Shaurya (missile)

The Shaurya missile (Sanskrit: Valour) is a canister launched Hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for use by the Indian Armed Forces. It has a range of between 750 to 1900 km ^[4] and is capable of carrying a payload of one ton conventional or nuclear warhead.^[7] It gives the potential to strike in the short-intermediate range against any adversary.^{[8] [3]}

Description

The Shaurya missile is speculated to be the land version of the under-water Sagarika K-15 missile,^[9] although DRDO officials have reportedly denied its connection with the K-15 program^[5] Shaurya is stored in a composite canister, which makes it much easier to store for long periods without maintenance as well as to handle and transport. It also houses the gas generator to eject the missile from the canister before its solid propellant motors take over to hurl it at the intended target.

Shaurya missiles can remain hidden or camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage-cum-launch canisters. DRDO scientists admit that given Shaurya's limited range at present, either the silos will have to be constructed closer to India's borders or an extended range version will have to be developed. The Shaurya system will require some more tests before it becomes fully operational in two to three years. Moreover, defence scientists say the high-speed, two-stage Shaurya is highly maneuverable which also makes it less vulnerable to existing anti-missile defence systems.^[10] Shaurya can reach a velocity of Mach 7.5 even at low altitudes. On November 12 2008, the missile reached a velocity of Mach 5 as it crossed a distance of 300 km, with a surface temperature of 700{+0} Celsius. The missile performed rolls to spread the heat uniformly on its surface. Flight time is between 500 seconds and 700 seconds. It has been described as a complex system with high-performance navigation and guidance systems, efficient propulsion systems, state-of-the-art control technologies and canisterised launch. It can be easily transported by road and launched by TEL. The missile, encased in a canister, is mounted on a single vehicle, which has only a driver’s cabin, and the vehicle itself is the launch platform. This “single vehicle solution” reduces its signature – it cannot be easily detected by satellites – and makes its deployment easy.The gas generator, located at the bottom of the canister, fires for about a second and a half. It produces high pressure gas, which expands and ejects the missile from the tube. The missile has six motors; the first one is the motor in the gas generator.The centerpiece of a host of new technologies incorporated in Shourya is its ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer. The ring laser gyroscope was tested & integrated by the Research Center Imarat (RCI) based in Hyderabad.^[7]

Shaurya missile was revealed to be designed specifically to be fired from submarines. Top DRDO scientist has confirmed this and said that this missile after taking off and reaching a height of about 50 km will start flying like a Hypersonic cruise missile. Once it reaches the target areas it maneuvers towards the target before striking with an accuracy of 20 to 30 m within the target area.^[1]

Testing

The missile was first test fired on November 12, 2008. The missile was launched from an underground facility with an in-built canister from Complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur.^[11]

The missile was successfully test-fired for the third time, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Orissa, on Saturday 24th September-2011, in its final configuration. The missile flew at 7.5 Mach, that is, 7.5 times the speed of sound and covered its full range of 700 km in 500 seconds. This was the third successful launch of Shourya, a surface-to-surface missile and it paves the way for its production and induction into the Navy. Shourya is the land-variant of the K-15 underwater missile that is being fitted into India’s nuclear-powered submarine, Arihant. So Shourya can be used by both the Navy and the Army. It can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads.^[2]

Production

First lot of this missile entered production and testing was done on Saturday 24th September-2011 to validate the production of this missile class by randomly picking a missile from production lot for testing.^[2]

See also

Related development

• Sagarika
  

References

External links

• Missile success
• Shourya/Sagarika Missile