HAL RUDRA

 Rudra is an attack helicopter manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), for the Indian Army. It is the Weapon System Integrated (WSI) Mk-IV variant of the Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). Rudra is the first armed helicopter being produced indigenously in India.The HAL Rudra helicopter can be deployed in wide range of missions, including reconnaissance, troop transport, anti-tank warfare and close air support.HAL was contracted to deliver about 76 Rudra ALH Mk-IV helicopters for the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force. The Indian Army plans to equip its Army Aviation Corps with 60 helicopters, forming six squadrons. HAL handed over the first Rudra helicopter to the Indian Army in February 2013.

Development for the WSI variant was authorised in December 1998. The prototype made its first flight in August 2007. Rudra completed a final round of weapon firing trials in September 2011. The 20mm turreted gun was tested during these trials.The Mistral air-to-air missiles and 70mm rockets were tested on Rudra in November 2011. Mistral is an infrared homing missile, which is capable of striking the targets within a range of 6.5km. The ground tests for the first production helicopter were concluded in September 2012.HAL Rudra Mk-IV received initial operational clearance (IOC) from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) in February 2013. The helicopter was displayed for the first time at Aero India 2013 show.

HAL Rudra incorporates a conventional design. Carbon fibre composite materials have been used in construction to achieve weight reduction. The twin engines mounted above the cabin are attached to a four-blade composite main rotor. The cockpit is made of Kevlar and carbon-fibre materials.Rudra has a length of 15.8m, main rotor diameter of 13.2m and a height of 4.9m. The maximum take-off weight of the helicopter is 5,500kg. Rudra can carry a payload of 2,600kg.The advanced glass cockpit of Rudra houses crash-worthy seats for accommodating two crew members. The night vision goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit is equipped with multifunction displays, dual flight controls and automatic flight control system.The avionics suite integrates a global positioning system, FLIR, HF/UHF communications radio, Infrared Friend or Foe (IFF) identification system, Doppler navigation and a radio altimeter. The electro-optic pod, helmet-mounted sight and fixed sights ensure the pilots can accurately engage targets using onboard weapons.

The HAL Rudra helicopter is powered by two HAL / Turbomeca Ardiden 1H1 (Shakti) turboshaft engines. Each engine delivers a maximum continuous power of 1,067kW. The operation of the engines is controlled by full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system. The helicopter has a fixed-type metal skid landing gear. The tail section features a tail skid to protect the tail rotor during tail-down landings.The helicopter has a maximum continuous speed of 270km/h. The never exceed speed of the helicopter is 300km/h. Rudra can fly at a maximum altitude of 20,000ft and can climb at a rate of 10.3m/s. It has a range of 660km

ALH DHRUV HELICOPTER

FIRST SQUADRON OF ALH DHRUV ( INAS 322 )

The country's first indigenous chopper, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH -Dhruv), designed, developed, produced and maintained by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd to meet the requirement of military and civil operators, today achieved a new milestone of clocking one lakh cumulative flying hours.The landmark has been achieved in the early hours today with the flying of helicopter IA 3104 of 301 Army Aviation Squadron.

ALH DHRUV

"It is a proud moment for us that Dhruv has proved its mettle over the years. India is the sixth nation in the world to have the capability to develop helicopters of this class. Dhruv has been exported to Ecuador, Mauritius, Nepal and Maldives," said HAL Chairman R K Tyagi."One lakh hours flown by the machine is an awesome feat to achieve. It is a dream machine for any pilot", said Lt Col Kapil Agarwal who completed the landmark flying hours. ALH is being operated by Indian Air Force, Indian Army, Indian Navy, Coast Guard, BSF and state governments since 2002, said an HAL statement.Currently, more than 132 Dhruv helicopters are serving the Indian Defence Forces. HAL has also built 12 civil variant Dhruv helicopters and they are being used by its customers. The Ecuador Air Force operates six Dhruv helicopters with their President choosing to fly in them.According to Bangalore-headquartered HAL, Dhruv is extremely useful to the Indian defence forces in meeting the arduous tasks in difficult terrains of Himalayas like Siachen Glacier and Kashmir.It played a key role in rescue operations during tsunami (2004), flash floods at Leh (2010), earth quake at Sikkim (2011) and the biggest ever helicopter based rescue operation undertaken by Indian defence forces in flood and rain-hit areas of Uttarakhand recently, the defence PSU said.

ALH Dhruv is an all weather helicopter which can carry 10-16 people at heights of 10,000 feet. It is a multi-role, multi-mission new generation helicopter in the 5.5 tonne weight class and meets Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) specifications, the company said.HAL said Dhruv has demonstrated its capability in long distance flights, vertical climb and in manoeuvring.The advanced technology features incorporated in the design of Dhruv include hinge-less main rotor and bearing-less tail rotor, integrated dynamic system encompassing main gear box and upper controls in a single housing, higher powered Shakti engines, integrated architecture display system (glass cockpit), duplex automatic flight control system and redundancy with twin-engine, dual hydraulics and controls.It also has advanced avionics (communication, navigation & surveillance) and mission systems.

Indian Navy today commissioned the first ALH Dhruv Helicopter Squadron at Southern Command, Kochi. The squadron is named Indian Naval Air Squadron INAS 322 Guardians. Intensive Flying and Trials Unit for Advanced Light Helicopters, IFTU (ALH), had been set up at INS Garuda, Kochi on 20 Feb 03 with the first landing of Advanced Light Helicopter. The unit’s task was to ensure smooth induction of the new aircraft and lay down guidelines for training and operational exploitation of the ALH. On completion of IFTU, two ALH Flights were formed which were later merged to form a single Flight.Addressing  the commissioning ceremony parade, Vice Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command. said that in the Navy, Dhruv helicopters has transformed into an advanced search and rescue (SAR) helicopter also used for missions like heliborne operations, and armed patrol with night vision devices. “Such machines in the inventory have become imperative for the Navy given the scenario of low intensity maritime operations (LIMO) and coastal security construct,” said the Admiral.

Smt Mona Sinha named the squadron as INAS 322 and unveiled the commissioning plaque. Commander Ravi Sivasankar, the first Commanding Officer of the Squadron recited the invocation and read out the commissioning warrant. The squadron credo is “Search Fearlessly, Rescue Valiantly” signifying their primary role of SAR.Vice Admiral Satish Soni, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Southern Naval Command under whose administrative control INAS 322 would function, in his address said that, the versatile aircraft would soon be cleared for night SAR role, one of the few helicopters in the world to have that capability over sea. He also expressed satisfaction that the ALH would beef up the coast security architecture. 

COCKPIT :-

The aircraft is equipped with a SFIM INC. four-axis automatic flight control system. The cockpit section of the fuselage is of Kevlar and carbon-fibre construction and is fitted with crashworthy seats. The navigation suite includes a global positioning system, a Doppler navigation system, distance measuring equipment, a true air speed indicator, automatic direction finder, a heading reference system, radio altimeter, VHF omnidirectional ranger and instrument landing system (VOR/ILS) and marker beacons.The communications suite includes HF, UHF, and VHF radio communications.

TWIN ENGINES :-

The helicopter has a twin-engine configuration allowing continued flight virtually throughout the flight envelope. The prototype helicopter is fitted with two Turbomeca TM 333-2C or 2B2 engines rated at 740kW take-off power. A more powerful engine for the Dhruv, the Shakti (which carries the French name Ardiden 1H) rated at 900kW was developed under a cooperative agreement between HAL and Turbomeca and will be manufactured at Bangalore. Avio was selected to supply integrated dynamic systems (IDS) for the Shakti engine.

LANDING GEAR :-

ALH  DHRUV  of army & airforce is equipped with non-retractable metal skid landing gear. All variants of the helicopter are fitted with a tail skid to protect the tail rotor in tail-down landings.

CHETAK HELICOPTER

The Chetak Multipurpose Helicopter is an improved version of Alouette III and was awarded civil airworthiness certificate on 12 Dec 1961. It has a tricycle type undercarriage and can carry seven passengers including the pilots. The Helicopter Division manufactures the versatile and Multipurpose Chetak Helicopters for Civil and Military applications both for Domestic and International customers. The Chetak Helicopter is a multi-role, seven seater Helicopter, spacious and simple in design, the Chetak is highly maneuverable and well suited to flying over sea, tropical and desert conditions.An important component of carrier operations is a helicopter which can be used for various purposes such as search-and-rescue operations when a plane-guard ship is not available, reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and antiship operations using torpedoes and short-range missiles. 

With the finalisation of the acquisition of the Vikrant, the requirement of helicopters for the Fleet Air Arm was projected to the French naval authorities. The Alouette II, Bell G2 and Bell G3 helicopters were found to be superior to the British Dragonfly helicopters which had been offered by the Admiralty. The Alouette II was more reliable than the Dragonfly, was cheaper and had been fitted with gas turbine engines which would obviate the necessity of storing petrol on board, as was required for the Dragonfly. It was decided to acquire the latest version of the Alouette helicopter, the Alouette III, from Sud Aviation, France and the first two helicopters arrived in mid -1964 in crates. These were assembled by the Navy's air engineers with the assistance of a French technician at Cochin and embarked on the Vikrant in July 1964.

The Alouette III helicopter which was later converted to its new avatar, Chetak, the Medium -range Antisubmarine Torpedo Carrying Helicopter (MATCH). This helicopter was equipped with antisubmarine weapons comprising two depth-charges or two antisubmarine torpedoes or a mix of the two and was indigenously manufactured by the Hindustan Aircraft limited, Bangalore for operating off the deck of carriers as well as smaller ships such as tankers, frigates, destroyers and even survey ships. Equipped with folding blades, this helicopter was powered by a 8,700-shaft-horse-power turbine and had an endurance of 25 hours, with a maximum speed of 113 knots. It had a crew of three-pilot, copilot and an aircrew in rescue operations at sea.

The Chetak (SE 316 Alouette III) helicopter is a single engine turbine driven helicopter. It is a high performance all purpose all weather aircraft. It is an improved version of Alouette III and was awarded civil airworthiness certificate in 12 Dec 1961. It was originally manufactured in France. They are overhauled in India by M/s HAL Ltd. at their Bangalore division.The Chetak features a single lifting rotor and antitorque tail rotor powered by a turbine engine. It can carry seven passengers including the pilots. It can be used for transportation of passengers casualty/evacuation, rescue, cargo carrying, reconnaissance weapon carrying and can land and take off snow or water with appropriate equipment installed.The chopper can be effectively deployed for a variety of civil and military roles that include communication, rescue, aerial survey, cargo and passenger transport and combat. Armed with missiles and torpedoes, it also caters to the exacting requirements of anti submarine and anti tank warfare. The automatic starting system gives the Chetak an uncommon instant start capability cutting down the time from start to take off to less than a minute. With an all up weight of 2200 kg it can cruise at 1 85 kmph covering a range of 500 km and has endurance of 3.40 hours.

An important component of carrier operations is a helicopter which can be used for various purposes suchassearch-and-rescue operations when a plane-guard ship is not available, reconnaissance, antisubmarine warfare, and antiship operations using torpedoes and short-range missiles. With the finalisation of the acquisition of the Vikrant, the requirement of helicopters for the Fleet Air Arm was projected to the French naval authorities.In 1986 the Government of India formally constituted the Army's Aviation Corps and most Chetak and Cheetahs were transferred from the Air Force on 1st November 1986. The Air Force continued to fly armed Chetaks in the anti-tank role as well as for casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) and general duties while the lighter Cheetah is operated for Forward Area Control (FAC) flights.

Artouste III B Engine powers both Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The engine manufacture commenced in 1962 under licence from Turbomeca, France. The engine has side air intake, one axial and one centrifugal compressor connected to a three stage turbine. The power output is 550 SHP at 33500 RPM. The reduction gear box in the front transfers the power to helicopter. More than 665 engines have been manufactured and 2950 engines overhauled & repaired for various customers. Main Characteristics Maximum diameter (m) 0.50 Length (m) 1.815 Weight (kg) 182 Power 550 Specific fuel consumption (kg / shp-hr) 0.346

In the early 1980s, HAL indicated that they were considering discontinuing the production of Chetak helicopters. Since the production of the replacement ALHs would take considerable time, HAL continued production. A total of 85 Chetaks had been inducted into the Navy till 2002, of which 19 have been lost, leaving 66 in service.As of 2005, the HAL Chetak was scheduled to be replaced by the Dhruv ALH. As an alternative, the Chetak could be re-engined with the Turbomeca TM 333-2B engine. The Chetak was originally powered by Turbomeca's Artouste IIIB engine. The first test flight of the upgraded Chetak, dubbed "Chetan", was carried out in February 2005. According to Turbomeca, a minimum of 200 Chetak helicopters could be upgraded. A similar option exists to re-engine the HAL Cheetah to the Cheetal variant using the TM 333-2B engine as well.

CHEETAH HELICOPTER

CHEETAH UTILITY HELICOPTER

Cheetah combines in it the advantageous constructional features of Alouette II & III with design changes to fit in the role of an aircraft of light weight, increased pay load and high altitude performance capability. It was awarded civil airworthiness certificate on 21 Jan 1972. It can carry five passengers including the pilots and has a skid type undercarriage. The Alouette II, with the dynamics including powerplant of the Alouette Ill was specifically developed to meet the Indian Army's stringent requirement and was christened Lama by the French (and Cheetah by the Indians). The SA-315B licence-agreement was signed in September 1970. First Cheetah manufactured from raw materials was delivered in 1976-77.

These helicopters can be used for transportation of passengers, causality evacuation, rescue, cargo carrying, reconnaissance, weapon carrying and can land and take off from snow or water, with appropriate equipment installed. For army support, a wide range of armaments can be fitted like a fixed swiveling cannon, machine guns, and rocket launchers. For navy, it is advantageous since it can be operated from small decks or small platforms for convey protection and coastal patrol duties.

In the initial stages of helicopter manufacturing, except for the assembly departments, all other shops were common with those of Aircraft Division. Consequent to the re-organisation of the Bangalore Complex, a separate division was evolved for the manufacture of helicopters, established in July 1970 and the new buildings of the Helicopter Division inaugurated by the then President of India, V.V.Giri on 17 July 1974.Over the next twenty years, HAL's Helicopter Division produced hundreds of Chetak and Cheetah helicopters for the Indian Air Force, Navy, Army and Coast Guard as also for a number of civilian customers, including State Governments while a score or more were exported. The Division has produced 336 Chetak and 246 Cheetah Helicopters so far and overhauled more than 200 helicopters of both the types. It has also undertaken the Cat 'B' repairs of more than 75 helicopters and put them back into operation.

Artouste III B Engine powers both Cheetah and Chetak helicopters. The engine manufacture commenced in 1962 under licence from Turbomeca, France. The engine has side air intake, one axial and one centrifugal compressor connected to a three stage turbine. The power output is 550 SHP at 33500 RPM. The reduction gear box in the front transfers the power to helicopter. More than 665 engines have been manufactured and 2950 engines overhauled & repaired for various customers.The Cheetal is a hybrid machine - having the airframe of Cheetah and an engine of the ALH. This newer version of the Cheetah helicopter which is manufactured under licence by HAL and has a more powerful TM 333 2B2 Snecma engine instead of the original Artouste-IIIB power plant. The project made headlines in 2004 when a prototype made the world's highest landing at the 25,000 feet Sasir Kangri peak. Hit by a delay of over two years - the initial deadline was 2006 - the first helicopter finally joined the Leh-based 114 "Siachen Pioneers" Helicopter Unit in late 2008 and would gradually replace all the Cheetah helicopters.

ASTRA MISSILE

ASTRA  is an active radar homing beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets (up to 20 km) and long-range targets (up to 80 km) using alternative propulsion modes. Initially planned to arm Jaguar, MIG-29 and indigenous light combat aircraft, Tejas, DRDO officials are now indicating that after user trials, the missile would be integrated with Indian Air Force's front-line fighter aircraft like Sukhoi-30 MKIs and Mirage-2000s.

The maximum range of Astra is 110 km in head-on chase and 20 km in tail chase. The missile could be launched from different altitudes - it can cover 110 km when launched from an altitude of 15 km, 44 km when fired from an altitude of eight km and 21 km when the altitude is sea-level . The missile can reportedly undertake 40 g turns close to sea level, when attacking a maneuvering target. It will have an active homing range of 25 km. The missile has a pre-fragmented warhead and is fitted with a proximity fuze. A radar fuse already exists for the Astra, but the DRDO is currently working on a new laser fuse. Astra has on-board ECCM capability allowing it to jam radar signals from an enemy surface-to-air battery, ensuring that the missile is not tracked or shot down.Astra was successfully test fired for 2 consecutive days on 21st and 22nd of December 2012 at Chandipur successfully intercepted an electronic target and a Laksya target drone. The missile would be test fired from Aircraft after three more ground launches.

On 21 December 2012 test launched its indigenously developed beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air interceptor missile. Astra at the interim test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.The missile was fired from the launch pad number two of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) run missile testing centre at around 13.30 hours to confirm its reconfigured propulsion, control and guidance systems.The launch was carried out against an electronic target and it destroyed its target - a small pilotless Lakshya aircraft - which was launched from the same base just minutes before the firing of the missile.The missile had already been test-fired from the Chandipur facility several times in the past. The test on 21 December 2012 was just development trial of the missile.After completing all the developmental trials, Astra would be ultimately integrated with combat fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30, MIG-29 and the Light Combat Aircraft.

  ASTRA Specifications:

• Astra has the capability to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at a supersonic speed and can be fitted into any fighter aircraft.

• 3.8 metre long, it is considered as one of the best of its kind in the world as it weighs about 160 kg and can carry explosive loaded conventional warheads up to 15 kg.

• It is designed to intercept and destroy enemy aircraft at supersonic speeds (1.2 to 1.4 Mach) in head-on and tail-chase modes.

• The missile uses solid propellant and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 15 kg.

• It can be launched from different altitudes and cover 110 km when fired from an altitude of 15 km, reach 44 km when launched from an altitude of eight km, and 21 km when launched from the sea-level.

PINAKA MISSILE ( MULTI BARREL ROCKET LAUNCHER)

Pinaka is a multibarrel rocket launch (MBRL) system used by the Indian Army. It was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Pinaka integrates state-of-the-art technologies for delivering superior combat performance.

Pinaka was designed to replace the BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher systems of the Indian Army. 

It is a multifaceted system integrating high energy propulsion, sub-munition warheads, servo-controlled launcher configuration and fire control computer.The Pinaka system is based on the 8x8 vehicle. Each battery is composed of six launcher vehicles, six loader-cum replenishment vehicles and two command post vehicles. Each launcher vehicle carries two pods, housing a total of 12 rockets.Each Pinaka rocket is capable of carrying a 100kg payload for a range of 40km. A single Pinaka battery can neutralise a surface area of 700m x 500m.

 The system can engage targets with a circular error probability (CEP) of one to two percent of range.The launch system of Pinaka consists of two pods mounted side-by-side. Each pod houses six launcher tubes made of E-glass / epoxy composite materials. The pods are loaded / unloaded into the launcher vehicle by a loader crane mounted on the replenishment vehicle. The launch system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets within 40 seconds. The launcher traverses 90° left / right from the centreline and can elevate up to 55°.The launcher is capable of operating in autonomous mode, stand-alone mode, remote mode and manual mode. The fire control computer (FCC) independently controls the launcher in autonomous mode. The stand-alone mode involves entering the commands into console by the operator.The remote mode allows the operator to control the launcher from a distance of about 200m using a remote control unit. The manual mode is adapted in the event of microprocessor failure and loss of powerDRDO placed an order with Sagem for Sigma 30 artillery navigation and pointing systems to equip first two regiments of Pinaka in 2008. "Pinaka integrates state-of-the-art technologies for delivering superior combat performance."

The deliveries of Sigma 30 systems were concluded in June 2010. The systems were integrated into Pinaka by Tata Power SED and Larsen & Toubro.The Sigma 30 is based on the laser gyro land navigation technology. It was specially designed for high-precision firing of warhead rockets by artillery and rocket launchers.The propulsion is provided by High-Energy Composite (HEC) propellants. The motor tubes made of high intensity steel are seamed with silica-phenolic materials for resisting higher flame temperatures. The optimised nozzle design ensures a very high thrust.The Pinaka launcher system is mounted on the indigenously built TATRA/BEML 8x8 vehicle. The vehicle can carry a payload of 12t. It is equipped with an on-board generator supplying primary power for launcher operations. Other equipment aboard the vehicle includes a microprocessor-based thyristor power unit, a joy stick controller and a manual back-up.

The launcher system comprises of an indigenously built TATRA 8x8 vehicle with payload of 12 tons. An on-board generator coupled to the vehicle power take off supplies primary power for launcher operation. A microprocessor-based thyristor controller is provided for automatic, fast and accurate laying of launcher in elevation and azimuth. A joy stick controller is provided near sight bracket. A manual back-up is also provided. The operating range is 0 to 55 deg in elevation and +90 to -90 deg in azimuth. The operating speed is 5-6 deg/s and the accuracy is better than 1 m rad.Two pods, each containing six launcher tubes are mounted side by side on a cradle. Each launcher tube, which is disposable, is made by filament winding from E glass/epoxy composite for cost-effective solution. The pods containing rockets are hermetically sealed after their assembly and check-out in a factory. They are loaded/unloaded into the launcher vehicle by a loader crane provided in the replenishment vehicle.

The launcher can operate in the following modes:

Autonomous mode:

                                           The launcher is fully controlled by a fire control computer (FCC). The microprocessor on the launcher automatically executes the commands received from the FCC, giving the operator the status of the system on displays and indicators.

Stand-alone mode: 

                                           In this mode, the launcher is not linked to the FCC operator, and the operator at the console enters all the commands for laying of the launcher system and selection of firing parameters.

Remote mode:

                                       In this mode, a remote control unit carried outside the cabin up to a distance of about 200 m can be used to control the launcher system, the launcher site and to unload the fired rocket pods from the launcher.

Manual mode: 

                                    All launcher operations including laying of the system and firing are manually controlled. This mode is envisaged in the situations where the microprocessor fails or where there is no power to activate the microprocessor-based operator’s console.

HELINA MISSILE ( ATGM, MARK-2 NAG MISSILE )

A  trial of helicopter launched Nag (HeliNa), DRDO’s anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) was conducted from a defence base off the Odisha coast on Tuesday.Defence sources said the short range weapon was test-fired by the missile handling unit of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from the launching complex-II of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea at about 10.05 am.

This was third trial of an upgraded and air version of surface-to-surface missile Nag. Earlier two trials of this third generation ‘fire and forget’ missile was conducted from the Pokhran firing range and claimed as successful. It is one of the five missile systems developed by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).  

 “The trial was conducted for a strike range of four km. Data collected during the test are being analysed. One more trial of the missile is scheduled to be conducted on Wednesday,” informed an official.On July 8, seeker evaluation trials for anti-tank missile were carried out in hot desert conditions in Rajasthan. The trials were against both moving and static targets for different ranges of 2.8 km and 3.2 km to evaluate the performance of an improved version of Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker.

While Nag missile has a maximum range of 4 km, the seeker proved to be accurate only up to 2.5 km in extremely hot conditions in the trials conducted last year. However, the HeliNa has an extended strike range of about eight km.  Sources said the problem with the Nag was its range.The missile can strike its targets up to 4 km but in extreme heat conditions, the missile cannot reach the targets beyond three km. 

The user of the missile Indian Army also has raised its reservations against its weight. The weapon weighs around 40 kgs thus making the reloading difficult.Following demands from the Army, DRDO has assured them to reduce the weight of the missile in its latest versions - Mark-II Nag and also to equip it with a seeker with high resolution which can distinguish the target from the other ground objects at a distance of up to four kms.

NAG MISSILE (3rd GEN ANTI-TANK GUIDED MISSILE)

NAG  is a fire-and-forget anti-tank missile with a short range. It is developed by Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of the DRDO. It is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) with a 4 kilometre strike range. The Nag ATGM is equipped with the highly potent HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead. Nag ATGM cleared its final validation trials Air Force ranges in Rajasthan in July last year and was expected to be ready for induction this year. In its trials, the missile proved its capability against both moving and stationary targets, covering varying ranges of 500 meters to 2,600 metres. Nag ATGM has already seen two decades of development. The Indian Army has already placed an initial order for 443 missiles and 13 Namicas.

The NAMICA is a tracked infantry combat vehicle (ICV) built for the Indian Army. It is equipped with a thermal imager for target acquisition. NAMICA is a modified BMP-2 ICV produced as "Sarath" in India. The carrier weighs 14.5 tonnes in full combat load and is capable of moving 7 kilometres per hour in water. The NAMICA carrier was put through transportation trials covering 155 km during summer trials. Namica has already undergone floatation trial and it has proved its channel-crossing ability and its capability to perform other manoeuvres. Each NAMICA can carry 12 missiles with eight of them in ready-to-fire mode. Other salient features include advance sighting systems, high pointing accuracy and ergonomic man-machine interface.

According to analysts, this last moment decision to redesign the NAMICA is a case of lack of foresight and planning by India. The NAMICA has been in existence for at least a decade. Although the Nag ATGM was not ready for this entire period, it reflects a lack of foresight to evaluate the NAMICA this late and go for redesigning at this stage. The evaluation of the NAMICA’s mobility and sensors could have been performed earlier, as the missile was being readied.

SHAURYA MISSILE

LAUNCHER LOADED WITH SHAURYA MISSILE

India's hypersonic missile, Shourya, was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on the Orissa coast on Saturday.The missile rose on the dot at 2.30 p.m. from a canister strapped on to the ground, climbed to an altitude of 40 km and sped at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound. It covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds. 

The surface-to-surface missile performed a manoeuvre in the closing stages of its flight and hit the impact point in the Bay of Bengal with an accuracy of a few metres. A gas generator located at the bottom of the canister pushed the missile out of the canister, then its first stage ignited and fell off, and the second stage went into action.Shourya is the land-variant of India's K-15 missile which is launched under the water and is being fitted into the Navy's nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant.

This is the third flight of Shourya, all of which have been successful and this flight paves the way for its production and induction into the Services. It was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. The missile can be used by both the Navy and the Army because it could perform various roles.

Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, said, “the flight went off absolutely perfectly” and it met all the mission objectives. The missile was tested in its final configuration. The radars located at the ITR at Chandipur and at Damra on the Orissa coast, electro-optical and telemetry systems and two ships located near the impact point tracked the missile's entire flight. They reported on its “excellent performance.”Mr. 
Avinash Chander said it was “an entirely atmospheric flight” at a height of 40 km. Since this was the third successful flight in a row, “the development phase is over and we are going in for production of this missile.”DRDO officials estimate Shourya as “one of the top 10 missiles in the world' in its class with its high performance navigation and guidance systems, efficient propulsions systems, sophisticated control technologies and canisterised launch.

The missile can be launched from silos and canisters mounted on a truck and fixed on the ground. It can be easily moved around. A truck itself can become the launching platform.Shourya's Programme Director A.K. Chakrabarti, who led the launch activities for the mission, said, “Our Armed Forces will get a very good system” with the Shourya because “we have perfected it, made it valid and increased its reliability.” Shourya's project director is A. Joseph.The missile is ten metres long, 74 cm in diameter and weighs 6.2 tonnes. Its two stages use solid propellants.

The high manoeuvrability of the missile makes it less vulnerable to available anti-missile defence systems.Shourya, which can carry a one-tonne nuclear and conventional warhead over 750 kilometers, is powered by 2-stage solid fuel.

PRAHAR MISSILE

A prototype Prahaar  tactical-range surface-to-surface missile was sent for flight testing at Site III at the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur, Orissa, on 19 July, according to local press reports. Developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation, the 150 km range Prahaar looks similar to India’s Advanced Air Defence interceptor missile and is probably a derivative of the latter missile.

The Prahaar has a length of 7.3 m, a body diameter of 0.42 m, and a launch weight of 1,280 kg. It has the option to HE, nuclear, or submunitions warhead with a weight of 200 kg. It is guided by an inertial system with radar imaging for terminal homing. It can travel up to 150 Km and is propelled by a single-stage solid propellant engine. The Prahaar is carried by the TATRA Transporter-Erector-Launcher vehicle and can hold six missiles per truck.

Developed  :-  India

Class           :-  SRBM

Basing         :- Road-mobile

Length         :- 7.3 m

Diameter     :-0.42 m

Launch Weight :-1,280 kg

Payload       :- 200 kg

Warhead     :- HE, nuclear, submunitions

Propulsion  :- Single-stage solid propellant

Range        :- 150 km

Status        :- Development

In Service  :- 2013/2014

AKASH ANTI BALLISTIC MISSILE

The Akash SAM was developed to replace the Russian 2K12 Kub (SA-6 Gainful) missile system, currently in service. Development of the Akash missile system began in the 1980s, involving the work of 300 public and private companies. The flight tests were initiated in 1990 and the development flights continued till 1997. Several user trials of the missile system were conducted and its ballistic missile role was proven successful. "The Akash missile can fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5."The Akash SAM system – including the associated radars, missile and systems – took about 20 years to develop, at an investment of about $120m. Other countries that have developed the multitarget handling surface-to-air missile systems are the US, some EU countries, Russia, Israel and Japan.

Akash missile launch details :-

The Akash missile can be launched from static or mobile platforms, such as battle tanks, providing flexible deployment. The SAM can handle multitarget and destroy manoeuvring targets such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), fighter aircraft, cruise missiles and missiles launched from helicopters.The Akash SAM system defends vulnerable areas in all weather conditions against medium-range air targets being attacked from low, medium and high altitudes.It can operate autonomously, and engage and neutralise different aerial targets simultaneously. The kill probability of the Akash is 88% for the first and 99% for the second missile on a target. The Akash SAM is claimed to be more economical and accurate than the MIM-104 Patriot, operated by several nations including the US, due to its solid-fuel technology. The Akash can intercept from a range of 30km and provide air defence missile coverage of 2,000km².

Akash SAM system features :-

The Akash SAM system consists of an integral ramjet propulsion, a switchable guidance antenna system, a command guidance unit, an onboard power supply, a system arming and detonation mechanism, digital autopilot, radars and C4I centres."The Akash SAM was developed to replace the Russian 2K12 Kub."The most important element of the Akash SAM system battery is its high-power, multi-function Rajendra phased-array radar.The 3D passive electronically scanned array Rajendra radar (PESA) can electronically scan and guide the missile towards targets. It provides information on the range, azimuth and height of a flying target.

Rajendra radars and PESA antenna array :-

The Akash battery has four Rajendra radars and four launchers interlinked together and controlled by the group control centre (GCC). Each launcher, equipped with three missiles, is controlled by one radar that can track 16 targets.The Rajendra radar can therefore track 64 targets and simultaneously guide 12 Akash missiles. The PESA antenna array has a swivel of 360° on a rotating platform. The Rajendra radar can detect up to a radius of 80km and can engage at a range of 60km at an altitude of 8km. The communication links, command and control nodes, sensors and self-propelled launchers of the entire Akash SAM system are IT-integrated. The weapons system uses radar vehicles and T-72 tank chassis for launchers.

The Akash missile has a launch weight of 720kg and measures 5.8m in length, 350mm diameter and 1,105mm wingspan. The missile can fly at a speed of up to Mach 2.5 and has a height ceiling of 18km. The 60kg payload can use prefabricated tungsten alloy cubes warheads or a nuclear warhead. 

NIRBHAY CRUISE MISSILE

The Nirbhay is believed to be 6.0 m in length, 0.5 m in diameter, and 1,500 to 1,600 kg in launch weight. The payload is believed to be around 450 kg of HE/submunitions, but a small nuclear warhead with a 12 kT yield is possible. The missile utilizes a solid propellant booster motor that is jettisoned shortly after launch. It uses a turbojet engine with a cruise speed of M0.65. The missile is guided by INS/GPS with an active-radar terminal seeker. The range is between 800 and 1,000 km. According to sources  India’s first Subsonic long range Cruise missile Nirbhay might be getting some minor updates to the missiles systems . Nirbhay missile which was first test fired by DRDO in March this year had successful 17 minutes of flight and was termed ” Partial success  before it deviated and was terminated after it dangerously came close to near by villages .No details have emerged what specific updates Nirbhay missile will be getting , it is likely that Second launch which was planned for November wasdelayed because of this and second test might take place in first quarter of 2014 . Nirbhay deviated from its flight path after it suffered malfunction inits Inertial Navigation System , DRDO has carried out Inspection of the component and has done necessary correction to the said component successfully.

Experts believe that Nirbhay might be getting some backup Hardware and also likely a software update to improve its accuracy and guidance systems . Nirbhay missile is India’s first subsonic cruise missile with 1000 km range and will serve among all three armed forces of India . After successfully induction of supersonic Brahmos cruise missile in Indian armed forces, need for a cheaper subsonic cruise missile was first felt by Indian Army .BrahMos will limited strike range of 290 and being more expensive meant it was reserved for high value and difficult to hit targets, need for cheaper and higher range cruise missile was then demanded by all three forces, which lead to development of India’s First subsonic cruise missile .DRDO plans to have Land,Ship and Air launched variant of the Nirbhay missile and there are also plans to have Submarine launched variant to be armed for INS Arihant class Nuclear submarines in future . Next test will include full 1000 km range test before user trials.

PRITHVI III MISSILE

India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), Prithvi-III has the latest on-board computer and an advanced inertial navigation system.The 8.5-metre (28-foot) Prithvi missile can be tipped with incendiary and fragmentary munitions or can carry a sub-kiloton nuclear warhead for use against troops or armoured formations.It can be launched either from a ship or submarine and is capable of destroying land targets. local authorities temporarily evacuated over 2,000 people from four four hamlets near the Chandipur-on-Sea test site as a precautionary measure.

Engine :-    Single stage solid mode

Range :-       250 to 300 km

Guidance system :-      advanced inertial guidance system

Launch platform :-    Mobile launcher in salvo mode

Prithvi III class (codenamed Dhanush meaning Bow) is a two-stage ship-to-surface missile. The first stage is solid fuelled with a 16 metric ton force (157 kN) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid fuelled. The missile can carry a 1,000 kg warhead to a distance of 350 km and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 kilometres and a 250 kilogram warhead up to a distance of 750 kilometres. Dhanush is a system consisting of a stabilization platform (Bow) and the Missile (Arrow). Supposedly it is a customised version of the Prithvi and that the additional customizations in missile configuration is to certify it for sea worthiness. Dhanush has to be launched from a hydraulically stabilized launch pad. Its low range acts against it and thus it is seen a weapons either to be used to destroy an aircraft carrier or an enemy port. The missile has been tested from the surface ships many times.

Prithvi III was first tested in 2000 from INS Subhadra, a Sukanya class patrol craft. The missile was launched from an updated, reinforced helicopter deck of the vessel. The first flight test of the 250 km variant was only partially successful. The full operational testing was completed in 2004.[11] The following year in December an enhanced 350 km version of the missile was tested from the INS Rajput and successfully hit a land based target. The missile was again successfully tested-fired from INS Subhadra anchored about 35 km offshore from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on December 13, 2009. It was the sixth test of the missile. Up to now this missile has not been deployed largely for logistical deficiencies. It requires explosive liquid fuel which is hard to store. Its accuracy is also supposed to be less than that of Brahmos. Plus it cannot be launched vertically which forces all missiles to be stored on the surface of the ship. Vertically launched missiles can be stored internally in the hull of a ship. This deficiency also means that it will not be used in submarines or underwater systems .

PRITHVI 2 MISSILE

The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially-formed Strategic Force Command (SFC) and monitored by the scientists of DRDO as part of training exercise, the sources said.The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha, they said.

“The downrange teams onboard the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown,” they said. Inducted into the SFC in 2003, Prithvi II, the first missile to be developed by DRDO under Integrated Guided Missile Development  Programme  now represents a proven technology, said a defence source.“The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists,” the source said.Such training launches establish the reliability of the deterrent component of India’s strategic arsenal, the source added.Prithvi II is propelled by liquid propulsion engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.

Engine     :-    Liquid propulsion engines

Range       :-       250 km (Prithvi II)

Guidance

system       :-      Advanced inertial guidance system

Launch

platform    :-    Mobile launcher in salvo mode

PRITHVI 1 MISSILE

India  tested its surface to surface medium range Prithvi-1 missile from a defence base in Orissa.The missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range of Chandipur in the coastal district of Balasore, about 230 km from the state capital, at 10.04 a.m., defence ministry sources said. Prithvi is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)."The recent successful test firings of Agni, BrahMos, Dhanush and Astra missiles have moved us to go for a user trial of Prithvi-1," a military scientist said.The 8.56-metre-high and one metre thick missile, with a launch weight of 4.4 tonnes excluding the payload, has a minimum range of 50 km and a maximum of 150 km. It has the capability to carry a payload of 1,000 kg.The missile has two liquid propellant motors side-by-side, providing aerodynamic control as well as thrust vectoring. It stops climbing when it reaches an altitude of 30 km and dives at the target at an 80-degree angle.

Engine :-    Single Stage liquid fuel dual motor

Operational

range :-       150 km (Prithvi I)

Guidance

system :-      strap-down inertial guidance

Launch

platform :-    8 x 8 Tata Transporter Erector Launcher

BRAHMOS CRUISE MISSILE (INDIA-RUSSIA JOINT VENTURE)

BRAHMOS SUPERSONIC CRUISE MISSILE

Brahmos is a supersonic cruise missile being developed by Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture between Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPO Mashinostroeyenia (NPOM) of Russia. The missile can be launched against ships and land-based targets. The missile is named after two rivers, the Brahmaputra in India and the Moskva in Russia. Brahmos has a flight range of up to 290km and can reach a maximum speed of Mach 3. The air launched version of the missile is under development as of 2013."Brahmos has a flight range of up to 290km and can reach a maximum speed of Mach 3."Advanced satellite navigation systems from Russia's Kh-555 and Kh-101 strategic long-range cruise missiles, and GPS-GLONASS technology were added to the existing doppler-inertial platforms of Brahmos missiles in 2013.The missile can be installed on ships, submarines, aircraft and ground vehicles. Brahmos missiles are inducted in to the armed forces of India and Russia and can also be exported to friendly nations.The 'Fire and Forget' type missile weights 3t and intercepts surface targets at an altitude of 10m up to 14,000m. In February 2011, the Indian Army placed a $4bn order with Brahmos Aerospace for Brahmos missiles. Deliveries are expected to conclude by 2016. The total value of orders placed by the Indian Navy and

Indian Air Force for Brahmos missiles was approximately $9bn as of March 2013.

Brahmos cruise missile development :-

In February 1998, India and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement to establish Brahmos Aerospace for producing the Brahmos missiles. The first BrahMos missile was test fired from the integrated test range at Chandipur in Orissa Coast in June 2001. Since then, the missile has been successfully tested from a variety of platforms, including land-based platforms and warships.In 2008, Brahmos Aerospace acquired Indian state-owned firm Keltec to manufacture and integrate Brahmos components and missile systems. This was necessary to meet the increased orders received from the Indian Army and Navy.A hypersonic version of the Brahmos, with a speed of Mach 7, is also under development. It is expected to be ready for testing by 2017.

Brahmos design and features :-

Brahmos is derived from the Russian made P-800 Oniks / Yakhont supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.The Brahmos propulsion is based on the Oniks, while the guidance system was developed by Brahmos Aerospace.

AGNI 5 MISSILE

ICBM  AGNI-V  MISSILE

Agni-V is an intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India. It is part of the Agni series of missiles, one of the missile systems under the original Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

India has successfully test-launched its long range ballistic missile, Agni-5, which can carry a nuclear warhead in the east as far as all of China and in the west all over Europe. The test-launch, done from Wheeler Island at 8:43 am, off the Odisha coast, for the second time in two years, is seen as a major step in India's efforts to become a regional power that can counter the dominance of China.The Agni-5  is about 17 meters long and weighs 50 tons. It is a three-stage missile designed to carry an over 1 ton warhead with a range of 5,000 kilometers, allowing it the farthest reach among all Indian missiles. The versatile missile system can be launched from a road mobile vehicle or even from a special railway wagon where it can be kept hidden and moved around at will. The first test of the Agni-5 missile was conducted on April 19, 2012 when the guidance system - critical in determining the efficiency of missile - worked perfectly. The development of Agni-5 began in 2009 according to DRDO it will now be rolled into production mode with and induction likely in 2015.Agni-5 gives India the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land at will from any where in India.  It will give India the ability to hit back or have second-strike capability even after a nuclear.

PROPULSION SYSTEM :-

Agni-V is powered by three solid fuelled engines. It uses a composite case solid rocket motor for the third stage. The first stage engine propels the missile up to 40km height. The second and third stages take it into 150km and 300km of height respectively. The missile finally reaches 800km and re-enters the Earth's atmosphere to fly towards the target.

LAUNCHING PLATFORM :-

Agni-V is a canister-launched, road-mobile missile similar to the Dongfeng-31A of China. The launch platform is the 8 x 8 Tatra TELAR (transporter erector launcher) rail mobile launcher.The canister is made of maraging steel and provides a completely airtight atmosphere to preserve the missile for years. The canister is designed to withstand 300 to 400t of thrust generated at the time of missile launch.

NAVIGATION SYSTEM :-

Agni-V is equipped with a Ring Laser Gyro based inertial navigation system (INS) and the modern micro navigation system (MINS). The navigation system, the onboard high speed computer and the fault tolerant software were all developed indigenously.