Indian Missiles – Types of Missiles of India

Welcome to DataFlair GK Tutorials Series. In this article, we will learn about different types of Missiles of India and various Indian Missiles. So let’s start!!!

Indian Missiles

A missile, also known as the guided missile, is a guided airborne-ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have 4 main components – Targeting or missile guidance, flight system, engine, and warhead.

There are different classifications of missiles –

1. Surface-to-surface missiles (ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank,etc.)
2. Air-to-surface missiles (ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank,etc.)
3. Surface-to-air missiles (anti-ballistic)
4. Air to air missiles and anti-satellite weapons missiles.

Varunastra

It has been built by the Naval Science and Technology, Vishakhapatnam and Bharat Dynamics Limited. It is basically a ship-launched, electrically propelled underwater weapon having advanced technologies.

This weapon uses its own intelligence in tracking the target. It is the world’s only known torpedo to have a GPS -based locating aid. The range is 40km and it can carry 250kg of weight. It travels with a speed of 74km/hr.

Cruise Missile

1. Brahmos – Its range is 290 km. It is the fastest cruise missile in the world. It has been manufactured by Brahmos Aerospace Ltd. The place of origin is – Russia and India. The launch platform is – ship, submarine, aircraft (under testing), and land-based mobile launchers. The recent testing of the missile has strengthened the tactical cruise missile triad to be used in land, air, and water.
2. Nirbhay – Its range is 1000-1500 km. It is manufactured by DRDO. The place of origin is India. The launch platform is the Vertical Launch System.
3. Brahmos II – It was also designed in India. However, it is a hypersonic cruise missile, which means the access places are ship, submarine, land, and aircraft. The range is 300km and the speed is Mach 7.
4. Exocet – It was developed in France. It is an anti-ship cruise missile. The range is 40-180km.

Surface to Surface Missiles

1. Prahaar – Its range is 150 km. It has been manufactured by DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization). The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher.
2. Prithvi was India’s first indigenously developed ballistic missile produced by the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) – It is India’s only deployed nuclear-capable missile.
3. Prithvi I – Its range is 150 km. It is manufactured by DRDO and BDL (Bharat Dynamics Ltd.). The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher. However, it is not in service.
4. Prithvi II – Its range is 250-350 km. It is also manufactured by DRDO and BDL (Bharat Dynamics Ltd.). The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher.
5. Prithvi III – Its range is 350 – 600 km. It is manufactured by DRDO and BDL (Bharat Dynamics Ltd.). The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher.
6. Shaurya – Its range is 700-1900 km. It is manufactured by DRDO. The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher or Underground Silo.
7. Agni Series – It consists of Agni I, Agni II, Agni III, Agni IV, Agni V. It is manufactured by DRDO and BDL (Bharat Dynamics Ltd.). The place of origin is India. The launch platform is Transporter Erector Launcher.
8. Dhanush – It is the naval variant of Prithvi – called Dhanush. They all carry Nuclear Warheads. It was inducted in the Indian Army in 1994.

Surface to Air Missile

1. Akash – This is a multi-target missile, whose primary objective is to destroy flying targets in the air like fighter planes. It is manufactured by the Ordnance factory (after being first designed by the DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Dynamics and Bharat Electronics. It has an inbuilt radar system that neutralizes missile heads.
2. Akash Mk1S can neutralize aerial targets. it is an upgrade of the Akash missile with an indigenous seeker. This missile uses high energy solid propellant for the booster. It has a range of 25km and an altitude of 18,000m.
3. Trishul – It is designed primarily to defend naval ships against any missile attack. However, it was removed from service in 2008.
4. Barack Series – It consists of Barack 1 and Barack 8. It is a ship defense missile that is used against aircraft, anti-ship missiles. The Barack series is a collaboration with DRDO, India, and Israel. The Barack missiles are fitted in the aircraft carriers of INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya. They are also fitted in the Shivalik class frigates.

Air to Air Missile

1. Astra – The warhead of this missile is 15 kg. It is still useful as a defense weapon.
2. K-100 – This was developed in Russia and India. It is a medium-range air-to-air missile. The range is 300-400km. The speed is Mach 3.3
3. MICA has been developed by IAF (Indian Air Force). It is an air-to-air-missile.

Anti-Tank Missile

1. Nag – This is guided, anti-tank, fire, and forget type of missile. This missile is low-weighted as its body is made of fiber. The most striking feature is that its smoke is invisible – hence it can not be understood from where the missile is coming or targetted.
2. HELINA (HELIcopter launched NAg) originated in India. It is an anti-tank guided missile. It has a range of 7-8km.
3. Amogha 1 is also an anti-tank guided missile of the range 2.8km. It has also originated in India.

Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile (SSBN)

K series – It consists of K4 and Sagarika (K15). K4 is still being developed. It is named to honor Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. It is a nuclear missile. K4 is a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile that was developed and tested by DRDO in January 2020.

Once inducted, these missiles will be included in INS Arihant which belongs to the class of indigenous ballistic missile nuclear submarines. INS Arihant is the only operational SSBN armed with K-15 (Sagarika). It depends on India’s “No-First-Use”.

Hence it waits around for the second strike. Since they are powered by nuclear reactors, these submarines can stay underwater for a longer duration.

K5 has a range of 6000km. Ashwin has a range of 150-200km. They both originated in India. Ashwin has a speed of Mach 4.5.

Defense Missiles

1. Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) – Developed by India, it is an exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile. The speed is about Mach 5 and above. Its height is about 80km.
2. Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) – Developed by India, it is an exo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile. Its altitude is about 120km.
3. Advanced Air Defence (AAD) – Developed by India, it is an endo-atmospheric anti-ballistic missile. The height of the missile is 30km and its speed is about Mach 4.5

Conclusion

The Missiles are extremely important weapons for the defense of India. India has collaborated with different countries and organizations/companies to work towards strengthening and development of the nation as well.