s self-reliance in Short Range Missile capability. This project will play a role in boosting the overall economy by avoiding outgo of precious foreign exchange to other countries, increasing employment avenues in India and encouraging Indian MSMEs through components manufacturing. Around 60% of the project cost will be awarded to the private industry, including MSMEs, in maintaining the supply chain of the weapon system, thereby creating large scale of direct and indirect employment.
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