| Submit your comments on this article | |
| India-Pakistan | |
| India reveals new missiles | |
| 2007-07-07 | |
New Delhi: India has declared itself capable of launching a nuclear missile from a submarine and has announced that a submarine-based cruise missile Sagarika has been developed and tested successfully. With the induction of Sagarika, India has completed the triad of India's nuclear weapons delivery systems. This was made known at a Defence Research and Development Organisation function in New Delhi on Saturday where the team responsible for the development of the Sagarika was felicitated. Sources say the Sagarika has a range of 1,000 km and has been accepted for induction by the Navy. The missile is likely to be installed on the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). ATV is the indigenous nuclear-powered submarine that is expected to be launched next year. Sagarika has already been tested successfully three times and completes the third leg of the strategic triad giving India the capability to launch missiles from land, air and now from under the sea. Submarine-based nuclear missile are considered the most reliable for the fact that a submarine travels mostly under the sea and is hence extremely difficult to detect. India has a no first use doctrine and so it means that the deterrence capability has to be very effective as well as reliable and Sagarika would give the military its most reliable second strike capability. Though it was know for while that Sagarika was under development but the entire process was a closely guarded secret and so it was a big surprise when Prime Minster Manmohan Singh felicitated the defence scientists involved in the development of the cruise missile in New Delhi on Saturday. However, the capability will become operational in a couple of years because ATV will be launched next year and then only the missile will be integrated with the nuclear submarine. New missiles revealed India today (July 7) announced the launch of two major missile programmes - the extended version of the intermediate range ballistic missile Agni III, successfully tested this year, and a strategic naval missile which is also capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The Agni III was successfully launched this year and the new missile which may be called the Agni IV, will have a range of nearly 6,000 kilometres - enough to target India's major rivals. The missile should be ready in two years. The DRDO is also readying a strategic, nuclear-capable missile for the Navy. While the DRDO is not going into the details, the missile is likely to be submarine-launched and is to be ready in three years. This will give India the triad - the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land, under-sea and the air. DRDO is confident about the completion of the project and says there are no more difficulties. The Agni Missile Programme has also been extended. The improved telemetry and electronics package will make the missile more compact. A compact design will accommodate another motor in the missile. The motor will have a solid propellant, hence better controls are needed. This is expected to make it possible to strike anywhere in China, which has intercontinental ballistic missiles. The range of rocket has been extended by 1,500 km. | |
| Posted by:John Frum |
| #8 Now we need to get all those US backed factories in China moved to India. No matter how archaic Indian import / export law may be, it's better that we do business with a real democracy than stinking China. So much the better if India also recognizes Taiwan. If the Taiwanese were running mainland China, we probably wouldn't stand a chance in the open market. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-07 23:37 |
| #7 Has Japan and India explored any formal defence agreements visa vi China? Nothing close to an agreement. They've started a process of joint exercises that may go somewhere. Some of the SIGINT stuff that India has was supplied by Japan. |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-07-07 20:45 |
| #6 well, that, along with the heroic efforts of the Flyash Liberation Army, means 3 Gorges is a short-term resource |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-07 20:18 |
| #5 In any contest between the ChiComs and the Hindu engineering geeks with pocket protectors, my money's on the Hindus. |
| Posted by: Mike 2007-07-07 19:59 |
| #4 I cannot say how I knew. But look back at my posts saying we needed to ally with India. they go back a LONG ways. About time India was able to have enough confidence in their programs to announce them. Now we need to get all those US backed factories in China moved to India. heh. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2007-07-07 19:22 |
| #3 Indian warships have conducted patrols in the South China sea. Expect to see nuclear armed Indian submarines patrolling off the Chinese coast. John, Has Japan and India explored any formal defence agreements visa vi China? / |
| Posted by: RD 2007-07-07 18:01 |
| #2 India has an open invitation from Vietnam for any number of "port calls" it wishes - a legacy of the Chinese invasion of Vietnam in 1979. India is also cozying up to Taiwan. Indian warships have conducted patrols in the South China sea. Expect to see nuclear armed Indian submarines patrolling off the Chinese coast. |
| Posted by: John Frum 2007-07-07 17:21 |
| #1 India reveals new missiles This works for me.. Puts more pressure on China and its kissing |
| Posted by: RD 2007-07-07 17:13 |