AGNI V - Top 10 Facts

Agni-V is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). DRDO had limited the range to only 5,000 km during both the test it has conducted. However, it is understood that the range is "classified" or "understated" for national security reasons, but the Chinese have confirmed that the missile is capable of achieving an expected range of over 8,000 km which clearly bracket it in the ICBM class.

Here are the top 10 facts on the Agni-V Missile:

1) India broke into the exclusive ICBM club of six countries including the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, China and France after launching two successful test flights of Agni-V. Touted as one of the deadliest missile systems in the world by defense analysts across the world,  Agni-V achieved single-digit accuracy in its second test which is rare for even missiles of advanced nations.

2) The Agni series of missiles, including Agni-V, is crucial for India’s defence vis-a-vis China since Beijing has upped the ante in recent times by deploying missiles in Tibet Autonomous Region bordering India.

3) Tipped to be a game changer, Agni-V will extend India’s reach all over Asia, parts of Africa and parts of Europe.

4) Once fired, it cannot be stopped. It travels faster than a bullet and can carry 1,000 kilograms of nuclear weapons. Agni-V incorporates advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer systems for navigation and guidance.

5) With a range of 5,000 km, Agni-V, once validated and inducted into the armed forces after more tests, Agni-V will be India’s longest-range missile to carry a nuclear warhead. It will have the capacity to carry a nuclear warhead weighing over a ton.

6) Agni-V has Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) capability with each missile capable of carrying 2–10 separate nuclear warheads. This means that each warhead can be assigned to a different target, alternatively, two or more warheads can be assigned to one target.

7) Agni-V can be configured to launch small satellites and can be used later even a anti satellite weapon.

8) This 50 ton missile is quite easy to store and can be transported swiftly by road, rail or water because of its canister based launch system.

9) Seventeen metres tall, Agni-V’s three-stages are powered by solid propellants. The first rocket engine takes it to a height of about 40 kilometers  The second stage pushes it to about 150 kilometres. The third stage takes it to about 300 kilometres above the Earth. The missile finally reaches a height of about 800 kilometres.

10) The Agni-V is a three stage solid fueled system with sophisticated composite motor casing in the second and third stage. In many aspects, the Agni-V carries forward the Agni-II pedigree. With composites used extensively to reduce weight, and a third stage added Agni-V can fly significantly more to intercontinental ranges.

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India's Quest for MIRV Technology - Analysis

Multiple Independent Targetable  Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV)

US is a nation is preoccupied with its national interests and priorities more than any country on this planet, and this singular protocol seems to have inspired China, to robust emulation. As a mark of its new found power status the Chinese seem to be everywhere in and around the Asia-Pacific region. This crusade of belligerence and posturing is redefining standard foreign policies processes of many countries, specifically India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines and Vietnam who seem to have certain levels of niggling region. China's has been progressively increasing its defense budget vis-a-vis development of sophisticated weapons and defense related equipment over the last few decades. The result is China has introduced an appalling assortment of arms of sundry magnitude, China is also on the cusp of deploying Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) on their ballistic missiles, a development that is likely to have profound and pervasive outcome for the region and beyond.

What is a MIRV?

 

US Minuteman III MIRV ICBM launch sequence: 1. The missile launches out of its silo by firing its first-stage boost motor (A). 2. About 60 seconds after launch, the 1st stage drops off and the second-stage motor (B) ignites. The missile shroud (E) is ejected. 3. About 120 seconds after launch, the third-stage motor (C) ignites and separates from the 2nd stage. 4. About 180 seconds after launch, third-stage thrust terminates and the post-boost vehicle (D) separates from the rocket. 5. The post-boost vehicle maneuvers itself and prepares for reentry vehicle (RV) deployment. 6. While the post-boost vehicle backs away, the RVs, decoys, and chaff are deployed (this may occur during ascent). 7. The RVs and chaff reenter the atmosphere at high speeds and are armed in flight. 8. The nuclear warheads detonate, either as air bursts or ground bursts.

The US during the whetting era of cold war developed a uniquely dangerous weapon able to strike anywhere in the Soviet Union at wanton. The missile an MIRV also carried decoys and chaffs to evade air defense systems. This new technology undermined the entire balance of power between the two superpowers and struck fear into hard hearts of Soviet citizens.

The military purpose of a MIRV:

• Provides greater target damage for a given missile payload. 
• A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) warhead is a collection of nuclear weapons carried on a single intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Using a MIRV warhead, a single launch can strike several targets, or fewer targets redundantly. 
• With single warhead missiles, one missile must be launched for each target. By contrast with a MIRV warhead, the post-boost stage can dispense the warheads against multiple targets across a wider area. Theoretically at least, only a small portion of an adversary’s missile force would be necessary to completely eliminate one’s strategic deterrent.
• MIRV is destabilizing force primarily because they give nations greater confidence to destroy the enemy's critical missile sites in a first strike action by launching multiple, lower yield warheads.
• Reduces the effectiveness of an anti-ballistic missile system that relies on intercepting individual warheads. Thus, in both a military and economic sense, MIRVs render ABM systems less effective, as the costs of maintaining a workable defense against MIRVs would greatly increase, requiring multiple defensive missiles for each offensive one. 
• Decoy reentry vehicles can be used alongside actual warheads to minimize the chances of the actual warheads being intercepted before they reach their targets.

Why India needs MIRVs?

Agni-5 is capable of launching 4-5 multiple warheads, whose yield is unknown. Although it is not clear if the government has gone ahead and cleared the developed of MIRV system, former head of India’s DRDO, V.K. Saraswat, noted that several Agni variants could eventually be developed with this capability. Development of MIRV technology is vital to India's National Security because of potential threats from hostile adversaries, besides it will strengthen its aspirations of a complete nuclear triad and lastly it compliments India's minimum nuclear deterrence policy. Pakistan’s aggressive postures and China’s belligerence toward India in the recent past necessitates such an indispensable step. The deployment of MIRV technology will quantifying India's nuclear deterrence and enhance defence preparedness

Can India develop the Technologies involved?

The building blocks from boosters to radars, seekers and sophisticated mission control centers are currently available. DRDO had been able to develop key Radio Frequency seeker technologies for missiles, it has since indigenously perfected this technology, and digital processing during the missile's boost, mid-course and terminal phase is based on DRDO’s own software. The RF and Infra Red seekers are meant for proximity and precision engagement of targets, and both these technologies are required for the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capability apart from other missiles as well. India is working on a new seeker technology with other countries also. Today, India is able to design and develop RF seekers, and in about a year or so, it will be independent in this key technology. Coming years would see greater Indian investment in micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS), nano-sensors, nano-materials and advanced information technology tools. Such advancements would be essential for creating reliable, robust and highly accurate systems like the MIRV. This technology would enhance India’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. 

Cutting-Edge Techs

Weapon Dispersion

Analyzing a ballistic trajectory is a simple physics problem, but there is big difference betweem analysis and implementation. Recording the necessary data, rapidly analyzing it, combined with ever changing variables, to determine the precise moment to release a warhead so that it hits a specific target 8-10 thousand miles away, is not a simple task. Therefore, dispersing nuclear warheads is another major technological challenge.

China developed a method for deploying multiple satellites under a contract with Motorola. The deployment method utilized a "smart dispenser" to place Iridium class communication satellites into orbit and the know-how was transferred from Lockheed Martin Corporation. Another auxiliary technology required is the availability of expendable perigee/apogee kick motors, these are small booster motors set to lift satellites into higher orbits. 

However, India had developed both these technologies locally much before the Chinese cloned it. The PSLV-C20 launch in February 2013 is very significant because for the first time 7 satellites were inserted into their precise orbits using an embedded System-on-Chip (SOC) method, and the same SOC methodology is used for Agni-5 to assist its accuracy during its guidance and terminal phases. A notable point is that ISRO and DRDO have tested this key MIRV prerequisite by stealth which had clear military implications.

Miniaturization 

Miniaturization of nuclear and thermonuclear weapons as has been obtained to fit the nose cone spatial shape of Agni missiles. Weapons design and testing has to be simulated in a virtual environment using Super Computers since actual testing stands frozen after Pokhran-II. It must be assumed that BARC scientists have achieved the level of miniaturization deemed adequate and suitable 20 KT fission warhead.

Re-entry Design

All missile launch planning begins with a set of requirements that has to be met to achieve mission objectives. The re-entry phase of a mission is no different. There is a very delicately balance of three, often competing, requirements:

• Deceleration
• Heating 
• Accuracy of landing or impact

Modern ballistic trajectory nuclear weapon system delivery vehicles typically utilize slender sphere-cone geometries with multiple warheads on a single delivery bus. For a given warhead and associated arming device, the designer selects the re-entry vehicle base diameter and vehicle length, which effectively determines the cone half-angle. The nose bluntness ratio is then selected based on drag and heat transfer considerations. The delivery vehicle has to sustain high high aerodynamic stress (deceleration) and heating, hence it must be made of advance materials. Although the agencies have worked extensively on aero-thermal structure and thermal protection system designs over the past decade for both its space and missile programs, its effective use on MIRV platform is yet to be ascertained.

Other prerequisites

• Robust guidance and control computers with adequate computational abilities to conduct complex maths
• Develop advanced and accurate inertial guidance systems such as gyroscope and accelerometers for precise and decisive targeting.

Conclusion

It is evident from history that there exists a close concurrence between space and missile programs as was the case with both the Soviet Union and America. China and India have also pursued the same path. The interchangeability of several technologies between the two entities suit there sustained development, but the more pronounced beneficiary is undeniably the missile program. Though the Indian missile program has matured to world-class levels, it is mastering some of the above technologies that will make MIRV integration as a holistic deterrent system.

by Admin

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INDIA'S MIGHTY - Surprise Package

I am a subscriber to Auto India Magazine published by the renowned Business India Group. In the February 2014 issue, I was pleasantly surprised to notice an article "India's Mighty" dedicated entirely on the Indian Army's Wheeled, Tracked and Submersible vehicles. The article was absorbing and very unique in its content since it was published in a magazine solely dedicated to cars & bikes. Frankly I am not embarrassed to say that I wasn't even aware of the existence of some vehicles in the list. Please note that the article focuses entirely on the carrier vehicle rather than the weapon systems they are carrying.

Auto India is one of the oldest magazine of its kind in India, it is a cute little magazine which periodically publishes very interesting articles such as this along with its regular features, it is also the cheapest magazine among the heap published in our country (just ₹ 50/-). Unfortunately, they don't maintain an online portal, hence I am posting this for the benefit of those who follow Indian defense activities. I have taken the liberty to tweak some information & images for your benefit however, I have endeavored to maintain the general pith and the graphical layout as in the original article.

Those who are interested can subscribe the magazine here: Auto India | (Article Credit: Adreesh Ghoshal, Auto India, Feb 2014)

TANKS

The Arjun MBT is developed by DRDO and built by Central Vehicle Research and Design Establishment (CVRDE) at the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi. It weighs 59 tons, and powered by a 1400bhp MTU Ka 401 turbo charged diesel engine. The Arjun has a range of 450 Km and a 120mm rifled gun. It is protected by the indigenously developed Kanchan Class explosive reactive armour, and has a top speed of 72 Kph. It can fire APFSDS, LAHAT, HE, HEAT and HESH rounds. Additionally, it is armed with a 12.7mm AA machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

This Ajeya is another example of technological co-operation between India and the erstwhile USSR. The Ajeya is based on the T72M, and is armed with a new 125mm 2A46M gun. The Ajeya MKII features upgraded Polish SKO-1T DRAWA-T fire control systems and thermal imagers, laser illumination warning system, DRDO Explosive Reactive Armour, a new GPS system, improved crew protection, a new 1000bhp PZL-WOLA engine and banks of 6 smoke grenade-launchers on each side. The plan is to reequip 1,500 Ajeya's MKII with updated technology.

The T72 was perhaps the world's most advanced battle tank design when introduced in the 70’s. The T72 is extremely lightweight, at 41 tonnes, and very small compared to Western MBTs. The army used the T72 tank to ravaging effect in the 1971 war. A 780bhp V12 diesel engine powers it. It is armed with a 125mm smoothbore main gun capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles, as well as standard ammunition, including HEAT and APFSDS rounds, a 7.62mm machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun. It has a range of 460 km and a top speed of 60 Kph.	The Bhishma is the Indian version of the T90. A 1000bhp Chelyabinsk diesel engine powers it. Standard protective measures include a blend of steel, composite armour, smoke mortars, Kontakt-5 explosive-reactive armour, & laser warning receivers, Nakidka camouflage and Shtora infrared ATGM jamming system. Weighing 52-tons, it is armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun that can also fire ATGMs. The auxiliary armament consists of a 12.7mm Kord HMG and a 7.62mm pintle mounted machine gun. India operates 2011 T90 and Bhishma tanks.
	ARTILLERY
The Tank-EX is a technology demonstrator that has been designed and built wholly by DRDO and CVRDE. It weighs 53 tons, and features top-secret composite armour technology. It is armed with the Arjun’s 120mm main gun, a LAHAT anti-tank guided missile tube, a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. It has the same 1000bhp diesel engine that is used on the T72M. It has a max speed of 60kph and max range of 480Km.	The Carrier Mortar Tracked self-propelled system is based on the Sarath with also has amphibious capabilities. It has an 81mm mortar mounted on a modified troop compartment and carries totally 108 mortar rounds. It is powered by a 300bhp engine, has a maximum speed of 65kph on road, 7Kph submerged and max range of 240Km. It can be operated by all mechanized infantry battalions providing instantaneous fire support, and also provide protection to the crew.
The Bhim self-propelled howitzer and is designed as a purpose built self-propelled artillery vehicle. Weighing 60 tons, it has a firing range of 52Km. It has a 14.5mm welded steel armour, and is armed with a Denel 155mm L52GS howitzer. It can carry 50 rounds and is powered by a 1400bhp Ka-501 engine that gives it a top speed of 60Kph and a max range of 450Km. It has a fully automatic ammunition loading system, as well as a turret-mounted auxiliary power unit.	The Pinaka is a Multiple Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) artillery system. Each launcher consists of 12 rockets and can be operated in manual, automatic tergetting or remote controlled mode. The rockets have a range of 60Km. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralizing enemy positions on the mountain tops. The launcher is mounted on a Tatra Kolos truck, it has a maximum combat range of 120Km and a maximum speed of 80Kph.
	INFANTRY COMBAT VEHICLES/APC
The BM-30 Smerch (Russian for Tornado) is the precursor to Pinaka MBRL. It entered service in the Soviet Army in 1989. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a number of these MBRL’s were sold to India. A 525bhp 12-cylinder diesel engine powers it, due to which it has a top speed of 60Kph and a maximum range of 850Km. The 300mm rockets have a range of 90Km.	The Sarath (Chariot of Victory) is a second-generation, amphibious infantry-fighting vehicle and Armoured Personnel Carrier developed and manufactured by the Ordinance Factory, Medak. A 300bhp UTD3 diesel engine powers the vehicle. It is armed with a 300mm canon and a Konkurs anti-tank guided missile. It has a maximum speed of 65kph on road and 7Kph submerged.
The Abhay Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) developed by DRDO and CVRDE weighs 23 tons and is manned by a crew of 3, and can carry 7 fully armed soldiers. It is armed with a 40mm Bofors automatic cannon, a 30mm automatic grenade launcher, a 7.62mm machine gun, and two anti-tank guided missile tubes. The Abhay is powered by a Greaves-Cotton TD2V8 diesel engine. It has a combat range of 400Km and maximum speed of 70Kph on road and 35Kph off-road.	The Cassapir has been specifically designed for anti-mine operations  as well as protection from small arms fire. It can absorb explosive energy equivalent of up to 100kg of TNT. It weighs 10.80 tons, and is powered by a 166bhp Atlantis OM352A turbo charged diesel engine. This 4X4 armoured personnel carrier has an operational range of 770Km, and is armed with three 7.62mm machine guns or a 20mm cannon. It can carry 14 soldiers.
The BMD-2 is an airborne infantry fighting vehicle, meaning it can be airdropped along with paratroopers. A 241bhp 5D-20 1598cc 5-cylinder diesel engine powers it. It is armed with a 30mm 2A42 multipurpose auto cannon, a anti tank guided missile tube and twin 7.62mm machine guns. It has a range of 450Km and can travel at 80Kph on road and 10Kph submerged.	This British built FV432 is one of the lightest and fastest Armoured Personnel Carrier in the Indian Army. It is an all-steel construction and weighs 15 tons and powered by a 240bhp Rolls-Royce K60 multi-fuel engine. The FV432 has a maximum speed of 52Kph and a maximum range of 580Km. It is powered by a 12.7mm machine gun and a 7.62 light machine gun (LMG).
The DRDO LAWV (Light Armoured Wheeled Vehicle) is a lightweight 4X4 armoured combat vehicle that is based on the Canadian LAVIII and the Swiss Piranha III 8X8. It has a 160bhp diesel engine thst gives it a top speed of 84Kph and a maximum range of 500Km. Its main weapon is the 7.62mm light machine gun (LMG).	The T62 Topas is jointly built by the former Czechoslovakia and Poland, the TOPAS is a tracked amphibious armoured personnel carrier. It is powered by a 300bhp 6-cylinder PV-6 diesel engine. It has a top speed of 60Kph on road and 10.8Kph submerged. It is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun, grenade launchers and a 7.62mm LMG.
The SKOT is an upgraded version of the TOPAS. It is powered by a 180bhp Tatra diesel V8 that gives it a top speed of 96Kph and a range of 710Km. It is armed with a 14.5mm PKV machine gun and 7.62 PKT machine gun. It can carry up to 18 Soldiers.	The BTR 152 was the first Soviet armoured vehicle produced specifically for export after World War II. It is powered by 110bhp petrol engine, has a top speed of 75Kph and a maximum range of 650 Km, and armed with twin 7.6 mm machine gun.
	SUPPORT VEHICLES
The SISU NASU (tracked piglet in Finnish), is a tracked articulated, all-terrain transport vehicle. It has a driver cab and a separate cargo wagon, similar to the ones used in a train. It is powered by a 152bhp 6.2 litre GM V8. It consists of 2 units, with all four tracks powered and it can carry up to 17 people.	The Akash Surface to Air Missile (SAM) is one of the most sophisticated missiles in the world. The entire radar and targeting systems is mounted on a T72 chassis. The Launcher can also be detached and towed by a Ashok Leyland Stallion truck, in case the T72 breaks down.
The NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier) is a tank destroyer built on a Sarath chassis. The NAMICA weighs 14.5 tons and can carry 14 missiles. The Nag missile is slated to replace all foreign anti-tank missiles in the Army. It can travel at up to 50Kph on road and 7Kph submerged.	The BT55/MT55KS is a Soviet built T55 tank that has been adapted to lay bridges over difficult terrain. The bridge system is controlled hydraulically and has a maximum load of 60 tons. The BT55 is powered by a 600bhp V12 diesel engine, has a maximum range of 580Km and can travel at 50Kph.
The AERV (Armoured Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle), is based on the T55 and the Vijyanta tanks. It was designed by DRDO and is manufactured by Ordinance Factory Medak. The AERV is used for spotting suitable locations to set up artillery posts, base camps and bridges.	The FV180 Combat Engineering Tractor is a British built amphibious vehicle use, used for towing tanks, artillery and constructin work. It weighs 17 tons, and is powered by a 320bhp Rolls-Royce C6TFR engine. It has a range of 480Km and a maximum speed of 55Kph on road and 15Kph submerged.
The WZT is an armoured recovery vehicle based on the T72M. The WZT-3M has a 850 hp PZL-Wola S12U 4-cylinder 38.9 litre diesel from PT-91 that gives it a maximum range of 450Km and a maximum speed of 60Kph. India operates 556 WZT2 -3 vehicles and are now being licence-produced by BEML.	DRDO worked on the Sarath IFV chassis to create the Armoured Ambulance vehicle. It has an inbuilt electrocardiogram unit (ECG), a ventilator, a suction unit, a direct current refrigerator to store medicines and drugs and a high capacity heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
The Hydrema (“Mine Munching Monster") consists of a flail that rotates at high speed in order to deflect mines. The blast force is deflected outwards by means of a thick metal deflector plate. It is powered by a 6-litre V6 diesel engine that is rated at 185bhp. It has a maximum speed of 42Kph. It has foam filled tires to protect them from fragmentation.	The Polish built multiple axle transport vehicle Kolos is one of the most important vehicles in the Indian Army. The 1764cc V12 diesel engine is rated at 266bhp and is multi-fuel capable. The chassis can be adapted to fit 6 or 8 wheel drive, depending on the requirements. It is used as a transporter-erector-launcher for the Agni, Prithvi, Prahaar and Brahmos missiles.

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