Agni (missile)

The Agni missile (Sanskrit: अग्नि , Agnī, root of English ignite) is a family of Medium to Intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. As of 2008, the Agni missile family comprises three deployed variants:^[11]

1. Agni-I Medium range ballistic missile, 700 – 1200 km range.^[2][7]
2. Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile, 2,000- 2,500 km range.
3. Agni-III intermediate range ballistic missile, 3,000 - 5,500 km range.
4. Agni-IV intermediate range ballistic missile, 3,200- 3,700  km range^{[12] [13]}
5. Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile, 5,000 km ^[14][15] range (under development).
6. Agni-VI intercontinental ballistic missile, 10,000 km ^[16] range (under development)

Agni-I

Agni-I was first tested at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur on 25 january 2002. Weighing 12 tonne with a length of 15 metres, Agni-I has a range of 700–1200 km^[7] and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead^[2] at a speed of 2.5 km/s.^[3] Agni missiles consist of one (short range) or two stages (intermediate range). These are rail and road mobile and powered by solid propellants. Agni-I is used by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Indian Army.^[2]

Agni-II

Agni-II has a range of 2,000–2,500 km has a length of 20 metres, diameter of one metre and weighs around 18 tonnes. Agni - II uses solid propellant in both of its two stages.^[17] They are claimed to be a part of the "credible deterrence" against China and Pakistan. India stated that its nuclear and missile development programmes are not Pakistan-centric, that the Pakistani threat is only a marginal factor in New Delhi's security calculus and that Agni is at the heart of deterrence in the larger context of Sino-Indian equation.^[18] The Agni-II can reach most parts of western, central and southern China.

Agni-III

Agni-III is the third in the Agni series of missiles. Agni III uses solid propellant in both stages.^[17] Agni-III was tested on July 9, 2006 from Wheeler island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket did not separate and the missile had fallen well short of its target. Agni-III was again tested on April 12, 2007, this time successfully, from the Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa. On May 7, 2008 India again successfully test fired this missile. This was the third consecutive test; it validated the missile's operational readiness while extending the reach of India's nuclear deterrent to most high-value targets of the nation's most likely adversaries. Agni-III has a range of 3,500 km,^[5] and can take a warhead of 1.5 tonnes.^[19] Its range falls within the reach of most major Chinese cities, including Beijing and Shanghai.

It has been reported that the missile's Circular Error Probable (CEP) lies in the range of 40 meters, This would make the Agni-III ^[20] most accurate strategic ballistic missiles of its range class in the world.^[19] This is of special significance because a highly accurate ballistic missile increases the "kill efficiency" of the weapon; it allows Indian weapons designers to use smaller yield nuclear warheads (200 Kiloton thermonuclear or boosted fission) while increasing the lethality of the strike. This permits India to deploy a much larger nuclear force using less fissile/fusion material (Plutonium/Lithium Deuteride) than other World nuclear powers. Older ballistic missiles, such as those deployed by earlier nuclear powers required larger yield (1-2 Megaton) warheads to achieve the same level of lethality. It has also been reported that with smaller payloads, the Agni-III can hit strategic targets well beyond 3,500 km.

Agni-IV

Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles which was earlier known as Agni II prime.^[21] Agni-IV was tested on November 15, 2011 from Wheeler island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa. With a range of 2,500-3,500 km^[13] Agni-IV bridges the gap between Agni II and Agni III. Agni IV can take a warhead of 1 tonne. It is designed to increase the kill efficiency along with a higher range performance. Agni IV is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, that includes indigenously developed ring laser gyro and composite rocket motor. Its a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant. Its length is 20 meters and launch weight 17 tonnes.^[21] It can be fired from a road mobile launcher.^[21][22][23]

Agni-V

Agni-V is a solid fueled Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) under development by DRDO of India. It will greatly expand India's reach to strike targets up to 5,000 km away. Missile tests are expected to begin in December 2011. ^[3][24] Agni-V ICBM has been designed with addition of a third composite stage to the two-stage Agni-III missile.^[3] To reduce the weight it is built with high composite content. The 17.5-metre-long Agni-V would be a canister launch missile system so as to ensure that it has the requisite operational flexibility and can be swiftly transported and fired from anywhere.^[3] Agni-V weighs around 49 tonnes, one tonne more than Agni III even then its range has gone up to far more.^[3]

Further Developments

In May 2008 Indian scientists announced they had developed and patented a path-breaking technology that increases the range of missiles and satellite launch vehicles by at least 40%.^[25] The enhanced range is made possible by adding a special-purpose coating of chromium based material to a rocket's blunt nose cone. The material acts as a reactive-ablative coating that forms a thin low density gaseous layer at the tip of the rocket as it approaches hypersonic speeds; this super-heated gas layer reduces drag by 47% (at mach 7-8), thereby allowing range enhancements at least 40%.^[26][27] It has been announced that this technology will be incorporated in future Agni deployments after having undergone ranging and calibration tests.

References

External links

• Bharat-Rakshak Agni strategic missile Section