iii. India’s missile systems

In military parlance, a missile is also known as a guided missile. In common parlance, a missile is an object that can be launched, shot, or pushed at a target.

India’s missile systems are employed for a range of defence-related purposes and they fulfil several functions in the country. Essentially, its ballistic missile arsenal serves as a delivery mechanism for nuclear weapons to both China and Pakistan. The development of longer-range ballistic missiles by India and the diversification of its delivery vehicles beyond mobile land-based missiles are noteworthy.

Missile systems	A missile, sometimes a guided missile in military parlance is a guided self-propelled flying weapon driven by a fighter jet engine or rocket motor. In common parlance, a missile is an object that can be launched, shot, or propelled at a target. Missiles are made up of four system components: Targeting or missile guidance Flight system Engine Warhead Missiles are classified according to their intended use: Air-to-surface Surface-to-surface missiles (ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank, etc.) Surface-to-air missiles (anti-ballistic) Air-to-air missiles Anti-satellite weaponry missiles
History of India’s Missile Systems	The use of missiles in India dates back to the Ancient period when the missile was known as ASTRA. Mantras, which can be tied to modern-day missile mission control software, are described in scriptures and epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Tipu Sultan used India’s first rocket against the British in the 18th century CE during the Anglo-Mysore wars. Tipu Sultan’s missiles/rockets were made of bamboo or steel spears, a cast iron chamber as propellant, and gunpowder as the warhead. During British rule, missile development technology lagged due to various issues such as colonialism, a lack of resources, a lack of research capacity, and so on.
Classification of Missiles	Missiles are classified based on launch mode, range, warhead, propulsion, etc. Based on Launch Mode Surface to Surface Surface to Air Air to Air Air to Surface Surface to Sea Anti-tank missiles Based on Range Short-range missiles Medium range missiles Intermediate-range missiles Inter-Continental ballistic missiles Based on Propulsion Solid propulsion Liquid propulsion Hybrid propulsion Ramjet Scramjet Cryogenic Based on warhead Conventional Strategic (Nuclear) Based on the Guidance System Wire guidance Command Guidance Inertial Guidance Terrestrial Guidance Laser Guidance RF and GPS guidance
Ballistic and cruise missile	Understanding these terminologies ballistic and cruise is crucial to comprehend the various Indian missile defence systems. Ballistic missile Using a ballistic trajectory, a ballistic missile strikes a predefined target with one or more warheads. A launched object’s path when in flight without active propulsion is known as a ballistic trajectory (these weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods of flight). As a result, a given initial velocity, the influences of gravity, air resistance, and the motion of the earth completely define the trajectory (Coriolis Force). Cruise missile A guided missile (target must be pre-set) used against terrestrial targets is a cruise missile. All of its flight is spent in the atmosphere. It flies the majority of its flight path at a speed that is close to constant. Cruise missiles may accurately and efficiently deliver large warheads over great distances.
India’s Missile systems	Surface-To-Air Missiles Air-to-air missiles Surface-to-surface missiles Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)/Interceptor Missiles Cruise Missiles Submarine-launched Ballistic Missiles Anti-Tank Missiles
Air-to-Air missiles	Air to Air Missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft to destroy another aircraft or any airborne object. MICA Type: Air-to-Air Missiles Range:500 m to 80 km Astra Type: Air-to-Air Missiles Range: 80-110 km Novator K-100 Type: Medium Range air-to-air missile Range: 300–400 km Surface-To-Air Missiles A surface-to-air missile (SAM), or ground-to-air missile, is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. Trishul Type: Short-range surface to air missile Range: 9 km Akash Missile Type: Medium-range surface-to-air missile Range: 30-35km Barak 8 Type: Long-Range surface to air Missile Range: 100 km
Surface-to-Surface Missiles	A surface-to-surface missile is a missile that is launched from the ground to strike land or sea targets. Agni-I Type: Medium-range ballistic missile Range: 700-1250 km Agni-II Type: Intermediate-range ballistic missile Range: 2,000–3,000 km Agni-III Type: Intermediate-range ballistic missile Range: 3,500 km – 5,000 km Agni-IV Type: Intermediate-range ballistic missile Range: 3,000 – 4,000 km Agni-V Type: Intercontinental ballistic missile Range: 5000 – 8000 Km Prithvi I Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile Range: 150 km Prithvi II Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile Range: 350 km Dhanush Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile Range: 350 – 600 km Shaurya Type: Medium-Range Ballistic Missile Range: 750 to 1,900 km Prahaar Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile Range: 150 km
Cruise Missiles	A cruise missile is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere and flies the major portion of its flight path at an approximately constant speed. BrahMos Type: Supersonic cruise missile Range: 290 km BrahMos II Type: Hypersonic cruise missile Range: 300km Nirbhay Type: Subsonic cruise missile Range: 1,000 -1500 km Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted a successful flight test of the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on April 18, 2024. The missile performance was monitored by several Range Sensors like Radar, Electro-Optical Tracking System (EOTS) and Telemetry deployed by ITR at different locations to ensure complete coverage of the flight path. The flight of the missile was also monitored from the Su-30-Mk-I aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The missile is developed by Bengaluru-based DRDO laboratory Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) along with contributions from other laboratories and Indian industries.
Defense Missile	Prithvi Air Defence Type: Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 80km Prithvi Defence Vehicle Type: Exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 30km Advanced Air Defence Type: Endoatmospheric Anti-ballistic missile Range: Altitude- 120km
Submarine-launched Ballistic Missiles	A submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) is a ballistic missile capable of being launched from submarines. Ashwin Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 150-200 km Sagarika Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 700 – 1900 Km K-4 Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 3,500–5,000 km K-5 Type: Ballistic Missile Range: 6,000 km
Anti-Tank Missile	An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW), or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. Amogha Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 2.8 km Nag Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 4km Helina Type: Anti-Tank Guided Missile Range: 7-8 km
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)	Dr A P J Abdul Kalam created the IGMDP to help India achieve self-sufficiency in missile technology. The IGMDP was created in response to the Missile Technology Control Regime’s decision to prohibit access to any technology that could aid India’s missile development program. To combat the MTCR, the IGMDP team assembled a partnership of DRDO laboratories, companies, and academic institutions to create these subsystems, components, and materials.IGMDP began in 1983 and was finished in March 2012. The development of five missile systems was undertaken with the defence forces’ requirements for various types of missiles in mind. Prithvi is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a short range (Prithivi means Earth Surface to Surface) Agni is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile with an intermediate range. Trishul is a short-range, low-altitude surface-to-air missile. Akash is a mid-range surface-to-air missile (Akash means Sky Surface to Air) Nag is a third-generation anti-tank missile (Nag slithers like a snake to hit a tank!) Because of its strategic relevance, the Agni missile program was removed from the IGMDP after its success.
Major Cruise Missiles India	Major Cruise Missiles in India are Brahmos Missiles, Nirbhay, etc. Brahmos Missiles It is possible to launch from submarines, ships, aircraft, or land (Cruise Missiles) The world’s fastest cruise missile is currently operational. Brahmos is a 300 km Mach 2.8 supersonic cruise missile developed in conjunction with Russia. Brahmos 11 is a Mach 7 hypersonic cruise missile that is being developed in conjunction with Russia. BRAHMOS is a collaboration between India’s Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s NPOM. The Brahmos are named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva. It is a two-stage air-to-surface missile with a flying range of roughly 300 kilometers (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in the second). Nirbhay The first long-range subsonic cruise missile was launched. It is possible to launch from land, sea, or air (Cruise missile) A laser gyroscope for high-accuracy navigation and a radio altimeter for height determination is included. SFC’s strike range is 1000 kilometers from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island in Chandipur, Orissa, which is supervised by the DRDO.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle	An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. Panchi The wheeled variant of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Nishant, can take off and land on tiny airstrips. It has all of the surveillance capabilities of the UAV Nishant plus greater endurance because it does not need to carry the airbags and parachute system that the UAV Nishant does. Nishant UAV Inducted into the Army is a multi-mission UAV with Day/Night operational capability. Intended for battlefield surveillance, tracking and localization of targets, and artillery firing correction. Operated by an easy-to-use Ground Control Station + image processing system to examine UAV-sent images. Anti-satellite weapons (ASAT) India successfully tested its ASAT missile in March 2019. A live satellite in low Earth orbit was destroyed by the ASAT missile (283-kilometer). According to the DRDO, the missile can fire down objects traveling at a speed of 10 km per second from an altitude of 1200 km. Pinaka Missile System Pinaka is an indigenous multi-barrel rocket launch system developed for the Indian Army by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). Its weapon system includes a cutting-edge guidance package, as well as an advanced navigation and control system. The Pinaka Mark-II Rocket is converted into a missile by integrating with the navigation, control, and guidance system, which improves accuracy and range. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System assists the missile’s navigation system (IRNSS). It is an artillery missile system capable of striking enemy land with pinpoint accuracy up to a range of 75 kilometers. The weapon system’s first version, known as Mark I, had a range of 40 kilometers. The upgraded version of Pinaka Mark II has an extended range of 70 to 80 km.
Mission Shakti	Mission Shakti was launched to build highly effective anti-satellite weaponry (ASAT). It is a collaboration between the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) (ISRO). ASAT (anti-satellite) system is a missile-based system used to attack moving satellites. The primary objective of Mission Shakti was to demonstrate India’s capability to safeguard its space assets by developing the technology to shoot down satellites in orbit. The successful test showcased India’s anti-satellite missile technology. The successful test made India the fourth country in the world, after the United States, Russia, and China, to possess the capability to shoot down satellites in space. The test raised discussions and concerns about the militarization of space and the need for international norms and agreements regarding space activities.
Conclusion	India’s missile systems fulfill several functions in the country’s defence strategy. Essentially, its ballistic missile arsenal serves as a means of delivering nuclear warheads to both China and Pakistan. The military demand has compelled India to build longer-range ballistic missiles and diversify its delivery options beyond mobile land-based missiles. To remain a powerful nation in the modern day, India is developing ship- and sub-launched ballistic missiles and has partnered with Russia on cruise missile development.