HAL SITARA HJT 36 ( Intermediate Jet Trainer )

The HJT-36 Sitara [Star] Intermediate Jet Trainer project is expected to replace the IAF's aging Kiran aircraft. HAL's main focus is presently on the single engine HJT-36, which was intended to replace the 200-odd HJT-16s as the intermediate jet trainer.

The HJT-36 Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), is being developed for training of pilots. IJT will replace the ageing Kiran trainers. HJT-36 is an indigenous product developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore. It is a sub-sonic aircraft with a fuel-efficient engine, advanced avionics systems and increased weapon load. This will help to improve the pilots' training effectiveness and lead to easier transition to the advanced training for modern fighter aircraft.

HAL had pegged the overall project cost at Rs.200 crores and expected the prototype to roll out 39 months after it gets the go-ahead. The plane was to enter service two years thereafter. HAL engineers said that the project cost had been capped at Rs.18 crores.

The prototype aircraft are powered by a Snecma Larzac 04-H-20 turbofan non-afterburning engine developing 14.12kN. The aircraft is fitted with a 9kW starter generator and two nickel cadmium 43Ah batteries. The aircraft provides high-speed training for pilots entering level II training. The maximum operating speed is Mach 0.8 and the g-limits are from +7g to –2.5g. The service ceiling for the trainer is 12,000m (39,370ft). HAL HJT-36 SITARA

HAL KIRAN (Intermediate Jet Trainer)

IJT KIRAN

KIRAN AIR SHOW

HAL has undertaken development of IJT to replace the ageing Kiran trainer aircraft in service with Defence Services. This aircraft will be used for Stage II training of pilots. IJT has cockpit with twin tandem seats with good visibility for the pilots, modern Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays and Head-Up Display (HUD). The aircraft is equipped with a Mission Computer and Integrated Avionics system. 1000 kg of external stores carrying capacity allows fitment of various armaments and fuel drop tanks on the aircraft for effective training. The aircraft is designed for a max. speed of 750 km/h, max. range of 1500 km, max. endurance of 2 hrs with internal fuel.

                  

• Length                              :  11.0 m
• Span                                :  10.0 m
• Height                              :  4.4 m
• Max Take of Weight         :  4.5 t
• Payload                            : 1.0 t
•  Speed                              : 0.75M
•  Service Ceiling                 : 9 km

IAF JAGUAR

SEPECAT JAGUAR

The SEPECAT Jaguar is a twin-engined single-seat fighter bomber jet aircraft for the close air support role produced by the British/French manufacturer SEPECAT, a joint-venture of BAC, British Aircraft Corporation. The Royal Air Force (RAF) was feeling the aftereffects of Britain's Secretary for Defence Duncan Sandys' "The Way Forward", a 1957 paper that aimed to provide the UK with affordable defence. Sandys view was that conventional warfare was outdated and that future wars would be fought with nuclear weapons. But RAF continued to search vigorously for a trainer and also a low-level strike fighter-bomber for interdiction and reconnaissance. By the late 1950s, these became critical requirements. France also came to realise the need of similar aircraft.

VICTORY FORMATION OF JAGUAR

RAF's plans for a twin-engine trainer aircraft proved to be rather costly. Instead of it, concurrent perception by Britain and France of the need for an aircraft to meet almost identical requirements led to a natural collaboration for developing the new fighter-bomber. The aircraft was named the Jaguar. The first Jaguar prototype made its maiden flight at Istres (France) on September 8, 1968. British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) and Breguet Aviation formed an Anglo-French company for design, development, production and marketing of the Jaguar. The company was given the unwieldy name SEPECAT (Société européenne de production de l'avion d'école de combat and d'appui tactique). Dassault acquired Breguet Aviation in 1967 and became party to the project. While the collaborative effort began well, it diverged into different directions with components and equipment being used which were not common to both countries.

• Crew                                     1
• Propulsion                            2 Turbofan Engines
• Engine Model                      Rolls-Royce / Turbomeca Adour Mk 104
• Engine Power (each)           35,8 kN 8048 lbf
•  
• Speed                                   1700 km/ 918 kts ,1056 mph
• Service Ceiling                    12.192   40.000 ft
• Range                                  1.408 km,760 NM,875 mi.
•  
• Empty Weight                      6.985 kg                15.399 lbs
• Max Takeoff Weight            15.700 kg            34.613 lbs
•  Wing Span                           8,69 m   28,5 ft
• Wing Area                            24,0 m² 258 ft²
• Length                                  15,52 m 50,9 ft
• Height                                   4,89 m    16,0 ft
•  
• First Flight                             23.03.1969
• Production Status                  out of production
• Total Production                    588
•  
• Data for (Version)                SEPECAT Jaguar GR Mk.1
• Variants                               Jaguar A, Jaguar B (Jaguar T2/T2A & T4), Jaguar E, Jaguar S (Jaguar GR1/GR1A &                                                                                              GR1B & GR3 & GR3B), Jaguar International ( ES, EB, SO, BO, IS, IB, IM, SN, BN)

INS KESARI

INS KESARI

INS KESARI

The Indian Navy has recently inducted its amphibious vessel Landing Ship Tank (LST) INS Kesari in the Andaman and Nicobar command and will soon be inducting Operation Patrol Vessels (OPVs) constructed at Goa Shipyard Ltd.

INS Kesari adds thrust to Navy's ongoing drive for indigenous warship production. The ship, measuring 125 meters in length, 17.5 metres in breadth and displacing 5655 tons, can achieve speed in excess of 15 Knots. Second of the Shardul class of ships, INS Kesari is the most contemporary and fully indigenised LST (L) in the Indian Navy. In addition to its primary role of amphibious operations carrying battle tanks, troops and vehicles to hostile coasts, the ship also forms a potent assault platform with rockets and chaff launchers, anti-aircraft guns, shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles and an integral Sea King or an advanced light helicopter. On the other end of the spectrum, the ship can also be tasked as a fleet tanker, a hospital ship, or for disaster relief operations.

OVERALL GLANCE OF INS KESARI :-

Class  of ship        :      Kumbhir class

Displacement      :       1120 tons (standard)

Length                  :      83.9 m [1]

Beam                    :      9.7 m

Draught                :      1.3 metres (extreme bow and 2.58 metres (stern)

Depth                   :      5.2 m

Propulsion           :       2 x 2200 hp Soviet Kolomna 40-D two stroke diesel engines.

Speed                   :      18 knots

Crew                    :       120 (incl. 12 officers)

Radar system     :        SRN 7453 radar

Armament          :        2 x AK-230 30mm guns 4 x CRN-91 AA (Naval 30mm Medak) guns.                

Aircraft carried :         1 HAL Chetak

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.

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.

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.

AGNI-4 MISSILE

AGNI 4

The Agni-4 is believed to be an upgraded version of the Agni-2 missile with an increased range. The Agni-2 has a range of 2,000 kg (more if the payload is reduced), whereas the Agni-4 has an expected range of 3,500 kg. It’s been reported that this increased range is the result of reduced weight or upgraded motors. Reports suggest that the Agni-4 can be fitted with a 20 or 45 kT nuclear warhead, or a 200 to 300 kT fusion warhead. It has been reported that the Agni-4 is a two-stage solid propellant system with a length of 20.0 m and a launch weight of 17,000 kg. The  first  test  launch failed in December 2010. A second missile was launched from a mobile launch system in November 2011, and it was successful.  Reports indicate that two to three more test flights are planned and initial production deliveries will begin in 2013.

• Origin                              :          India
• Class                                :         Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM)
• Length                             :         20.0 mts
• Launch Weight              :         17,000 kg
• Payload                           :         Single warhead, 800 kg
• Warhead                         :        Nuclear 20 or 45 kT, Fusion 200-300 kT
• Propulsion                      :        Two-stage solid propellant
• Range                              :        3,500 km