India Missile 3 PDF

IndiaMissileChronology
Lastupdate:June2012
Thisannotatedchronologyisbasedonthedatasourcesthatfolloweachentry.Publicsourcesoftenprovide
conflictinginformationonclassifiedmilitaryprograms.Insomecasesweareunabletoresolvethesediscrepancies,
inotherswehavedeliberatelyrefrainedfromdoingsotohighlightthepotentialinfluenceoffalseormisleading
informationasitappearedovertime.Inmanycases,weareunabletoindependentlyverifyclaims.Hencein
reviewingthischronology,readersshouldtakeintoaccountthecredibilityofthesourcesemployedhere.Inclusion
inthischronologydoesnotnecessarilyindicatethataparticulardevelopmentisofdirectorindirectproliferation
significance.Someentriesprovideinternationalordomesticcontextfortechnologicaldevelopmentandnational
policymaking.Moreover,someentriesmayrefertodevelopmentswithpositiveconsequencesfornonproliferation.
2012
26April2012
Indiasuccessfullylaunchesitsfirstindigenousradarimagingsatellite.TheRisatIwillorbittheearthatanaltitude
of480km(300mi)andhastheabilitytocollectimagesdespitecloudcoverordarkness,whichisusefulfor
monitoringcropsandnaturaldisasterssuchasfloodsanddroughts.Althoughthesatelliteissuitablefordefense
relatedsurveillance,IndianSpaceResearchOrganizationChairmanK.Radhakrishnanassertedthatthisisnota
spysatellite.
JayMenon,IndiaPutsRisatIintoSpace,AerospaceDaily&DefenseReport,27April2012,
www.lexisnexis.com;EarthObservationSatellites,IndianSpaceResearchOrganisation,,www.isro.org;V.
Ayyappan,RISATI,FirstMicrowaveRadarImagingSatellite,LaunchedSuccessfully,TheTimesofIndia,26April
2012,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com;NirmalaGanapathy,IndiaLaunchesEyeintheSkySatellite;Meant
MainlyforAgricultureandDisasterControl,ItCanAlsoBeUsedforDefenceNeeds,TheStraitsTimes,27April
2012,www.lexisnexis.com.
20April2012
Indiaisdevelopingmultipleindependentlytargetablereentryvehicle(MIRV)technologyforitsAgniVmissile.V.K.
SaraswatchiefoftheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)statesthattheworkisonto
equipIndiaslongestrangemissilewiththecapacitytocarrymultiplewarheadsonasinglemissile.
AgniVMaybeEquippedwithMultipleWarheads:DRDOChief,TheEconomicTimes(India),10May2012,
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com;VipinNarangandChristopherClary,CapabilityWithoutStrategy,
IndianExpress,22May2012,www.indianexpress.com.
19April2012
Indiasuccessfullytestsanuclearcapablelongrangeballisticmissile(LRBM),itsmostpowerfulmissiletodate.The
threestagesolidfueled,roadmobileAgniVisdesignedtoreachtargetsupto5000km,andcancarrya1.5ton
RelatedcontentisavailableonthewebsitefortheNuclearThreatInitiative,www.nti.org.
ThismaterialisproducedindependentlyforNTIbytheJamesMartinCenterforNonproliferationStudiesatthe
MontereyInstituteofInternationalStudiesanddoesnotnecessarilyreflecttheopinionsofandhasnotbeen
independentlyverifiedbyNTIoritsdirectors,officers,employees,oragents.Copyright2011byMIIS.
payload.TheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isresponsiblefortheAgniprogram,andis
expectedtotesttheAgniVseveralmoretimesbeforethemissileisinductedintothecountrysstrategicforcein
20142015.V.K.Saraswat,directoroftheDRDO,callsthemissilelaunchagamechanger,assertingthattheAgni
Vtestindicatesthecountryhastheboostcapabilitytolaunchanantisatelliteweapon.
IndiaLaunchesNewGenerationStrategicMissileAgni5,DRDOPressRelease,19April2012,
http://drdo.gov.in;AgniVGivesIndiaLongrangeMissileStrikeCapability,TheHindu,19April2012,
www.thehindubusinessline.com;IndiaTestFiresAgniVLongRangeMissile,AerospaceDaily&DefenseReport,
20April2012,www.lexisnexis.com;CanShowAntisatelliteCapabilityifGovtGivesNod:DRDOChief,Indian
Express,21April2012,www.indianexpress.com.
4March2012
TheIndianArmysuccessfullytestsaBrahMoslandattackcruisemissile(LACM),signifyingtheoperationalizationof
asecondBrahMosregimentintotheIndianArmy.Themissileisdesignedtodestroytargetswithinarangeof
290km,andwillbedeployedwithanArmyregimentsomewhereinIndiaswesternsectornearPakistan.The
missileisaproductofBrahMosAeropspace,acollaborativeventurebetweentheDefenceResearchand
DevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)inIndiaandtheFederalStateUnitaryEnterpriseNPOMashinostroyenia
(NPOM)inRussia.
SecondBrahMosRegimentOperationalAlongBorder,TimesofIndia,5March2012,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com;BrahMosCruiseMissileTestFired,IndianExpress,5March2012,
www.indianexpress.com;BrahMosCruiseMissileSuccessfullyTestfired,TheHindu,4March2012,
www.thehindubusinessline.com.
10February2012
TheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)teststheAirDefenceMissileAAD05.TheAAD05
interceptormissiledestroyedamodifiedPrithvimissileatanaltitudeof15kmoffthecoastofOrissaintheBayof
Bengal.
SuccessfulDemonstrationofBallisticMissileDefenceCapability,DRDOPressRelease,10February2012,
http://drdo.gov.in;IndiaSuccessfullyTestfiresMissileInterceptor,TimesofIndia,10February2012,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
2011
1December2011
IndiasStrategicForcesCommand(SFC)successfullyperformsatestofthenuclearcapablesolidfueledAgniI
ballisticmissile,whichhasarangeof700kmandhasalreadybeeninductedintotheIndianArmy.Thelaunchisa
practicedrillinordertotraintheuserteam[SFC]tolaunchthemissilefromaroadmobilelaunchersystem.
AgniIMissileSuccessfullyTestFiredoffOdishaCoast,TheHindu,1December2011,www.thehindu.com;
IndiaCarriesOutYetAnotherFlightTestofAgniIBallisticMissile,DRDOPressRelease,1December2011,
http://drdo.gov.in.
15November2011
IndiasuccessfullyteststheAgniIVballisticmissile.Thenuclearcapablemissilereachesaheightof900kmafter
beinglaunchedfromWheelerIslandoffIndiaswestcoast,andlandsatitstarget3,000kmawayintheBayof
Bengal.Thetestisthefirsttouseanewlydesignedrocketmotorandguidancesystem.
IndiaTestFiresNcapableAgniIV,IndianExpress,16November2011,http://www.indianexpress.com;India
LaunchesNewGenerationStrategicMissileAgni4,DRDOPressRelease,15November2011,http://drdo.gov.in.
30September2011
IndiaconductsanothertestoftheAgniIIballisticmissile.Thetwostage,solidfueledmissilewasdispatchedfrom
arailmobilelauncheronWheelerIsland,offtheOrissacoast.AgniIIisamediumrangeballisticmissile(MRBM)
abletoreachtargetsupto2,000kmaway,andithasalreadybeeninductedintotheIndianstrategicarsenal.
AgniIISoarsinSuccess,TheHindu,30September2011,www.thehindu.com;AgniIILaunched,DRDOPress
Release,30September2011,http://drdo.gov.in.
26September2011
IndiasuccessfullyteststhePrithviIIshortrangeballisticmissile(SRBM).Themissileistestedfromamobile
launcher,andreachesitstargetintheBayofBengalwithanaccuracyof10m.PrithviIIiscapableofreaching
targetswithin350km,andistestedbythemilitaryasapartofregulartrainingexercises.
IndiaSuccessfullyTestFiresNuclearCapablePrithviIIMissile,IndianExpress,26September2011,
www.dnaindia.com;AnotherSuccessfulFlightTestofPrithvi(PII),DRDOPressRelease,26September2011,
http://drdo.gov.in.
24September2011
IndiasuccessfullytestfiresthenuclearcapableShourya,ashortrangeballisticmissile(SRBM)witharangeofup
to700km.ThisisthethirdsuccessfultestoftheShouryasince2008,andproductionofthemissileforinduction
intotheIndianArmyisexpectedtobeginshortly.
IndiaTestfiresNukecapableShouryaMissile,TimesofIndia,24September2011,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com.IndiaSuccessfullyTestfiresShouryaMissile,TheHindu,24September2011,
www.thehindu.com.
21July2011
IndiateststhenewPrahaarshortrangeballisticmissile(SRBM).ThePrahaarhasarangeof150kmandcanbeused
inbattlefieldoperations.Itisunclearwhetherthemissileisnuclearcapable,althoughtheDefenceResearchand
DevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)claimsthemissileiscapableofcarryingdifferenttypesofwarheads.The
DRDOalsocomparesthePrahaartotheU.S.ArmysAdvancedTacticalMissileSystem(ATACMS).
PrahaarMissileSuccessfullyTestfired,TheHindu,21July2011,www.thehindu.com;PrahaarNew
SurfacetoSurfaceTacticalMissileSuccessfullyLaunched,DRDOPressRelease,21July2011,http://drdo.gov.in.
18July2011
DefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcessaythatthefirsttestoftherapidreaction,
shortrange,tacticalmissilePrahaarislikelytobeconductedonJuly21.ThemissilewillbetestedattheIntegrated
TestRangeinBalasore,Orissa.
"FlighttestofPrahaarmissilelikelyonJuly21,"TheHindu,18July2011,www.thehindu.com.
3July2011
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)developsanewshortrange,tacticalmissilecalled
Prahaar.Themissilehasarangeof150kmandissaidtobemoreaccuratethanthecurrentlydeployedunguided
missiles.
"NewshortrangemissiletestJulyend,"DeccanChronicle,3July2011,www.deccanchronicle.com.
25June2011
IndiaandPakistanexchangeproposalsonnuclearandmissileconfidencebuildingmeasures,includingaproposal
toincorporatecruisemissiletestsintheir2005agreementonPreNotificationofFlightTestingofBallisticMissiles.
"India,Pakexchangeproposalsonconventional,nuclearCBMs,"IndianExpress,25June2011,
www.indianexpress.com.
20June2011
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)proposesremovingthe3,100mile(4988km)
restrictionontherangeofitsmissilestoallowittoproduceanintercontinentalballisticmissilewitharangeof
over6,200miles(9977km).TheIndiangovernmentadoptedavoluntaryrestrictiononmissilerangein2006after
thetestoftheAgniIIIballisticmissile,whichhasarangeof1,860miles(2993km).Thefinaldecisiononthis
proposalwillbetakenbytheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity.
"IndiaWeighsDevelopingICBMwith6,200MileReach,"GlobalSecurityNewswire,20June2011,
http://gsn.nti.org.
11June2011
TheChiefofAirStaff,AirChiefMarshalPVNaikcallsforexpandingIndia'sstrategicmissileforcetoincludean
intercontinentalreach.Naiksaysthat"IndiashouldpursueanICBMprogramtoacquirerangesof10,000kmor
more."
"AirChiefinfavourofflexingmissilepower,"TheHindustanTimes,11June2011,www.hindustantimes.com.
10June2011
ThePrithviIIsurfacetosurfacemissileissuccessfullytestedfromtheIntegratedTestRangeatChandipurin
Orissa.Thenuclearcapablemissilehasarangeof350km.
"PrithviIIsuccessfullyflighttested,"TheHindu,10June2011,www.thehindu.com.
3June2011
Dr.VijayKumarSaraswatoftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saysthatthe5000km
rangeballisticmissileAgniVwillbetestedforthefirsttimebytheendof2011.Hesays,"Thismissilewouldbe
basedontheconceptofreentryvehiclecapableofcoveringwholeofPakistanandChina."RegardingtheAgniIII,
Saraswatstatedthat,"AgniIIIisalreadyinducted.Itsdevelopmenthasbeencompletedandisunderproduction."
"IndiatotestfireAgniVbyyearend,"TheHindu,3June2011,www.thehindu.com.
23April2011
TheIndianAirForceissuesarequestforinformation(RFI)forlongrangeairtoairmissilesfordeploymentonits
fighteraircraft.Themissileswillallowtheaircrafttoshootdowntargetswithoutaerialcombat.Themissilesare
expectedtohaverangesofover100km.
"IAFtoProcureLongRangeMissilesforitsFighters,"TheTribune,23April2011,www.tribuneindia.com.
19March2011
TheIndiangovernment'sCabinetCommitteeonSecurityclearsinductionoftworegimentsofAkashsurfacetoair
missilesfortheIndianArmy.Themissilehasarangeof25km.
"25yrsinthemaking,ArmyinductsAkash,"TheTimesofIndia,19March2011,www.timesofindia.com.
15March2011
India'ssolidpropelledAdvancedAirDefense(AAD)interceptormissilefailstolaunchduringatesttargetinga
Prithvimissile.Initialanalysissuggeststhatthetargetmissile'sdeviationfromitstrajectorycouldhaveleadto
coordinationproblems.
"India'sMissileDefenseTestFails,"Rediff.com,15March2011,"www.rediff.com.
13March2011
BrahMosAerospaceChiefExecutiveOfficerA.SivathanuPillaisaysthatthesupersonicversionoftheBrahMos
cruisemissilecouldbedeployedonthefifthgenerationfighteraircraftthatisbeingdevelopedincooperationwith
Russia.TheairvariantoftheBrahMoswillbetestedin2012,whilethesubmarineversionofthemissileis
scheduledtobetestedbytheendof2011.
"BrahMosUnderwaterTestFiringbyYearend,"TheHindu,13March2011,www.thehindu.com.
11March2011
ThePrithviIInuclearcapableballisticmissileissuccessfullytestfired.Propelledbytwinliquidpropulsionengines,
themissilehasarangeof350kmwithapayloadof5001000kg.ADefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO)spokesmansaysthatthemissilefeaturesantiballisticmissilesystemsandhas"achieved
singledigitaccuracyreachingclosetozerocircularerrorprobability."
"PrithviII,DhanushTestfiredSuccessfully,"TheTimesofIndia,11March2011,www.timesofindia.com.
7March2011
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)successfullytestsaninterceptormissileagainsta
modifiedPrithviballisticmissile.AccordingtoV.K.Saraswat,ScientificAdvisertotheDefenseMinister,thetest
showsthat"Indiahasallthetechnologiesandbuildingblockswhichcanbeusedforantisatellitemissions."
"CapabilitytoNeutralizeEnemySatellitesProved,"TheHindu,7March2011,www.thehindu.com;"Interceptor
MissileTestFiredSuccessfully,"TheHindu,7March2011,www.thehindu.com.
5March2011
BrahMosAerospaceChiefExecutiveOfficerA.SivathanuPillaisaystrialsfortheairlaunchversionoftheBrahMos
cruisemissilewillbeginin2012.AccordingtoPillai,themissilehasbeenmodifiedtofitintoaSukhoifighter,
notablytheSu30MKIwhichhastheabilityformidairrefueling.Themissile'sweighthasbeenreducedto2.5
tons,andseveralothermodificationsarealsounderwaysuchasfirecontrolandsoftware.
"TrialsofBrahMosAirversionfrom2012:SivathanuPillai,"TheHindu,5March2011,www.thehindu.com.
25January2011
TheUnitedStatesremovesseveralstateownedIndiandefenseorganizationsfromitsEntityListinaneasingof
exportcontrolregulations.ThecompaniesincludesubsidiariesoftheDefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO)andtheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO).Additionally,theU.S.Commerce
DepartmenttransfersIndiatoagroupofcountriesintheExportAdministrationRegulations(EAR)thatarepartof
theMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).ThismoveacknowledgesIndia'sadherencetotheregime.
ChidanandRajghatta,"U.S.RemovesISRO,DRDOfromexportcontrollist,"TheTimesofIndia,25January2011,
2010
28November2010
SourcesintheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saythattheK15submarinelaunched
ballisticmissileiscurrentlyinproduction.Themissilehasbeenrenamedthe"B05."Additionally,aDRDOmissile
scientistsaysthatthe5,000kmrangeAgniVballisticmissileislikelytobetestedforthefirsttimein2011.
T.S.Subramanian,"AgniII+launchbeforeDecember10,"TheHindu,28November2010,www.thehindu.com.
26November2010
TheStrategicForcesCommandsuccessfullyteststhe700kmrangeAgniInuclearcapableballisticmissileoffthe
coastofOrissastate.
"NukecommandtestsAgniI,"TheTelegraph,26November2010,www.telegraphindia.com.
10October2010
TheDirectorGeneraloftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),V.K.Saraswatsaysthata
modifiedvariantoftheAgniIInuclearcapableballisticmissile,called"AgniIIPlus,"willbelaunchedin2011.
AmrutaByatnal,"AgniIIPlustobeLaunchedin2011:DRDO,"TheHindu,10October2010.
25September2010
AtestofthePrithviIInuclearcapableballisticmissileendsinfailure,asthemissilefailstotakeofffromits
launcher.Themissile,whichhasbeeninductedintotheairforce,istestedbypersonneloftheStrategicForces
Command.
Y.Mallikarjun,"PrithviIIFailstoTakeOff,"TheHindu,25September2010.
13September2010
TheDirectorGeneraloftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization,V.K.Saraswat,saysthattheAgniV
intermediaterangeballisticmissilewillbetestedin2011.Eventually,bothseaandlandbasedplatformswillbe
abletolaunchthemissile,whichwillhavearangeofatleast5,000km.
AnanyaDutta,"Saraswat:AgniVWillBeTestFiredin2011,"TheHindu,13September2010.
6September2010
TheBrahMoscruisemissileissuccessfullytestedfromtheIntegratedTestRangeatChandipur.Thisisthemissiles
23rdtest.Thetestunveilsanewcapabilityinthemissilethatofasteepdivemode,inwhichthemissiledives
vertically,ratherthandescendingtowardsitstargetinagradualmanner.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMosTestedinSteepDiveMode,"TheHindu,6September2010;"IndiaTestFires
BrahMosCruiseMissile,"TheTimesofIndia,5September2010.
28August2010
AccordingtoDefenseMinisterA.K.Antony,Indiaispreparingtocarryoutthefirsttestofitslongestrange,
nuclearcapableballisticmissile,theAgniV,whichisslatedtohavearangeof5,000km.TheAgniVwillbeathree
stage,solidfueledmissile.
"AgniVWillBeTestFiredSoon,SaysAntony,"TheHindu,28August2010;"AgniVReadyforTesting,"The
Tribune,28August2010.
26August2010
AccordingtotheManagingDirectorofBrahMosAerospaceLimited,A.SivathanuPillai,theBrahMoscruisemissile
islikelytobeinductedintotheIndianAirForceby2013,aftercompletionofflighttestsin2012.
"BrahMosLikelytobeInductedintoAirForceby2013,"TheHindu,26August2010.
24August2010
TheIndiangovernmentisconsideringdeployingtwonuclearcapableballisticmissilesystemsonitsnortheastern
borderwithChina.Thetwomissilesarethe2000kmrangeAgniII,andthe350kmrangePrithviIII.
"IndiaMullsDeployingMissilesNearChinaBorderinNorthEast,"TheHindustanTimes,24August2010.
27July2010
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)successfullytestsanendoatmosphericinterceptor
missileaspartofitsmissiledefenseprogram.Theinterceptormissilesuccessfullystrikesthetargetmissile,a
Prithvi,15kmabovetheBayofBengal.
"BullsEye,"TheTelegraph,27July2010.
7June2010
Inaboosttoitsfledglingmissiledefensecapabilities,Indiawillacquire"xband"radarsfromaU.S.companywhich
canspotmissilesupto4,600kmaway.CurrentIndianradarcapabilitycantrackobjectsupto600800kmaway.
AjayBanerjee,"IndiatoAcquire'xband'Radars,"TheTribune,June7,2010,www.tribuneindia.com.
4June2010
TheIndiangovernmentisfinalizingajoint"missilecodevelopmentproject"withFrancetoproduceshortrange
surfacetoairmissilesforthemilitary.Thenewmissiledevelopmentprogramwilladoptthetemplateofthejoint
IndoRussianBrahMoscruisemissileproject.Themissile,tentativelytitled"Maitri"("friendship"),couldalsobe
exported.
ManuPubby,"AfterRussiaandIsrael,IndiatoDevelopMissileWithFrance,"TheIndianExpress,June4,2010,
17May2010
Themilitary'sStrategicForcesCommandsuccessfullytestedthe2,000kmrangenuclearcapableAgniIIballistic
missile.ThemissilehasbeeninductedintothearmedforcesandthetestcameafterunsuccessfultestsinMayand
November2009.
"NCapableAgniIITestFiredSuccessfully,"IndianExpress,May17,2010,www.indianexpress.com.
14April2010
TheIndianArmyhasagreedtoacquiretheAkashmediumrangesurfacetoairmissilefromthepublicsector
BharatDynamicsLtd.Themissilehasaninterceptionrangeof30kmataheightof18,000meters.TheIndianAir
Forcealreadyplacedordersfortwosquadronsofthemissilein2008andhasnowcontractedforsixadditional
squadrons.
K.V.Prasad,"ArmyAgreestoAcquireIndigenousAkashMissile,"TheHindu,April14,2010,www.thehindu.com.
30March2010
TheIndiangovernmenthasconcludedanagreementwithBrahMosAerospaceforsupplyofBrahMoscruise
missilestotheIndianAirForce.Thisisseparatefromadifferentprojecttoequiptheairforcewithasmaller
variantofthemissilefortheSukhoiMKIfighteraircraft.Underthelatestagreement,theairforcewillacquirethe
BlockIIadvancedvariantofthemissilewhichhasmoreprecisestrikecapabilities.
ManuPubby,"BrahMosClearedforAirForce,"TheIndianExpress,March30,2010,www.indianexpress.com.
29March2010
TheIndianArmysuccessfullytestedthe700kmrangenuclearcapableAgniIballisticmissileintheBayofBengal.
Thetestofconductedaspartofatrainingexercise.
Y.Mallikarjun,"HatTrickforMissileTechnologists,ArmedForces,"TheHindu,March29,2010,
www.thehindu.com.
28March2010
TheStrategicForcesCommandcarriedoutsuccessfultestsoftheshipbasedDhanushandthesurfacetosurface
PrithviIImissiles.ThenuclearcapableDhanush,anavalversionofthePrithvi,hasarangeof350km.ThePrithviII
hasarangeofabout290km.
Y.Mallikarjun,"Dhanush,PrithviIITestfiredSuccessfully,"TheHindu,March28,2010,www.thehindu.com.
16March2010
Indiandefensescientistsabortedthetestoftheirballisticmissilesystemafterthe"enemy"ballisticmissile,a
modifiedPrithvi,failedtoreachtherequiredheightof110km.Followingthis,theinterceptormissile,termedthe
AdvancedAirDefence(AAD)system,wasnotlaunched.
Y.MallikarjunandT.S.Subramanian,"SetbacktoBallisticMissileDefenceTrial,"TheHindu,March16,2010,
www.thehindu.com.
12March2010
TheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willtestthe5,000kmrangenuclearcapableAgniV
missilein2011,accordingtoaseniorIndiandefensescientist.Thethreestagemissilewillhaveapayloadof1.5
tons.
"AgniVtobeTestfiredWithinaYear,"ExpressBuzz.com,March12,2010,http://expressbuzz.com.
17February2010
V.K.Saraswat,scientificadvisertothedefenseministerhasconfirmedthatthattheShauryamissilebeing
developedisasubmarinelaunchedcruisemissile.Itwillhavearangeof750kmandcandeliveraonetonnuclear
warhead.
AjaiShukla,"ShauryaSurfacesasIndia'sUnderwaterNuclearMissile,"BusinessStandard,February17,2010,
www.businessstandard.com.
17February2010
AccordingtoaseniorIndiandefenseofficial,thenuclearpoweredsubmarinebeingdevelopedfortheIndianNavy,
INSArihant,islikelytobearmedwiththenuclearcapable700kmrangeK15submarinelaunchedballisticmissile.
RahulSingh,"Arihanttobearmedwithballisticmissiles,"TheHindustanTimes,February17,2010,
www.hindustantimes.com.
16February2010
NewDelhiisplanningtodeploysixAkashmissilesquadronsinnortheasternIndiatocounterthepotentialair
threatfromChina.TheAkashisasurfacetoairmissilewithaninterceptionrangeof25km.
RajatPandit,"IndiatoDeployAkashMissilesinNorthEasttoDeterChina,"TheTimesofIndia,February16,
2010,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
11February2010
Thescientificadvisertothedefenseminister,V.K.Saraswat,hassaidthatIndiandefensescientistsmonitored
China'stestlastmonthofaballisticmissiledefensesystem,whilealsosayingthatBeijingwasbehindinIndiain
developmentofmissiledefensetechnology.
ManuPubby,"IndiatoTest5,000kmNMissile,"TheIndianExpress,February11,2010,
11February2010
AccordingtoV.K.Sarasawat,scientificadvisertothedefenseminister,theAgniIIIisreadyforinductionintothe
armedforces.Healsosaidthatthe3,500kmrangeballisticmissileismoreaccuratethantheChineseDF21
missile.Speakingatanewsconference,SaraswatandAvinashChander,theAgniIIIprogramdirector,alsoclaimed
thatthemissile'stechnologycouldbehelpfulindevelopmentofanantisatellitemissile.
"MissileIndia:MineisBetterThanChina's,"TheTelegraph,February11,2010,www.telegraphindia.com.
8February2010
Indiasuccessfullytesteditslongestrangemissile,the3,500kmrangenuclearcapableAgniIII.TheAgniIIIisatwo
stagemissile.Thetestwascarriedoutbythearmyandthemissileisnowreadytobeinductedintothearmed
forces.
T.S.SubramanianandY.Mallikarjun,"AgniIIILaunchaCompleteSuccess,"TheHindu,February8,2010,
www.thehindu.com;T.S.SubramanianandY.Mallikarjun,"DRDORaisestheBar,SetsItsSightson5,000kimAgni
V,"TheHindu,February8,2010.
2February2010
AninstallationtestflightoftheBrahMoscruisemissilewilltakeplacein2010fromastealthfrigatethatis
currentlybeingconstructedfortheIndianNavyinRussia.ThetestwilltakeplaceintheBalticSea.Threesuch
TalwarclassshipsbuiltinRussiawillbearmedwithBrahMosmissiles.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMosInstallationTestFlightinBalticSea,"TheHindu,February3,2010,
www.thehindu.com.
24January2010
TheIndiangovernmentisplanningtoswiftlyinducttheBlockIIvariantoftheBrahMoslandattackcruisemissile
intothearmy.Thisversioncomeswith"multispectralseekers"enabling"targetdiscriminatingcapabilities,"giving
itenhancedaccuracyforsurgicalstrikes.
RajatPandit,"ArmyPlansInductionofBrahMosWith'SurgicalStrike'Option,"TheTimesofIndia,January24,
2010,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
6January2010
TheIndianAirForcewillbeequippedwiththeairlaunchversionoftheBrahMoscruisemissileby2012,according
totheheadofBrahMosAerospace,SivathanuPillai.Hesaidthatthemissilehasbeendevelopedandtheprocess
ofintegratingitwiththeSukhoifighteraircraftwasinprogress.Trialsofthemissilewilltakeplacein2011.
"BrahMosMissiletobeInductedIntoAirForcein2012,"TheTimesofIndia,January6,2010,
2009
14December2009
TheIndiannavysuccessfullytestedthe350kmrangenuclearcapableDhanushmissile.Thiswasthesixthtestof
theDhanush,thenavalvariantofthePrithvi.
"DhanushMissileSuccessfullyTestFired,"TheTimesofIndia,December14,2009,
30July2009
TheIndianarmycarriedoutasuccessfultestofthelandattackvariantoftheBrahMoscruisemissileatthe
PokharantestrangeinRajasthanstate.Accordingtoasource,"withthislaunch,therequirementofArmyforthe
landattackversionwithblockIIadvancedseekersoftwarewithtargetdiscriminatingcapabilitieshasbeenfully
metandthisversionisreadyforinduction."ThiswasthefourthtestoftheblockIIvariantthisyear,withthefirst
resultinginfailure.ThelandattackBrahMosfirstenteredintoservicewiththeIndianarmyinJune2007.
VimalBhatia,"ArmyTestFiresBrahMosAgain,"TheTimesofIndia,July30,2009,timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
27July2009
TheindigenouslydevelopedIndiannuclearpoweredsubmarine,INSArihant,whichwaslaunchedforseatrialson
July26,andisexpectedtoenterintoserviceinthenextfewyears,willbearmedwiththe700kmrangenuclear
capableK15ballisticmissiles.
T.S.Subramanian,"NuclearPoweredSubmarineToBeFittedWithBallisticMissiles,"TheHindu,July27,2009.
19May2009
TheIndianArmysuccessfullytestedthe3000kmrange,nuclearcapableAgniIIballisticmissile.Followingthree
successfultests,themissileisreadyforproduction.
"IndiaSuccessfullyTestsNuclearCapableMissile,"PressTrustofIndia,May19,2009,BBCMonitoringSouthAsia
Political,LexisNexis.
15April2009
TheIndianArmyhassuccessfullytestedanimprovedvariantofitsnuclearcapable350kmrangePrithviIIballistic
missile.Thearmyhasalreadyinductedthismissile.
"IndiaTestFiresSurfacetoSurfaceMissile,"PressTrustofIndia,April15,2009,BBCMonitoringSouthAsia
30March2009
TheblockIIversionofthelandattackvariantoftheBrahMoscruisemissilewastestedforthethirdtime.Thefirst
test,inJanuary,hadbeenafailure.Thesecondtest,onMarch5,andthemostrecenttest,werebothsuccessful.
AccordingtotheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),themissileisnowreadyforinduction
intothearmy.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMosLaunchSuccessful,"TheHindu,March30,2009.
7March2009
IndiasuccessfullytestedamissileinterceptorovertheBayofBengalintheIndianOcean.A"hostile"missilewas
destroyedbytheinterceptorinthethirdsuccessfultrialofcomponentsofIndia'sballisticmissiledefensesystem
since2007.
"IndiaTestsInterceptorMissile,"TheChinaPost,March7,2009,www.chinapost.com.tw.
5March2009
TheblockIIversionofthelandattackversionoftheBrahMoscruisemissilewassuccessfullytestedatPokharan.
Theearliertestofthisvariant,inJanuary,wasafailure.
T.S.Subramanian,"NewBrahMosTestSuccessful,"TheHindu,March5,2009.
21January2009
TheJanuary20testoftheBrahMoscruisemissilewhichhadbeentermedassuccessful,infact,resultedinthe
missilefailingtohitthetarget,accordingtoIndiandefensescientists.ThelatesttestwasthatofablockIIversion
ofthemissile,whichpossessesadvancedsoftwarethatwouldallowthemissiletoselecttargetsmoreefficiently.
OlderblockIversionsofthemissilehavealreadybeendeployedwiththearmy.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMosMissedtheTarget,"TheHindu,January22,2009.
20January2009
IndiahastesteditsBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileatPokharaninthestateofRajasthan.Themissilecancarry
conventionalandnuclearwarheads,andhasarangeof290km.Themissileisbeingdevelopedforlaunchfroma
rangeofplatforms.
"IndiaTestsMissileAmidTensionsWithPakistan,"Reuters,January20,2009,www.reuters.com.
8January2009
IndiahasconductedtalkswithofficialsfromtheUnitedStatesonthepossibilityofacquiringamissiledefense
system.ThediscussionswereonascientificandtechnicallevelandIndianofficialsalsoviewedcomputer
simulationsandattendedlivemissiletests.AccordingtoaU.S.embassyofficialinNewDelhi,"Indiaisapartnerof
ours,andwewanttoprovideitwithwhateveritneedstoprotectitself...Thisfitsintotheoverallstrategic
partnershipwearebuilding."
"IndiaUS'MissileShieldTalks',"BBCNews,January8,2009,news.bbc.co.uk.
2008
18December2008
TheIndianNavysuccessfullytestedtheBrahMoscruisemissilefromanavalshipintheBayofBengal.Thiswasthe
firsttestinaverticallaunchconfigurationofthemissilewhichcanalsobelaunchedinaninclinedconfiguration.
Theinclinedvarianthasalreadybeeninductedintothenavy.
"IndiaTestFiresSupersonicCruiseMissile,"PressTrustofIndia,December18,2008,BBCMonitoringSouthAsia
12November2008
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresanewsurfacetosurfacemissilecalled"Shourya",whichcancarrybothnuclearand
conventionalwarheads.ItisthelandversionoftheunderwaterlaunchedmissileK15(Sagarika).AccordingtoDr.
Selvamurthy,theChiefControllerofDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO),themissilecannot
bedetectedbyconventionalsatelliteimaging,sinceitisfiredfromundergroundandishighlymaneuverable.
T.S.Subramanian,"Shouryatestfiredsuccessfully",TheHindu,13November2008.
14September2008
Indiaholdsflighttrialsofitsfirstindigenouslydevelopedbeyondvisualrange(BVR)airtoairmissile,Astra.The
BVRmissileisintegratedwithSukhoi30MKIandwillbeintegratedwithMirage2000andtheindigenousLight
CombatAircraft,oncealltestsaredonetoverifyitsaccuracyindestroyingmaneuveringtargets.Guidedtestfirings
arenotexpecteduntil2010,andserviceentryisstillfiveyearsaway.
NeelamMathews,"IndiatestfiresBVRmissileAstra",AerospaceDaily&DefenseReport,16September2008;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16September2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21August2008
TheRussianIndianjointcompanyBrahMosisplanningtoputonthemarketanewgenerationhypersoniccruise
missile,accordingtoBrahMosexecutivedirectorSivathanuPillai.Thecompanyisplanningtoagreetheparameters
ofacruisemissilewiththeRussianandIndiandefencedepartmentswithinayear.Ahigherspeedandbeingless
visiblewillbethefeaturesoftheBrahMos2missile.Inaddition,BrahMos2willbeabletostartfromvarious
platforms,suchassea,underwater,groundandair.
"RussiaandIndiadevelopingnewcruisemissile",InterfaxAVNMilitaryNewsAgencywebsite(Moscow),21
August2008;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24August2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
8August2008
Country'sfirstindigenouslydeveloped3Dradar,"Rohini,"ishandedtotheIndianAirForce(IAF)bythe
governmentownedBharatElectronicsLtd.TheMultifunctionMediumRangeSurveillanceRadariscapableof
handlingmultipletargetssimultaneouslyandalsocalculatingtheheightatwhichprojectilesareflying.Theradar
willgivetheIAFbetterairsurveillancecapabilities,particularlyatlowaltitudes.Operatinginarangeofupto170
kilometersandanaltitudeof15kilometers,theradarcantrackmultipletargetslikefighterjetsandmissile
travelingatspeedsofMach3.
NeelamMathews,"FirstunitofindigenousIndianradardelivered",AerospaceDailyandDefenseReport,8
August2008;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8August2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
56August2008
TheindigenouslydevelopedNagmissile,withanantitanktandemwarheadand4kilometerrange,issuccessfully
firedonstationaryandmovingtargets.AccordingtotheIndianDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO),bothtargetsarehit,confirmingsystemcapabilities.
NeelamMathews,"India'stestingofNagmissileasuccess",AerospaceDaily&DefenseReport,7August2008;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,7August2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23May2008
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresits150250kmrangesurfacetosurface"Prithvi"missile,aspartofauser'strialbythe
IndianArmy.Theindigenouslybuiltmissile,developedbytheDefenceResearchDevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO),isalreadyinductedinthearmy.
"Indiatestfiressurfacetosurfacemissile",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),23May2008;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,23May2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
14May2008
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresitsnuclearcapable,intermediaterangeballisticmissileAgniIII.Thisfiringisthesecond
successfulfiringinthreetests.AgniIII's3,000kmrangeputsChinesecitiessuchasBeijingandShanghaiwithin
strikingdistance.
"IndiaconductsthirdtestfiringofAgniIII",Jane'sDefenceWeekly,14May2008;inLexisNexisAcademic
13May2008
TheDefenceElectronicsResearchLaboratoryisdevelopingahitechdecoysystemwhichwillbeableto"seduce"
missilesawayfromtheirlegitimatetargets.Thedecoy,meantfortheIndianNavy,willbeequippedwiththemost
modernelectronicwarfaresystemandwillprotectaircraft,shipsandotherinstallationsagainstradarguided
missiles.Beingselfpropelled,thedecoyscanflyfreelytooandcanenticeawayamissilemoreeasilythanatowed
decoy.Thelaboratoryisplanningtocollaboratewithinternationalfirmstodevelopthetechnology.
"Indianlabdevelopingnewmissiledecoysystemfornavy",TheAsianAgewebsite(NewDelhi),13May2008;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,14May2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6April2008
AccordingtothetopDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistS.Prahlada,Indiaisready
toexportmissiletocountrieswhosenamesareclearedbythegovernment.Governmentisinfavorofexportsof
missilesandDRDOisinapositiontomeetsuchsaleorders.ThoughPrahladadoesnotnamethemissileswhichcan
beofferedinworldmarket,somesourcessaythatIndiacanplaceIndoRussiansupersoniccruisemissileBrahMos
andrecentlytestedsurfacetoairAkashforsale.
"ScientistsaysIndiareadytoexportmissilestoshortlistedcountries",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),6April
2008;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5March2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5March2008
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresindigenouslydeveloped,nuclearcapablesubmarinelaunchedcruisemissile,Sagarika.
TheturbojetpoweredmissilehasbeenunderdevelopmentbyAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishmentsince
early1990s.Itissaidtohave700kmrangewith500kgpayload,becapableofachievinghighsubsonicspeedsand
cruisingataltitudeof15mto100m.
RahulBedi,"IndiatestfiresindigenouslydevelopedSLCM",Jane'sDefenceWeekly,5March2008;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,5March2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
26February2008
IndiasuccessfullytestfiresitsfirsteverunderseaballisticmissileK15witharangeof700kmandjoinsahandful
ofcountries,suchastheUS,Russia,FranceandChina,topossesssuchacapability.TheinductionofK15missile
intoIndianarmedforceswillconsiderablyenhancethecountry'snucleardeterrenceassealaunchedmissileswill
formcrucialpartofthecountry'ssecondstrikenuclearcapability.
"Indiatestfiresnuclearcapableunderseamissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,26February2008;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,26February2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
9January2008
IndiascrapstheIntegratedDevelopmentofGuidedMissileProgramme(IDGMP)andannouncesthedevelopment
andproductionofmostfuturisticweaponssystemstotakeplacewithforeigncollaboration.IDGMPwasinitiated
inearly1980sandunderitsurfacetosurfacelongerrangeAgnigroupofmissiles,shorterrangetacticalbattlefield
missilesPrithvi,surfacetoairTrishulandlongrangemultipletargetsurfacetoairAkashmissileshavebeen
developed.TheonlymissileyettobeinductedisthefourthgenerationantitankmissileNag.Thecountriesthat
alreadyhaveexpressedtheirreadinesstoworkjointlywithIndiaincludeFrance,Israel,UK,Russia,Germanyand
Singapore.AccordingtotheIndia'stopdefencescientistDr.S.Prahlada,longerrangemissiles,undersealaunched
missilesandfuturisticweaponssystemslikeelectroniccounterwarfaremeasureswouldbe"undertakenin
house".
"Indiascrapsstrategicmissileprogramme",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,9January2008;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,9January2008,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2007
22December2007
Inamajortechnologicalbreakthroughthatwilldrasticallyreducetheweightofmissilesandenablethemtoreach
longerrangeswithheavierpayloads,DefenceResearchDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistsdevelop
compositerocketmotorcasings(CRMC).OnlytheUnitedStates,RussiaandaEuropeanconsortiumachieveda
similarfeat.CRMCwillreducetheweightofarocketcasingby40percent,enablingthemissiletotakeheavier
payloadsorflyalongerrange.Inaddition,theCRMCresultincostreductionbyhalfcomparedtometalliccasings,
betterperformanceandlongstorageduetononcorrosivenatureofthematerial.
"Indiandefenceorganizationachieves'majorbreakthrough'inmissiletechnology",TheHindu(Chennai),22
December2007;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22December2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
22December2007
Aninedaycampaign,involvingthesurfacetoairAkashmissile,radars,mobilelaunchersandsupportsystems,
concludeswithamissilefired.SincethebeginningofthecampaignonDecember13,atotalofsixmissilesarefired
ondifferentdayswiththefullAkashsystemworkingintandem.Thecampaignisafantasticsuccessandithas
internationalsignificanceinbothtechnologyandoperation.
"Indiatestfiressurfacetoairmissile",TheHindu(Chennai),22December2007;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,22December2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2December2007
Indiatestsaspeciallydevelopedhighspeedinterceptormissile,AdvancedAirDefence(AAD),toexamineits
capabilitytodestroyamissile.TheAADisanewmissileandnotaderivativeoranupdateofanyexistingmissile.It
isspeciallydesignedanddevelopedbyDefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO)foritsinterceptor
role.
"Indiatestshighspeedinterceptormissiledefencesource",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,2December2007;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,2December2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
25October2007
Inamajorbreakthrough,India'sindigenousLightCombatAircraft(LCA)'Tejas'successfullytestfiresforthefirst
timeaclosecombatRussianR73airtoairmissile.Hailingitasa"milestone",adefenceministryspokesmansays
thisheraldsthestartoftheweaponisationofTejas.Theinitialoperationalconfigurationforthefighterisexpected
between2011and2012andtheaircraftwillbefullyoperationalby2013.
"IndianlightcombataircrafttestfiresRussianmissile",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),25October2007;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,26October2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5October2007
IndiatestfiresitsindigenouslybuiltshortrangevariantofAgniballisticmissile,AgniI.Thisisthefourthtestfiring
ofthesurfacetosurfaceballisticmissile,whichiscapableofstrikingatargetuptoadistanceof700kms.
"Indiatestfiresindigenousshortrangeballisticmissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,5October2007;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,5October2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5September2007
AccordingtotheDefenceMinisterA.K.Antony,submarinelaunchedversionofBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile
isready.Theshipandlandlaunchedversionofthemissilearealreadyclearedforinductioninnavyandarmy,after
aseriesofsuccessfulflighttrialslaunchedfromshipsandfromroadmobilelaunchers.Accordingtoexperts,the
submarinesinthearmoryoftheNavynamelytheGermanHDWseriesandtheRussianKiloclassdonothavethe
capabilitytolaunchsuchmissiles.
"Indiadevelopsmissilecapableoflaunchingfromsubmarine",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),5September2007;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5September2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21June2007
PresidentA.P.J.AbdulKalamasksBrahMosteamtoworkondeveloping"MarkII"versionofBrahMoshypersonic
cruisemissilesystemandalsoreusableclassofcruisemissiles.Fastdeploymentofhypersonicmissilesystemsis
necessarytomaintainIndia'sforcelevelsupremacy.ThepresidentalsoaskstheBrahMosjointventurefirm
betweenIndiaandRussiatoaggressivelymarket"worldclass"productwithamarketshelflifeofnotmorethan
fiveyears.
"Indianpresidentordersworkon'MarkII'versionofBrahMoscruisemissile",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),21
June2007;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21June2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21June2007
TheIndianarmybecomesthefirstforceintheworldtobearmedwithsupersonicsurfacetosurfacecruisemissile,
withtheinductionof290kmrangeBrahMosmissile.TheUS,FrenchandChineseforceshaveonlysubsoniccruise
missilesintheirarmory.Theactualdeliveryofthemissilewillcommencenextmonth,almostayearaheadofthe
scheduledinductionfixedearlierforJuly,2008.
"IndianarmyinductssupersonicBrahMoscruisemissile",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),21June2007;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,21June2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23April2007
AnewregimentoftheIndianArmythatisbeingspeciallyraisedtestfirestheBrahMoscruisemissile,confirming
thattheartillerywingisbeingrestructuredandexpanded.Thisisthethirdmissilegroupthatthearmyisraising.
Thefirsttwothe333andthe444wereraisedforthePrithviandtheAgniIImissiles.TheBrahMosisadifferent
classofmissilecruise,notballisticandcallsforaspecialsetofskillsfromtheregimentthatwillberesponsible
forit.
"India:Armysetsupnewregimenttohandlesupersonicmissile",TheTelegraph(Kolkata),24April2007;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24April2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
30March2007
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresitsindigenouslydevelopedbeyondvisualrange(BVR)airtoairAstramissile.The
successisareliefforthescientistsoftheDefenceResearchDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)aftertheprevious
failure.TheobjectiveofthemissileistoprovidetheIndianAirForce(IAF)withanindigenouslydesignedBVRAAM
toequiptheIAFsMirage2000,MiG29,Su30MKIandtheLightCombatAircraft(LCA).
"Astratestfiresuccessful",TheStatesman(India),30March2007;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30March
2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
9February2007
AnIndianpublicsectorundertaking(PSU)andaEuropeandefenceconglomerateareintheprocessofjointly
developingamissilewarningsystem,basedonasensorcalledMILDSAN/AAR60.Thesystemwillbeintegrated
intotheexistingmultisensorwarningnetworkofIndia'sarmedforcesanditsprimarygoalistoprotectIndianAir
Force(IAF)aircraft.
"IndiatodevelopmissilewarningsystemwithEuropeancompany",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),9February
2007;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9February2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5February2007
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresitssupersoniccruisemissile,BrahMos.Thelaunchissuccessful,butdatahastobe
analyzedbeforeafinalevaluationcanbemade.
"SupersonicmissileistestedbyIndia",TheWesternMail,5February2007;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5
February2007,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2006
27November2006
Inamajorbreakthrough,India'sdefencescientistssuccessfullycarryoutasurfacetosurfacemissileinterception
overtheBayofBengalbrighteningtheprospectsofdevelopmentofanindigenousantimissileshield.The
supersonicmissile,labelledonlyasAXO(AtmosphereInterceptSystem),successfullyinterceptsasurfaceto
surfacePrithvitargetmissileatanaltitudeof40t050km.AccordingtothetopDefenceResearchDevelopment
Organisation(DRDO)officials,thisnewmissileisnotpartofcountry'sIntegratedGuidedMissileprogramme.The
missilehasresponsetimeof30secondsandonceitdetectsatargetitcanbelaunchedin50seconds.Ithashigh
maneuverability,terminalhomingwithradarseekersandcanoperateindependentofgroundradarhelp.
"Indiaunveilsnewindigenousantimissilesystem","Indiaacquiresantimissilecapability",PTINewsAgency
(NewDelhi),27November2006;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27November2006,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
2August2006
AccordingtoIndianDefenceMinisterPranabMukherjee,thePrithviandAgnistrategicmissilesystems,aswellas
theirvariants,areinductedintothearmedforces.ThedevelopmentoftheAkashandTrishulsurfacetoairmissiles
andNagantitankmissileiscompleteandthearmedforcesplacesproductionordersforthesemissiles,aswellas
fortheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile.
"IndiainductsPrithvi,Agnimissilesintoarmedforces",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),2August2006;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,2August2006,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
9July2006
IndiatestfiresitsintermediaterangeballisticmissileAgniIII.Thesecondstageofthenuclearcapablemissile,
designedtohittargetsatadistanceof3,500km,doesnotseparateanditfallsintotheBayofBengal.Themissile
goesuptoaheightofabout12kmbeforethesnagdevelops.Thesourcesattributetheproblemtoadesign
failure.ThisisthefirstlaunchoftheAgniIII,themostsophisticatedproductoftheIntegratedGuidedMissile
DevelopmentProgrammethatstartedin1983.ThetestingofthemissilewasrepeatedlyputoffsinceNovember
2004foravarietyofreasons,includingoncefortechnicalproblems.
"AgniIIItestfails",TheStatesman(India),9July2006;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9July2006,
http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6July2006
TheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)approvesthepurchaseofthreemoreRussianstealthKrivakclass
warshipsand28submarinelaunchedKLUBlandattackcruisemissiles.AccordingtoPrimeMinisterManmohan
Singh,thepurchaseofthethreeRussianfrigatesisafollowupordertothepurchaseofthreeofthesametypeof
warshipsinthelate1990s.
"IndiancabinetapprovespurchaseofRussianwarships,missiles",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),6July2006;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6July2006,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11June2006
IndiasuccessfullytestfiresPrithvi,itsmostsophisticatedsurfacetosurfacemissile.
"Indiasuccessfullytestfiressurfacetosurfacemissile",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi);11June2006;inLexis
9March2006
AccordingtoDefenceMinisterPranabMukherjee,theCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)clearsproposalfor
procurementof54PrithvimissilesfortheIndianArmedForcesfromDefencePublicSectorUnitBharatDynamics
Limited.TheCCSalsoapprovestheacquisitionof12IntermediateJetTrainers(IJTs)fromHindustanAeronautics
Limited,Bangaloreandof11InterceptiveBoatsfortheCoastGuard.
"IndiancabinetapprovesprocurementofPrithvimissiles",PTINewsAgency(NewDelhi),9March2006;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,9March2006,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6February2006
AccordingtoDefenseNews,Israelsignsasecret$350milliondealwithIndiatodevelopandmanufacturethelong
rangeBarakantimissileairdefensesystemforbothcountries'militaries.ThedealissignedbetweenIsraelAircraft
Industries(IAI)andtheIndianDefenseResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL).IAIwillfinance50percentof
theprojectwhichisscheduledtobecompletedwithinfiveyears.IAIofficialsrefusetoconfirmthisinformation.
YaakovKatz,"IsraelIndiasigna$350missiledeal",TheJerusalemPost,6February2006;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,6February2006,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
30January2006
Forthethirdtimeinasmanydays,thesurfacetoairmissile"Akash"issuccessfullytestfired.
"Indiatestfiressurfacetoairmissileagain",PTINewsagency(NewDelhi),30January2006;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,30January2006,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
28January2006
IndiatestfirestwiceitssurfacetoairmissileAkash.Thesleek5.6metermissileswitharangeof25kmarefired
fromamobilelauncherwithinagapof5minutes,targetingamovingobjectattachedtoapilotlesstargetaircraft.
"IndiatestssurfacetoairmissileAkash",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,28January2006;inLexisNexisAcademic
2005
21December,2005
Indiasignsacontractworth$400millionforpurchaseof24RussianTunguskaM1gunmissileairdefence
complexes.Eachairdefencecomplexiscomprisedofatracked,armoredvehiclecarryingtwoautomaticcannons,
missilesandradardetectionandtargetingequipment.TheTunguskaiscapableofdestroyingenemyaircraftwithin
arangeof18kmandcanbeusedfordefendingmilitaryunitsonthemarchandinbattlearrayfrommilitary
aircraftandcruisemissiles.AccordingtoInterfax,SelfpropelledTunguskagunmissilecomplexistheonlyair
defencesystemwithintegratedgunandmissilechannels.
"$400defencewaredealsignedwithRussia",TheStatesman(India),22December2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
8December2005
IndiasuccessfullytestfiresitsshortrangesurfacetoairmissileTrishul.Thesolidfuelpropelledmissileispartof
theIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgramme(IGMDP),hasarangeof9kmandfliesatsupersonic
speed.
"Trishultestfired",TheStatesman(India),9December2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9December
1December2005
IndiatestfirestheArmyversionofsupersoniccruisemissileBrahMos.Thisisthesuccessful11thflightofthe
missile,jointlydevelopedbyIndiaandRussia.TheAirForceversionistobedevelopedsoonfollowingapprovalby
bothgovernments.TheversionwillbeintegratedwiththeSukhoi30MKI.
T.S.Subramanian,"ArmyversionofBrahmostestfired",TheHindu,1December2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
24November2005
AccordingtotheScientificAdvisertotheDefenceMinister,M.Natarajan,aRs.300croresfacilitywillbesetupby
theDefenceDevelopmentandResearchOrganization(DRDO)atNashiktomanufacturepropellantsformissiles
androckets.Itwouldhelpinresearchonprocessengineeringandproductionofpropellantsrequiredfordifferent
programmes.
"Nashikfacilitytomakemissilepropellants",TheHindu,24November2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
24November2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23November2005
AccordingtoDrPrahalada,chiefcontrolleranddirectorofIndia'sDefenceResearchandDevelopmentLaboratories
(DRDL),theIndiangovernmentagreesinprincipletoallowexportsofAkash,Trishul,Naag,andBrahMosclassof
missiles.Theclearancestowhichcountrytheycanbeexportedisyettocome.Besidesearningforeignexchange,it
wouldalsomeanbetterjobopportunitiesforindustriesandemploymentopportunitiesforunemployed.Although
thereareseveralcountriesdealinginmissiles,Indiashouldbeabletocapturesomemarketasthecoststructure
forIndianmissilesiscompetitive.
"Indiangovernmentagrees"inprinciple"toallowmissileexport",PTInewsagency,NewDelhi,23November
2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23November2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5October2005
Indiasuccessfullytestfiresshortrangesurfacetoairmissile"Trishul".DevelopedbytheDefenceResearchand
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),"Trishul"hasatriplebattlefieldroleforthearmy,airforceandnavy.Thesolid
fuelpropelledmissilehasarangeof9kmandcanbefittedwithfragmentedwarhead.
"Indiatestfires"Trishul"surfacetoairmissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,5October2005;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,5October2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
4October2005
IndiaandPakistansignaccordsonprenotificationofballisticmissiletestsandsettingupofacommunicationlink
betweentheIndianCoastGuardandthePakistanMaritimeSecurityAgency.Theagreementonprenotificationof
missiletestsentailsthatbothcountriesprovideeachotheradvancenotificationbeforeundertakinganysurfaceto
surfaceballisticmissiletest.Anunderstandingonthiswasreachedbetweenthetwocountriesatthethirdround
ofNCBMtalkson5and6AugustinDelhi.
"Missilesonnoticeforpeaceroute",TheStatesman(India),4October2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4
October2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6July2005
TheRussianIndianjointventureBrahMosbeginsserialmanufactureofitsnewcruisemissiletoorderforthe
Indiannavy.AccordingtoAleksandrMaksichev,theactinggeneraldirectoroftheMashinostroyeniyeassociation,
themissilewillnotonlybesuppliedtotheIndianandRussiannavies,butwillbeavailabletoothercountriesas
well.
"RussianIndiancruisemissilegoesintoproduction",BBCMonitoringFormerSovietUnion,6July2005;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,6July2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
28June2005
IndiaandtheUnitedStatessignanewframeworkfordefencerelationshipforthenexttenyears,providing
opportunitiesinareassuchastechnologytransfer,coproductionandresearchanddevelopment.Conductingjoint
exercisesandexchanges;collaboratinginmultinationaloperations;strengtheningthemilitaries'capabilitiesto
defeatterrorism;enhancingthecapabilitiestocombatproliferationofweaponsofmassdestruction;and
expandingcollaborationinmissiledefenceareenvisagedintheframework.ItisalsoagreeduponthattheDefence
PolicyGroupshallcontinuetoserveastheprimarymechanismtoguidethebilateralstrategicdefence
relationship.ADefenceProcurementandProductionGroupisalsotobesetup,tooverseedefencetradeandlook
atprospectsforcoproductionandtechnologycollaboration.
SridharKrishnaswami,"India,U.S.signframeworkfordefencecooperation",TheHindu,30June2005;inLexis
13May2005
TheIndianparliamentapprovesabilltopreventtransferofweaponsofmassdestructionandtheirtechnology
fromIndia.Thegovernmentassuresthatthisbillwouldinnowayhinderdevelopmentofdefencecapabilitiesin
thecountry.AccordingtotheExternalAffairsMinisterNatwarSingh,theWeaponsofMassDestructionandtheir
DeliverySystems(ProhibitionofUnlawfulActivities)Bill,2005,doesnotseektocheckdevelopmentofmissile
technology,butpreventleakageofthistechnology.
"Indianparliamentapprovesweaponsofmassdestructionbill",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,13May2005;in
12May2005
IndiatestfiresPrithvi,itsmostsophisticatedsurfacetosurfacemediumrangemissile.ScientistsoftheDefence
ResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andarmypersonnel,whoconductthetest,describeitasauser's
trial.
"IndiatestfiresnuclearcapablemissilePrithvi",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,12May2005;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,12May2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11May2005
AccordingtotheDefenceResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)DirectorPrahlada,theindigenouslybuilt
mediumrangesurfacetoairmissileAkashcanbeusedfordisastermanagement.Advancedcomputersoftware
usedformissiledevelopmentcanhelpcoastalStatespredictnaturalcalamities,liketsunami,andcoordinate
rescueoperations.
"Akashcanbeusedindisastermanagement",TheHindu,11May2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11
May2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
16April2005
BrahMos,thesupersoniccruisemissilejointlydevelopedbyIndiaandRussia,scoresaperfecttenoutoften.Thisis
thefirsttimethatBrahMosisequippedwithalivewarheadandtheflighttakesplaceinthecombatmodeofthe
Navy.TheeventsignalsthattheproductionofthemissilefortheNavyhasstarted.BrahMosisaversatilemissile
thatcanbelaunchedfromsilosonland,bigtrucks,ships,aircraftandsubmarine.Workhasstartedondeveloping
themissiletobelaunchedfromaircraft.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahmostestfiredoffWestcoast",TheHindu,16April2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,16April2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24March2005
AccordingtotheNagProjectDirector,S.S.Mishra,theaerialversionofantitankNagmissileisunder
development.Nag,anallweather,fireandforgetantitankmissile,isoneofthefivedevelopedbytheDefence
ResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)undertheIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgramme
(IGMDP).TheothersareAkash,Trishul,PrithviandAgni.Inaddition,Indiaisalsoworkingondevelopingathird
generationportableNagmissile.Itisplannedtodevelopthemissileinfourtofiveyears.TheU.S.andIsrael
alreadyhavesuchmissiles.
Y.Mallikarjun,"AerialversionofNagisbeingdeveloped",TheHindu,24March2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,24March2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
19March2005
Thethirdgenerationantitankguidedmissilesystem"Nag"issuccessfullytestfiredinwesternIndianstateof
Maharashtra.AccordingtothedirectorofDefenceResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)Prahlada,"Nagis
anallweatherdayandnightweaponanditsuniqueguidancesystembasedoninfraredimagingensureshigh
accuracyandmainlytargetsabattletankfromthetop."
"Indiatestfiresantitankmissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,20March2005;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
20March2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24February2005
Forthesecondtimeinfourdays,Indiasuccessfullytestfiresitsindigenouslydevelopedmediumrangesurfaceto
airmissileAkash.
"Indiatestfiresmediumrangesurfacetoairmissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,24February2005;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,24February2005,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21February2005
IndiasuccessfullytestfiresAkash,itssurfacetoairmissile.Itisthethirdconsecutiveflightinwhichthemissile
showedtotalconsistency.Theproblemsencounteredintheearlierflightareovercomeandthemissiletravelsits
entirerangeof25kmandhitsthepilotlesstargetaircraft"Lakshya."
T.S.Subramanian,"Akashtestfiredsuccessfully",TheHindu,22February2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
12February2005
Indiacontinuesworkonitsmissileshield(a200sqkmareadefencesystem)thatcanprotectbigcitiesand
strategicfacilitieslikenuclearreactorsandspacelaunchingsitesagainstincomingmissiles.Theprojectbegan
abouttwoyearsagoandcouldbefinishedinthenextfiveorsixyears.Thesystemwillcomprisethreeparts.The
firstpartwillbealongrangetrackingradarthatwillbeabletopickupincomingmissilesmovingatsupersonic
speedsabout600kmaway.ThesecondpartwillbethecreationofaC3Isystemthatwillallowtheregisteringof
informationanddecisionmakingleadingtoaction.Thethirdcomponentwillbethesurfacetoairmissile.Inthe
past,IndiahasbeenofferedsimilarsystemsbyRussia(theS300)andIsrael(theArrow,whichhasAmerican
components),butneitherhasbeenagreedtobyIndiaasyet.
"Missileshieldheadingforcompletion",TheStatesman(India),12February2005;inLexisNexisAcademic
19January2005
IndiasuccessfullytestsTrishul,itsmostsophisticatedshortrangesurfacetoairmissile.Themissilefliesat
supersonicspeedandcanbeusedbythearmy,airforceandnavy.
"Indiatestfiresshortrangesurfacetoairmissile",BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,19January2005;inLexisNexis
2004
22December2004
DuringavisittotheVelloreInstituteofTechnologytoinauguratethe21stAllIndiaManufacturingTechnology
DesignandResearchConference,theDirectorofIndia'spremiermissiledevelopmentorganization,Defense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)Dr.Prahladastatesthathisorganizationisworkingonthe
developmentofahypersonicvehiclecapableofflyingataspeed10timesthespeedofsound;anddevelopment
willbecompletedwithinthreeyears.PrahladaalsostatesthatDRDLisalsoworkingonabeyondthevisualrange
airtoairmissileAstra,whichwillbereadywithinfiveyears.
"Hypersonicairvehiclewillbereadyinthreeyears,"Hindu,www.hinduonnet.com,22December2004.
22December2004
IndiatestsalandtolandorArmyversionoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile.Theflighttestedmissile
successfullydistinguishesanddestroysapredeterminedbuildingfromwithinaclusterofbuildings.
T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMosIIbangontarget,"Hindu,www.hinduonnet.com,22December2004.
13December2004
Inanaddresstothe56thconventionoftheAeronauticalSocietyofIndia,theCEOandManagingDirectorofthe
IndoRussianjointventurecompanyBrahMosAerospacePvt.Ltd.Dr.SivathanuPillaistatesthatthefirstBrahMos
supersoniccruisemissilewillbedeployedonanIndianNavywarshipin2005.BrahMosAerospacehasalready
receivedaletterofintentandmonetaryadvancefromtheNavyonthebasisofwhichproductionofthemissilehas
begun.PillaialsodisclosesthattheAirForceversionoftheBrahMoswillflyontheSukhoi30andwillrequire
reconfigurationto"reducetheboosterfortheaircraft."AlthoughthedevelopmenttimefortheAirForcevariantis
expectedtobeaboutfourtofiveyears,PillaiexpressesconfidencethatBrahMosAerospacewillbeabletoachieve
thetaskwithin"threeyears."TheBrahMoswillbeproducedbyaconsortiumof20Indian(sevenpublicand13
privatesector)and10Russiancompanies.TheRussianequityinBrahMosAerspacehasbeenfinancedthroughthe
diversionofIndianloanrepaymentstoRussia.
"IAFvariantofBrahMoslikelyinthreeyears,"TimesofIndia,13December2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,13December2004.
9December2004
Inawrittenreplytoparliament,IndianDefenseMinisterPranabMukherjeestatesthattheindigenouslydeveloped
TrishulandAkashsurfacetoairmissilesandtheNagantitankmissileswillbereadyforusertrialsbyDecember
2005.ThePrithviIhasalreadybeeninductedintotheArmyanddevelopmenttrialsoftheAirForceandNavy
versionsofthePrithviPrithviIIandDhanushhavebeencompleted.TheBrahMos,AgniI,andIIareinthe
processofinductionintothearmedservices.TheIndiangovernment,Mukherjeestates,isnotconsideringthe
exportofthePrithviandAgniballisticmissilesasbothclassesofmissilesaresubjecttointernational
nonproliferationrestrictions.However,certaincountrieshaveshowninterestinpurchasingtheNagandthe
BrahMos.
"Akash,Trishul,Nagmissilestouser,"PressTrustofIndia,9December2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,9December2004.
6December2004
IndiaandRussiasignanagreementtoprotectintellectualpropertyassociatedwithRussianmilitarytechnology
transferredtoIndia.IndianDefenseMinisterPranabMukherjeestatesthateffortstodraftaformalagreementwill
commenceinJanuary2005.RussianDefenseMinisterSergeiIvanovindicatesthatRussiaisreadytoincreaseits
investmentintheBrahMoscruisemissileprojectinwhichbothcountrieshold50percentoftheshares.
"IndiaRussiawillsign,"AviationWeek&SpaceTechnology,6December2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,9December2004.
6December2004
IndiaandRussiaplanondevelopinganairversionoftheBrahMoscruisemissile.Theairversionwillbeintegrated
withSukhoi30MKIcombataircraft.Theairversionofthemissilewillbedevelopedintwoyears;itwillbelighter
thanthenavalversion,butwillhavethesamerange.Theairversionwillalsohaveanimprovedboosteranda
modifiedcapnose.TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isalsoplanningtotestalandor
Armyversionofthemissilefromamobilelaunchcomplexongroundtowardsalandtarget.
"IndiaRussiatodevelopairlaunchedversionofBrahMos,"Hindu,6December2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5February2004.
6December2004
India'sPresidentDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamvisitstheBrahMosAerospaceheadquartersinNewDelhi.Inanaddressto
thecompany'sstaffKalamsaysthatBrahMosisoneofthemostcompetitivemissilesystemsandthrustshouldbe
giventomarketingthemissiletofriendlyThirdWorldcountries.Ifthemissileisnotmarketedintime,itwouldface
competitionfromothermissilesinthemarket.
"IndiaRussiatodevelopairlaunchedversionBrahMos,"Hindu,6December2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
6December2004
IndiaindicatesinterestinpurchasingtheArrowantiballisticmissilesystemfromIsraelintalkswiththeIsraeli
defenseministryDirectorGeneralAmosYaronandIsraelAircraftIndustriesCEOMosheQeret,whoareonavisit
toIndiaaspartofIndustryandTradeMinisterEhudQlmert'sentourage.
"IndiainterestedinbuyingIsrael'santimissilesystem,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,6December2004;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,6December2004.
4December2004
RussianPresidentVladimirPutininauguratesajointIndoRussianmilitaryventureinNewDelhitomanufacturethe
BrahMossupersonicantishipcruisemissile.
"PutininauguratesIndianRussianmissilemanufacturingcomplex,"DPA,4December2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5December2004.
3December2004
IndiaconcedesRussia'stwoyearoldrequestforadefensesecrecyagreementtoensurethathighenddefense
equipmentandtechnologyreceivedfromRussiaisnotsoldortransferredtoanothercountry.IndianDefense
MinisterPranabMukerhjeesaysthattheagreementislikelytobenegotiatedwithinthenextfourorfivemonths.
SandeepDikshit,"India,RussiaplanonfreshinvestmentfordevelopingBrahMosmissile,"Hindu,3December
2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,3December2004.
3December2004
IndiaandRussiaagreetotaketheirstrategicpartnershiptoa"higher"technologicallevel,despitedifferences
concerningtheprotectionofintellectualpropertyrights(IPR)andthemaintenanceanddeliveryschedulesof
weaponsystems.RussiawouldlikeIndiatosignanIPRagreementimmediatelysothatadvancedweaponsystems
suchastheBrahMoscruisemissilejointlydevelopedbybothcountriesarenotexportedbyIndiatothirdcountries
withoutRussia'sconsent.InturnIndiawouldlikeRussiatoprovidestrongcommitmentsonmaintenanceof
deliveryschedulesoncontractedweaponsystems,uninterruptedsuppliesofspares,andlifetimeproductsupport.
RussianDefenseMinisterSergeiIvanovsaysthat"we[Russianfederation]arepreparedtotransferfrontier
technologytoIndiainastrategictieupbasedonanewpatternofdefensecooperation."
"India,Russiatomakedefensetiesstronger,"TimesofIndia,3December2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
2December2004
RussiaagreestoexpanditsroleinthejointIndoRussianBrahMoscruisemissileproject.RussianDefenseMinister
SergeiIvanovsaysthat"inthecomingdaysexecutiveorderswillbepassedsothattheshareofRussia'ssideinthe
projectwillbescaledup."Headdsthatthe"India,Russiarelationshiphasnowmovedfromabuyerseller
relationshiptojointtechnologydevelopmentofnewprojects."
"RussiatoshoreupsupporttoIndiaincruisemissileproject,"AFP,2December2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
2December2004
RussianDefenseMinisterSergeiIvanovexpressesskepticismabouttheexportpotentialoftheBrahMossupersonic
missileprojectandtellsreportersthatheis"notenthusiasticabouttheproject.Sofarithasbeenastillbornbaby."
Ivanovfuthersays,"TheRussiansideshouldsignagovernmentresolutiontoincreasethechartercapitalofthe
Russiancompanyinvolvedintheproject.Iwillhopethiswillhappeninthenearestfuture."
"RussianministerskepticalaboutBrahMosmissileprojectwithIndia,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,2
December2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,2December2004.
2December2004
IndiaagreestoparticipateinRussia'sGlobalNavigationSatelliteSystem(GLONASS).Underthetermsofthe
agreementsignedwithRussia,IndiawillparticipateintheprogrambylaunchingRussiansatellitesandthetwo
countrieswilljointlyoperatethesystem.Indiacouldalsopotentiallygainaccesstothemilitaryapplicationsofthe
GLONASSsystem,whichcouldhelpimprovetheaccuracyofIndianmissiles.
VladimirRadyuhin,"India,Russiatobuildspacenavigationsystem,"Hindu,2December2004;inLexisNexis
2December2004
IndiaandRussiainkthreeprotocolsconcerningfreshinvestmentsintheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile
programafterameetingbetweentheIndianandRussiandefenseministersPranabMukherjeeandSergeiIvanov.
UndertheagreementsRussiawilltakeupastakeof50to60percentintheBrahMosproject,whichisexpectedto
providetheprojectwithanadditional$50million.AccordingtoRussianofficials,360370BrahMoscruisemissiles
couldbeproducedannually.IndiaandRussiaalsoagreetodraftanintellectualpropertyagreementinthenext
fourorfivemonthsconcerningintellectualpropertyincollaborativedefenseprojects.
"India,Russiasignprotocolsforproducingmissiles,"PressTrustofIndia,2December2004;inLexisNexis
1December2004
TheRussianspaceagencysaysthatitwillcontinuecooperationwithIndiainthedevelopmentofanoxygen
hydrogenboosterforspacerockets.Theagency'sheadAnatoilyPerminovsays,"InRussia,weareplanningto
installtheboosterinthenewpromisingAngararocket.TheIndianprojectisalreadyaheadofourown.Infact,
bothRussiaandIndiabenefitfromthat."
"Russia,Indiatocontinuecooperationindevelopingspacebooster,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,1
December2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,1December2004.
30November2004
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)usesalivewarheadduringatestoftheAkashsurface
toairmissile.ThisisthefirsttimethemissileistestedwithalivewarheadandaccordingtoDr.Prahlada,Director
ofDRDO'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL),theeventrepresents"amilestoneinthehistory
ofIndia'sdefenseresearchanddevelopment."
13November2004
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)planstoflighttestagroundtogroundversionofthe
BrahMossupersoniccruisemissileinDecember2004.Ithasalsosetupproductionfacilitiesandcandeliverone
missileeverymonth.TheDirectorofDRDLDr.Prahladasays,"theprogram[BrahMos]hasmaturedandcapability
totestfireandmanufacturethemasperuserdemandshasbeenachieved."
"BrahMos,Akash,Trishultobetestfiredsoon,"BusinessInsight,13November2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,16November2004;"BrahMos,Akash,Trishultobetestfiredsoon,"Business
Line,13November2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,14November2004.
7November2004
India'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)conductsthethirdtestoftheDhanush,thenaval
versionofthePrithvishortrangeballisticmissile.Themissileislaunchedusingastabilizedlauncheronthenaval
shipINSSubhadra,anchoredoffChandipuratseaontheOrissacoast.TheheadoftheDRDOteamDr.Saraswat
saysthat"allmissionparametersinrespectofaccuracyandrangewerefullymet."
"DhanushtestfiredfromOrissacoast,"PressTrustofIndia,7November2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,7November2004;"Dhanushmissilesuccessfullytestfired,"Hindu,8November2004;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,8November2004.
5November2004
Initsannualreport,India'sDefenseMinistrysaysthatthereisthe'threatofuseofnuclearweaponsagainstthe
country."Thereportfurtherstates,"TheIndianarmedforceshavetobepreparedforthefullspectrumofsecurity
challengesfromterrorism,lowintensityconflict,toconventionalwarandthepossibilityoftheuseofnuclear
weaponsandmissiles."Alongwithaminimumdeterrent,Indiaalsorequiresabalancedmixoflandbased,
maritime,andaircapabilities.
"Indiarequiresindependentdeterrentcapability:Report,"PressTrustofIndia,5November2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5November2004.
3November2004
ThenavalversionoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileistestedinashiptoshipmode.Themissileisfired
fromthenavaldestroyerRajputandusedtoattackadecommissionedship.ThisisthefourthtestoftheBrahMos
andofficialsfromtheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)reportthatthemissile"hada
perfecthitonthetargetedship."AccordingtoDr.SivathanuPillai,ChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheBrahMosproject,
"themajorachievementsofthetestsweremidcoursemaneuverabilityofthemissileandtheadvancedfire
controlsystems,whichfunctioned100percent."
"Brahmossuccessfullytested,"PressTrustofIndia,3November2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,3November2004;"Brahmosantishipmissiletested,"BusinessLine,4November
2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,4November2004.
27October2004
IndiatestsanavalversionofthePrithvidubbedPrithviIIIfromtheIntegratedTestRange(ITR)atChandipur.
ThemissileanditssubsystemsarebeingdevelopedundertheprojectnameK15andhavebeendesignatedfast
trackprojectsbytheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO).ThePrithviIIIcanbelaunchedfrom
underwaterandthiswasthefirsttestofthemissilefromaspeciallydesignedcanisterbaseinsertedinanartificial
waterbody.
"PrithviIIItestfired,"PressTrustofIndia,27October2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,28October2004.
22October2004
RussianDefenseMinisterSergeiIvanovdeniesreportsthatRussiaplanstoleasenuclearsubmarinestoIndia.
IvanovsaysthattherewerediscussionswithIndiaconcerningmilitarydeliveriesearlierduring2004,but"there
wasnotalkofleasinganysubmarines."
"RussiadeniesreportedleaseofnuclearsubmarinetoIndia,"XinhuaGeneralNewsService,22October2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,23October2004.
22October2004
ARussianmilitaryindustrysourcesaysthat"MoscowandNewDelhihavesignedacontractunderwhichtheIndian
NavywillgetaProject971multirolesubmarineona10yearlease."Thesubmarine,whichisbelievedtobe85
percentcomplete,isexpectedtobehandedovertoIndiaby2007.OtherRussianmediareportssuggestthatthe
constructionofthetwounfinishedProject971nuclearsubmarines,whichhadearlierbeensuspendedforthelack
offunds,hasresumedattheAmurShipyardsinKomsomolskontheAmurintheRussianFarEast.Indiaisreported
tohavemadeanadvancepaymentof$100milliontowardstheleasecontract.TheProject971submarinescanbe
equippedwith28nuclearcapable3000kmrangecruisemissiles;andtheIndianNavyversionsofthesubmarine
willlikelybearmedwiththe300kmrangenuclearcapableClubcruisemissiles.
VladimirRadyuhin,"RussiatoleasenuclearsubmarinetoIndia,"Hindu,22October2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,22October2004.
18October2004
IndoUSnegotiationsonphaseIIofthe'NextPhaseinStrategicPartnership'(NSSP)entersacriticalstage.Indian
officialssaythat"theUSislookingtodiscusschangesinourdomesticlawstotightenexportcontrols"andwants
toflagtheissueof"humanresources."TheUnitedStatesisconcernedthatIndiannuclearandmissilescientists
wouldbeaninvaluablesourcetopotentialproliferatorsbecausetheyaretheonlypooloftalentfamiliarwiththe
"startupstage"ofnuclearandmissileprograms.TheIndiangovernmentbelievesthatthecountry'sexistinglegal
frameworkofexportcontrolsisrobust.However,Indianofficialsadmitthatthewholeframeworkcanbe
"toughened"further.
"SiddharthVaradarajan,"IndiaUSnegotiationsenteringcrucialphase,"Hindu,18October2004;inLexisNexis
10October2004
IndiaplansontestingtheDhanushtheseaversionofthelandbasedPrithvishortrangeballisticmissileinthe
nearfuture.AtpresenttheIndianNavy'sreservationsabouttheDhanushconcernitssizeandthedifficultiesof
launchingthemissileinroughseaconditions.Asoftwareproblemthatledthemissiletoloopafterlaunchduring
anearliertest,hasreportedlybeenresolved.TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isalso
workingonasubmarinelaunchedversionoftheBrahMoscruisemissileandtheIndianNavyhasreportedly
designateditsKiloclasssubmarinesasthelikelyplatformforthesemissiles.Thenavyexpectsthesubmarine
versionoftheBrahMostobedevelopedwithinthenextthreeyears.
"Dhanushtobeputontrialsoon,"Statesman,10October2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,10October2004.
10October2004
AccordingtotheCEOandManagingDirectorofBrahMosAerospaceDr.A.SivathanuPillai,the'airlaunch'version
ofthecruisemissilewasinthedesignstagewillbedevelopedinanothertwotothreeyears.Pillaisaysthat
BrahMostrialsagainstseatargetshavebeenverysuccessful.
"AirlaunchversionsofBrahMosintwotothreeyears,"PressTrustofIndia,10October2004;inLexisNexis
9October2004
TheUSAmbassadortoIndiaDavidMulfordsaysinapublishedinterviewthatIndiaandtheUnitedStateshave
gonebeyondmerediscussionsonthemissiledefenseandtheissueunderdiscussionnowisto"figureoutwhich
[ballisticmissile]systemisneededwhere."
AmitBaruah,"USIndiahavegonebeyondtalkingaboutballisticmissiledefenses,"Hindu,9October2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,9October2004.
5October2004
TheIndiangovernmentfloatsanewapproachtoformpartnershipsbetweengovernmentowneddefense
laboratoriesandprivatecompaniestoencouragethelattertodevelopdefenseproducts.Underthenewapproach
governmentownedcompanyrun(GoCo)theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willenter
intoventureswithasmallequityandguaranteeprivatesectorcompaniesthatundertaketomanufacturethe
productswithabuybackguarantee.OneofthefirstproposalstobefloatedundertheGoComodelistodevelop
servovalvesusesinthecontrolsystemofmissiles.
"Defenseindustryjointventurefirmsinoffing,"BusinessInsight,5October2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,7October2004.
2October2004
TheDirectorofIndia'sleadingmissileresearchanddevelopmentlaboratoryResearchCenterImarat(RCI)Dr.
V.K.Saraswatoutlinesthekeypriorityareasforthelaboratoryinthefuture.AccordingtoSaraswat,Indiandefense
scientistsaimatdeveloping'smart'missilesthataresmaller,lighter,agile,andcanhomeinontargetswithgreat
accuracy.TheRCI'skeyfocusareasincludehypersonicvehicles,miniaturizedmissilesystems,nanotechnology,
verylargesystemsintegration(VLSI),andhomingguidance.Newminiaturizationtechnologiesofparticularinterest
toRCIareminiaturizedelectromechanicalsystems(MEMS)andsystemonchip(SOP).Inaddition,thelaboratory
isalsofocusingondevelopinganewrangeofruggedmaterialssuchasceramicsandlightweightcompositesthat
canwithstandtemperaturesofupto4,000C.SaraswatsaysthatfacilitiesatRCIarebeingexpandedtofacilitate
developmentoftechnologiesandproductsandthathehopestheprojectswillcometofruitionduringthenextfive
tosevenyears.
"Defensescientistsembarkonmaking'smart'missiles,"BusinessLine,3October2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,3October2004.
30September2004
AccordingtotheDeputyProgramDirectoroftheBrahMoscruisemissileprogram,S.Sundararajan,itwilltakeat
leastadecadebeforetheramjettechnologydevelopedfortheBrahMosmissilecanbedeclaredmature.
"BrahMoswillhavetowait,"Hindu,30September2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,30September2004.
18September2004
IndiawilldisplaytheBrahMoscruisemissileattheSouthAfricanDefenseExposcheduledtobeginon21st
September2004inPretoria.
"BrahMostobeputondisplay,saleatS.Africandefenseexpo,"PressTrustofIndia,18September2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,19September2004.
9September2004
TheIndianAirForce(IAF)isreportedlyincreasingitsarsenalofPrithvishortrangeballisticmissiles.Theairforce
recentlyplacedanorderfor54missiles.TheIAF'stwomissilesquadronsoneofwhichmaybecalledthe2203
SquardonarebeingraisedinHyderabad.However,themissileswillbemovedclosertotheborderwithPakistan
duringacrisisorwar.
SrinjoyChowdhury,"IAFincreasingPrithviarsenal,"Statesman,9September2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,8September2004.
8September2004
AccordingtothejointstatementissuedbytheIndianandPakistaniforeignministersattheconclusionofbilateral
talksinNewDelhi,thetwocountrieswillcontinuetoholdexpertlevelmeetingstodiscussthedraftagreementon
advancenotificationofmissiletests.
"TextofthejointstatementissuedattheconclusionofIndoPaktalksatforeignministers'level,"PakistanPress
InternationalInformationServicesLimited,8September2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,10September2004.
6September2004
InanaddressbeforetheDelhiPolicyGroup(DPG)inNewDelhi,India'sDeputyNationalSecurityAdvisorSatish
Chandracriticizestheproliferationsecurityinitiative(PSI)andballisticmissiledefense(BMD)twoUSinitiatives
designedtocombattheproliferationofweaponsofmassdestruction.ChandraquestionsthelegalityofPSIand
saysthatmissiledefensewas"partoftheparadigmshiftwhereit[UnitedStates]couldconsiderresortingtothe
useofnuclearweaponsinapreemptivemode."Chandraalsolamentsthatinsteadofmovinginthedirectionof
nucleardisarmament,theUnitedStateshas"beenadvocatingnewrationalesfortheretentionofnuclearweapons
anddevelopingnewtypesofnuclearweapons."ChandradescribesmeasuressuchasPSIas"adhocinitiatives"and
regretsthatIndiahasbeen"atthereceivingendofexistingexportcontrolregimes."Hearguesthatthe"USmoves
needtobeanalyzedcloselywithaviewtoensuringthatthenewsystemsbeingcontemplateddonothurtusthe
UShasannouncedseveralmeasures,mostnotablythePSIaswellasthecontainersecurityinitiativetoaddress
thisthreat.Someofthemeasurescontainedintheseproposalsarecommendablebutsomeotherscouldpose
problems.Foreinstance,thereareobviouslyproblemsoflegalityintheinterdictionsenvisagedunderthePSI.
Therearealsoproblemsastowhatwouldtriggertheseinterdictions."Chandraemphasizesthattheinternational
communityneedstoundertake"concertedactionsthroughuniversallynegotiatedprogramsandsystems"rather
than"adhoc,piecemealmeasures."
SiddharthVaradrajan,"Indiasignalswarinessonmissiledefense,"Hindu,6September2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,6September2004.
1September2004
TheoutgoingchiefofIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.Aatretellsreporters
thatIndiawillbecollaboratingwithIsraelandtheUnitedStatestodevelopnanomaterialsandhightech
componentsneededforelectronicwarfaresystems.AatresaysthatIndiahasdecidedtolaunchjointprograms
withIsraelinthefieldofelectronicwarfare,wherebothcountriesareonanequalfooting."Israelisverystrongin
sensorsandpackaging,"saysAatre,"wewouldliketoworkonfibreopticgyrosandmicroelectromechanical
systems."RespondingtoquestionsonIndoUSdefensecooperation,AatresaysthatIndiaandtheUnitedStates
havecollaboratedinthelifesciencesandwouldlaunchjointprogramsintheareasofnanotechnologyandnano
research.
"IndiatotieupwithIsrael,USforewarfaresystems,"FinancialExpress,1September2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,1September2004.
31August2004
TheheadofIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.Aatretellsreportersduringhis
farewellpressconferencethatDRDOistrainingtheIndianArmy'smissilegroupinlaunchtechniques,mounting
warheads,andothertechnicalparametersofsurfacetosurfacemissiles.AatreconfirmsthatsomeAgniIandII
ballisticmissileshavebeendeliveredtotheArmy."Wehavecompletelydevelopedsystemsforthesetwo
missiles,"saysAatre,"andacertainnumberofthemhavebeendeliveredtotheArmy."Aatrealsoconfirmsthat
Indiawill"soongoinforlaunchofthelongerrange3,000kmversionofthemissileAgniIII.thetechniquefor
longerrangemissilesexists.Weareintheprocessofputtingittogether,"hesays.
"IndiadeployingAgnimissiles,"PressTrustofIndia,31August2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,31August2004;"AgniIIIlaunchsoon,saysoutgoingDRDOchief,"EconomicTimes,1
September2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,1September2004.
31August2004
TheheadofIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.AatredeniesthatIsraelhas
alreadyhelpedIndiabuildguidedmissiles.AatresaysIndoIsraelidefensecooperationwasconfinedtoresearch
anddevelopmentintheareasofsensorsandfiberopticgyroscopesforthemilitary.
"IndiaplanstobuildlongrangemissileswithIsrael:Official,"AFP,31August2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,1September2004.
29August2004
IndiaflightteststheAgniIIballisticmissilefromWheelerIslandintheBayofBengalofftheOrissacoast.Thisisthe
thirdtestoftheAgniII.ProjectChiefR.N.Agarwalsays,"ThelaunchoftheAgniIIfromitsrailmobilelaunchermet
allthemissionobjectives,includingachievingthehighaccuracyinguidingthepayloadtothedesignatedtargetata
1,200kilometerrange."Agarwarladds,"Thewhitehotobject(payload)wastrackedbyprepositionednavalships
confirmingtheimpactandsuccessofthemission."
"AgniIItestfired,"PressTrustofIndia,29August2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,29August2004;"Indiatestsnuclearcapableballisticmissile,"AFP,29August2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,30August2004.
26August2004
Replyingtoaquestionraisedinparliament,India'sDefenseMinistersaysthatthe"navyhasplacedaLetterof
InterestforinductingBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilesincertaintypesofshipsandinshore.Productionhas
commencedforinductionin2005."
"BrahMossupersoniccruisemissiletobeinductedinNavynextyear,"PressTrustofIndia,26August2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,26August2004.
20August2004
India'sUnitedProgressiveAlliance(UPA)governmentindicatesthatitintendstocontinuewiththepreceding
NationalDemocraticAlliance(NDA)government'spolicesonmissiledefense.Inawrittenresponsetoaquestion
raisedinparliamentwhethertheUPAgovernmenthadformedanopinionontheUSoffertoincludeIndiainthe
missiledefenseprogram,theMinisterofStateforExternalAffairsE.Ahamedreplies,"presentationsandbriefings
bytheUSsideonmissiledefensehavebeenontheagendaoftheIndiaUSDefensePolicyGroupsince2001.The
USsidemadeapresentationonmissiledefenseinDelhion1June2004.Thereisnochangeinthepolicyofthe
governmentunderwhichithasheldpreliminarydiscussionsanddialoguewiththeUSonthesubjectofmissile
defense."
AmitBaruah,"UPAcontinuingNDApolicyonmissiledefense,"Hindu,20April2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20April2004.
19August2004
TheIndianparliament'sStandingCommitteeonDefenserecommendsthattheIndiangovernmentshouldsetup
aerospacecommandtotapthepotentialforouterspaceinpreparationfordefenseandfuturewarscenarios.
DespiteappreciatingtheIndiangovernment'sconcernsaboutapotentialarmsraceinouterspace,thecommittee
initsreporturgesthegovernmenttoprepareforanythreatfromouterspace.Thecommitteealsourgesthe
governmenttoexplorethepossibilityofexportingmissilesbuiltatBharatDynamicsLtd.intheinternational
defensemarket.
"Indiashouldgoaheadwithplanstotappotentialspacetech,"PressTrustofIndia,19April2004;inLexisNexis
19August2004
India'sDefenseMinisterPranabMukherjeeinformsparliamentthattheAgniIballisticmissilethatwaslasttested
on4thJuly2004"isinproductionforinductionintotheArmy."
"India'sAgniImissileinproductionstage,"PressTrustofIndia,19August2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,19August2004.
18August2004
TheScientificAdvisortoIndia'sDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.Aatresaysthatthe3,000kmrangeAgniIIIisinthefinal
phaseofintegration,butindicatesnotimeframeforflighttestingthemissile.HealsodisclosesthattheDefense
Research&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)hasbegundevelopingthebeyondthevisualrangeAstraairtoair
missile;thelatterwillbeintegratedwiththeLightCombatAircraft(LCA).
"3,000kmrangeAgniIIIinfinalphaseofintegration:Aatre,"PressTrustofIndia,18August2004;inLexisNexis
31July2004
India'snewChiefofNavalStaffAdmiralArunPrakashsaysthatthe"navyneedsnuclearsubmarinesbutitisupto
thegovernmenttotakeadecisionontheacquisition."Prakashsaysthathisgoalistomakethenavy"network
centric"byinterlinkinglongrangemissiles,radars,andsensorsonthenavalwarshipsthroughsatelliteand
informationtechnologytodeliveralethalpunch.
"Indianeedsnuclearsubmarines,saysnewnavalchief,"PressTrustofIndia,31July2004;inLexisNexis
31July2004
AddressingreportersattheAeronauticalSocietyofIndiameetinginHyderabad,theScientificAdvisortoIndia's
DefenseMinisterDr.V.K.AatresaysthatIndiaisseekingcollaborationwithIsraelinthedevelopmentoflong
rangemissiles."Wherevertheyhavestrengths,"saysAatre,"wewanttojointlydevelopthemissilessothatboth
thecountriescanbenefitandsharedesigns,costs,risk."Aatrealsodisclosesthataringlasergyroindigenously
developedbytheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)laboratoryatImaratwouldfind
applicationsinthenavigationalsystemsofmissilesandtheLightCombatAircraft(LCA).
"Longerrangemissilesintheoffing:defenseadvisor,"PressTrustofIndia,31July2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,1August2004.
21July2004
IndianDefenseMinisterPranabMukherjeeinformsparliamentthatthegovernmenthasbegunequippingthe
country'sarmedserviceswiththeBrahMoscruisemissile.Afteraseriesofsuccessfullaunches,thenavyhas
decidedtoequipanumberofitswarshipswiththemissile.Mukherjeealsonotesthegoodprospectsofsellingthe
BrahMosintheinternationaldefensemarket.However,heexplainsthatmarketingwillrequirethejointconsentof
theIndianandRussiangovernments.IndiandefensesourcessuggestthatthefiveRajputorKashinIIclass
destroyersinthenavy'sfleetwouldbeamongthefirsttobeequippedwiththemissile.
YuriSidorov,"IndiaequippingarmedforceswithBrahMosmissile,"ITARTASS,21July2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,22July2004;"NavystartsinductingBrahMos,"BusinessInsight,
23July2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,10August2004;RajatPandit,"Navy
beginstoinductBrahMos,"TimesofIndia,24July2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,26July2004.
20July2004
AnIsraelidefensedelegationholdshighleveltalkswithIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO)onanumberofjointprojectsinhightechnologyareasincludingthedevelopmentofunmannedaerial
vehicles(UAV).
"HighlevelIsraelidefensedelegationholdstalkswithDRDO,"PressTrustofIndia,20July2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20July2004.
4July2004
Indiatestsits700kmrangeAgniIballisticmissilefromamobilelauncheronWheelerIslandoffeasternOrissa
state.ThisisthethirdflighttestoftheAgniI.TheScientificAdvisortoIndia'sDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.Aatresays
theprimemotiveforthistestwastoreconfirmthetechnicalparameterssetfortheuser(Army)associatedlaunch.
Indiandefensesourcesclaimthetestshowedconsiderableimprovementsinthemissile'sreentryand
maneuverability;accordingtodataobtainedfromgroundradars,telemetrystationsandvisualobservations,all
objectivesofthetestweremet.TheDirectoroftheAdvancedSystemsLaboratoryDr.R.N.Agarwal(Mission
Director)callsthetesta"textbook"launch.
PratapMohanty,"Indiatestsnuclearcapablemissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,4July2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5July2004;"IndiatestfiresupgradedAgniI,"TimesofIndia,5July
2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5July2004;SandeepDikshit,"Army'smissile
grouptomaintainAgniA1,"Hindu,5July2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5
July2004.
23June2004
TheIndiannavymakespublicIndia'snavaldoctrineandmakesthecaseforaseabasednuclearcapability.The
doctrineemphasizesthatnuclearweaponshavethepotentialtodeliverunacceptabledamagetoanyregimeand
urgestheIndiangovernmenttoinvestinnuclearsubmarinescapableoflaunchingnucleartippedmissiles.
"NewIndiannavaldoctrinesaysnuclearsubmarines'essential',"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,23June
2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,23June2004.
21June2004
AccordingtothetestofthejointstatementissuedbyIndiaandPakistanaftertheexpertleveltalksonnuclear
confidencebuildingmeasures,bothcountriesagreeto"worktowardsconcludinganagreementwithtechnical
parametersonprenotificationofflighttestingofmissiles,adraftofwhichwaspresentedbytheIndianside."
AmitBaruah,"Textofjointstatement,"Hindu,21June2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,21June2004.
21June2004
InanaddresstoIndianandAmericanspacescientistsduringafivedayconferenceinBangaloretheUS
AmbassadortoIndiaDavidC.MulfordsaysthattheUnitedStatesdesiresto"deepen"theongoingdialoguewith
Indiaonmissiledefenseandengageitina"moresophisticated"andadvancedlevel.Mulfordelaboratesthat
"thereisalreadyconversationthatisgoingon.Thequestionisthedegreeofsophisticationoverconfidentialityif
youlike"
"USdesirestodeepenmissiledefensedialoguewithIndia,"PressTrustofIndia,21June2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,21June2004.
19June2004
India'sDefenseMinisterPranabMukherjeesaysthattheAgniIIIballisticmissilewasscheduledforaflighttestin
November2003;butthetestwaspostponed.However,themissilewillbetestedin2004.Withoutgivingany
precisetimeframeforthetest,Mukherjeetellsreporters,"youwillgettoknowwhenwecarryoutthetests."
"AgniIIImissiletobetestfired"whenrequired"IndianDefenseMinister,"BBCMonitoringInternational
Reports,20June2004;inLexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20June2004.
15June2004
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)plansonconductingonefinaldemonstrationtestof
theBrahMoscruisemissileandisawaitingordersfromtheIndiangovernmenttocommencemassproduction.
Massmanufactureisexpectedtobeginbytheendof2004.TheDRDO'sDefenseResearch&DefenseLaboratory
(DRDL)hasthecapacitytoproducefourtosixBrahMosmissilesannually.
DRDLawaitsorderstobeginBrahMosproduction,"BusinessInsight,15June2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,26June2004.
13June2004
IndiatestsasurfacetosurfacearmyversionoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile.Thisistheseventhtestof
themissile.Themissilewaslaunchedverticallyfromacontainerusingamobileautonomouslauncher.Ofthe
sevenflighttestsconductedsofar,twohavebeenconductedfromships,threefromland,andtwofromland
basedTATRAmobilelaunchers.Althoughnomissilehasbeenflighttestedusingsubmarineplatforms,aDefense
Research&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcesaysthatthesubmarineversionisready.
"BrahMostestfiredsuccessfully,"BusinessInsight,14June2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,25June2004;T.S.Subramanian,"Kalamcongratulatesscientists,"Hindu,14June
2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,14June2004;T.S.Subramanian,"BrahMos
launchsuccessful,"Hindu,14June2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,14June
2004.
4June2004
TheScientificAdvisortoIndia'sDefenseMinisterV.K.AatresaysthatIndiahasbegunintegratingthe3,000km
AgniIIIballisticmissilewithanaimtotestitin2004.However,Aatresaysthatitisdifficultforhimtopredict
preciselywhenthemissilewillbetestedandthetestislikelyafewmonthsaway.Aatrealsotellsreportersthat
Indiahasthetechnologicalcapabilitytobuildintercontinentalballisticmissiles(ICBM)."Onceyouhavemastered
thekindoftechnologiesforAgniI,AgniII,andAgniIII,"Aatresays,"forlongerrangeofmissiles,therearenonew
technologieswehaveallthetechnologiesit(ICBM)needsalargerengine,longerburningtime,improvementin
theguidancesystem,amongothers.However,Aatrecautions,"it'snotaquestionofwhetherwecanbuildan
ICBMornot,butwhetherwewantanICBM,whichIamnotgoingtotalkabout."
"Indiaplanstotest3,000kmAgniIIImissilethisyear:Aatre,"PressTrustofIndia,4June2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,4June2004.
4June2004
USUndersecretaryofDefensevisitsNewDelhitoparticipateinthefourthmeetingoftheIndoUSdefensepolicy
group(DPG).AftermeetingmembersofthenewgovernmentinNewDelhi,Feithsaysthat"we[USofficials]
discussedtheissue[missiledefense]withthenewIndianleadershipasbothcountriesarefacingseriousmissile
threats.IfIndiawantstogoaheadwithcooperationonmissiledefense,wewillbehappytoworkwithIndia."
SiddharthVaradarajan,"IndoUStiestoface'missiledefense'testnextweek,"TimesofIndia,30May2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,31May2004;"USrenewsmissiledefense
cooperation,"TimesofIndia,4June2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,4June
2004.
26May2004
AccordingtoDr.S.Sundararajan,ascientistattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),the
BrahMosmissileprogramhashelpedIndiadevelopseveralrawmaterialssuchas"highqualityandstrong
materialsanddyes,"includingseveralnonmetallicmaterialssuchasradone.SundararajanalsosingledoutIndian
privatesectorcompaniessuchasLarsen&ToubroandGodrejforspeedingupadvancesinmissilerelatedresearch
anddevelopment,reducingcosts,andoptimizingtheuseofresearchfacilities.
"BrahMoshashelpedindevelopingrawmaterials:scientist,"PressTrustofIndia,26May2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,26May2004.
25May2004
TheIndoRussianjointventureBrahMosAerospaceplansonbecomingAsia'slargestmissileproducerby2007.
Accordingtothecompany'sCEODr.A.SivathanuPillai,thecompanyplansonachievinga$1billionannual
turnoverbythatdate.
"BrahMoshasbigambitions,"FlightInternational,25May2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,2June2004.
26April2004
TheChiefController(R&D)oftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.A.SivathanuPillai
praisestheKerelagovernmentownedKerelaHighTechIndustriesLtd.(KELTEC)foritssuccessinmanufacturinga
rangeofdefenseandspacerelatedproductsfortheDRDOandIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO).Pillai
saysthatKELTECisabletomanufactureproductsthatrequirehighprecisionandworkquality.Itprovidesaone
stopshopforproducingarangeofproductssuchaspropellanttanks,liquidengines,controlsystemcomponents,
nozzles,andothercriticalcomponentsforISRO'spolarsatellitelaunchvehicle(PSLV)andgeostationarysatellite
launchvehicleprograms.Becauseofitsuniquestrengths,DRDOandISROhaveextendedfinancialsupporttothe
companyandhelpedrestoreittofiscalhealth.
HarshGovind,"BrahMoswillgivenavyabigadvantage:expert,"Hindu,26April2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,26April2004.
8April2004
TheIndoRussianBrahMosAerospaceLtd.signsanagreementwithRussia'smainarmsexporterRosoboronexport
andtheNPPMashmissilecompanytojointlymarkettheshipandaircraftborneversionsoftheBrahMos
supersoniccruisemissile.Themissileisexpectedtoenterproductionin2004.AccordingtotheDr.A.Sivathanu
Pillai,CEOandMDofthecompany,themissileevokedalotofinterestwhenitwasdisplayedatdefense
exhibitionsatNewDelhi,Singapore,andSydney.TheagreementwithRosoboronexportisalsoexpectedtospeed
upclearancesforpotentialpurchasesofthemissilebytheRussianarmedservices.Despitemanyqueries,the
missilecannotyetbeexportedbecausethegovernmentsofRussiaandIndiahavenotyetdrawnupalistof
friendlycountriestowhomthemissilecanbemarketed.
VladimirRadyuhin,"India,RussiatomarketBrahMos,"Hindu,8April2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,8April2004.
5April2004
KerelaHightechIndustriesLtdplanstoexpanditsproductrangetoincludepressuretransducersfortheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)andtheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),aswellas
injectionvalvesforISRO'sgeostationarysatellitelaunchvehicle(GSLV).Thecompanyalreadyproducespropellant
tanks,liquidengines,controlsystemcomponents,nozzlesandotherimportantcomponentsforthepolarsatellite
launchvehicle(PSLV)andGSLVprograms.Ithasalsosuppliedtitaniumgasbottlesusedinrocketsandmissilesand
takenupmanufactureofrobotsfortheBhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC).
KELTECsettoexpandproductrange,"BusinessInsight,5April2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,7April2004.
29March2004
TheChiefExecutiveOfficerofIndia'sBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileprojectDr.A.SivathanuPillaisaysthat
BrahMosaerospacewilldeliverthefirstoftheantishipmissilesystemstotheIndiannavyby2005;andproduction
facilitiesforthemissilearebeingestablishedinbothIndiaandRussia.TheantishipBrahMosthatwasfirsttested
in2001isbeingmadeavailabletotheuserwithinarecordfouryears.AccordingtoPilla,trialsofthemissilefrom
aboardashipandfrommobilelaunchersonshoreproduced"goodresults,"and"almostalltrialswere
successful."Encouragedbythesuccessofthenavalversionofthemissile,BrahMosaerospaceisnowundertaking
thedevelopmentofashiptoshoreversionandanairtoshipversionofthecruisemissile.Pillaiidentifiesthe
poolingoftechnologicalcapabilities,sharingcostsofsettingupproductionandmanufacture,andthecombiningof
expertiseduringthedevelopmentandtrialphasesassomeoftheadvantagesofthejointventurewithRussia.
"BrahMosmissilefornavybynextyear,"BusinessLine,29March2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,30March2004.
23March2004
TheheadofIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganizationDr.V.K.AatresaysthatIndiamaytesttheAgni
IIIballisticmissileanytimein2004.AccordingtoAatre,"wehaveputinoperationelaborateplansthatthetest
firingissuccessfulanyfailureinthelaunchwouldbeagreatsetbacktothedefensescientists."Commentingon
therecenttestoftheAirForceversionofthePrithvi,Aatresaysthatthesemissileswerebeingtestedwithglobal
positioningsystemstogivethemgreateraccuracy.However,AatrerulesoutachangeinthePrithvi'spropellants
fromliquidtosolidfuelongroundsthatshorterrangemissilesaremoreaccuratewithliquidfuel.
"IndiamaytestfiresurfacetosurfaceAgniIIImissiles,"PressTrustofIndia,23March2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,24March2004.
19March2004
IndiasuccessfullytestsanAirForceversionofitsextendedrangePrithvishortrangeballisticmissilefromthe
InterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipurontheOrissacoast.TheAirForceversionofthemissileiscalledPII;ithas
beenflighttestedmanytimesandisinthefinalstagesofoperationalization.TheIndianDefenseMinistrysaysthat
themissiletestedhasimprovedaccuracyandthetestispartofacontinuousefforttofinetunethemissile.
"ExtendedversionofPrithvimissiletestfired,"PressTrustofIndia,19March2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,19March2004;"NewimprovedPrithvimissiletested,"IndianExpress,20
March2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20March2004;T.SSubramaniam,"IAF
versionofPrithvimissilelaunched,"Hindu,20March2004,20March2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,20March2004.
45March2004
TheIndoUSJointTechnicalGroup(JTG)approvesaframeworkforexchanginginformationondefenseresearch
anddevelopment,includingmissiledefenseprograms.ThisisthesixthmeetingoftheJTGandiscochairedby
AlfredVolkman,DirectorofInternationalCooperationintheOfficeoftheUSUndersecretaryofDefenseandPrada
Rao,ChiefControllerforresearchanddevelopmenttechnologyinIndia'sDefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO).
BulbulSingh,"India,USagreeonR&Dcooperation,"AerospaceDaily,9March2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,11March2004.
26February2004
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)deniesrumorsthatthetestrocketmotorthatcaughtfireatits
SatishDhawanSpaceCenterwasbeingdevelopedfortheAgniballisticmissile.ISROAssistantScientificSecretary
RajeevLochansays,"thiswasatestdevelopmentmotorforanewmotor.Itisnotyetconnectedwithany
particularlaunchvehicle,butisanewtechnologyforadifferentdesignconcept."TheHyderabadbasedDefense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)whichdesignssolidrocketmotorsfortheAgniprojectalsodenies
reportsthatthemotorthatcaughtfirewasdesignatedfortheAgniproject.DRDLdirectorDr.Prahladasaysthat
"ISROkeepsmakingsegmentsofthismotordependingontheirneeds.Itisnotaspecificallydesignatedmodule.
ThemotorusedinthePSLVissimilartotheoneusedintheAgni;bothhavesegmentsofthesizeofonemeter."
"AlarmonAgniisFalse,"26February2004,EconomicTimes,26February2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
24February2004
InatestimonytotheUSSenateIntelligenceCommittee,theUSnavaldirectorofintelligenceLowellE.Jacobysays
thatthattheUSnavyexpectsothercountriessuchasIndiatojoinRussia,China,andFranceasmajorexportersof
cruisemissiles.IndiaisexpectedtobeginproductionofthePJ10antiship/landattackcruisemissilein2004in
partnershipwithRussia.
"PreparedStatementofLowellE.JacobyUSNavyDirectorDefenseIntelligenceAgency,"FederalNewsService,
24February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24February2004,http://web.lexisnexis.com,24February
2004.
21February2004
AccordingtoDr.SivathanuPillai,ChiefExecutiveOfficerandManagingDirectoroftheBrahMoscruisemissile
program,IndiaandRussiahaveagreedtodevelopandtestanairlaunchedversionofthemissilefordeployment
aboardSU30combataircraftduringthenexttwotothreeyears.PillaisaysthatwhileHyderabadremainsthe
technicalcenterfortheBrahmosprogram,NewDelhiisthedesignandmanagementheadquartersfortheproject.
Onthequestionofexports,Pillaiaddsthatthedecisiontoexportthemissilewillbemadeatthehighestlevelsof
boththeIndianandRussiangovernments.
"SecondversionofBrahMostobetestedin23years,"BusinessLine,21February2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
20February2004
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganizationannouncesplanstoexpandtheannualproductioncapacityofammonium
perchlorate(AP)atitsAmmoniumPerchlorateExperimentalPlantfrom300tonsto800tons.Theexpanded
productionfacilityisexpectedtobecompletedbyearly2005.APisanimportantconstituentofsolidpropellants
usedtopowerrockets.
T.S.Subramaniam,"Apowderthatwillpowerthenation'sstrategiccapability,"Hindu,20February2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20February2004.
20February2004
RaghavendraSinghofForetekMarketinginBangalore,themansuspectedoftryingtoprocureequipmentillegally
fromtheUnitedStatesthroughKarniSingh,saystheequipmentwas"forthespaceprogram,whichisentirely
civilianinnature."
"Interview:IndianbusinessmannamedinUSnuclearrelatedtrialsaysmaterialhegotwasnotforaweapons
program,"AP,20February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,21February2004.
19February2004
USfederalinvestigatorsdiscoverthatAsherKarni,aSouthAfricanbusinessmanfacingfelonychargesforexporting
nuclearbombtriggerstoPakistan,alsoworkedtosupplyIndiarocketrelatedtechnologies.Emailrecordsof
exchangesbetweenKarniandanIndianbusinessmanRaghavendraorRaguRaoofForetekMarketing(Pvt.)Ltd.
indicatethatthelattertriedtoprocurehightechequipmentfromtheUnitedStateswhileconcealingthatthe
equipmentwasdestinedfortheLiquidPropulsionSystemsCenter(LPSC)andtheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCenterin
India.AnAugust2002emailfromRaotoKarniwarnsthelattertoconcealthefinalcustomerofanaccelerometer
totheLPSC,notingthatitsexporttoIndiaisrestrictedduetoconcernsthatitmightbeusedinmissileguidance
systems.
MattKelley,AccusedofaidingPakistannuclearprogram,traderalsohelpedIndia,recordsindicate,"AP,19
February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,20February2004.
17February2004
AccordingtoLarsen&Toubro'sSeniorVicePresidentMr.P.M.Mehta,thecompany'sheavyengineering
department(HED)isplacingincreasingemphasisintheareasofnuclearpower,defense,andaerospace,andwill
focusonhighendtechnologybusinessesinthefuture.Currently,theseareasaccountforafourthofthe
department'srevenuestream;butthatratiowilllikelyincrease.Thecompanyhasalreadyproducedmissile
launchersfortheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andispushingforincreasingits
contributiontotheBrahMoscruisemissileprogram.
"L&Ttofocusonnuclear,defense,andaerospacesectors,"BusinessLine,17February2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,17February2004.
15February2004
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthattheAgniIIIballisticmissilewillbetestedin2004,butthatno
datehasbeenfixedforapotentialtestsofar.However,Fernandesrefusestocommentonthemissile'spotential
rangeorlaunchplatform.
"IndiaallsettotestfireAgniIIIthisyear:Fernandes,"PressTrustofIndia,15February2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,15February2004.
11February2004
India'sChiefofNavalStaffMadhavendraSinghsaysthattheBrahMoscruisemissilewillbecomeoperationalinat
leastonenavalshipbytheendof2005.TheIndiannavywillconductusertrialsoftheBrahMosbytheendof2004.
"NavalversionofBrahmoswillbereadyby2005,"BusinessInsight,11February2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
6February2004
AccordingtoDr.V.K.Saraswat,DirectoroftheResearchCenterImarat(RCI),India'smissileprogramhascomea
longwaysinceitwaslaunchedin198283andissettoenteranexcitingphase.AccordingtoSaraswat,theAgni
ballisticmissilehasbeeninductedintothearmedforcesandtacticalmissilessuchasthesurfacetoairTrishuland
AkashandtheantitankNagmissilesarereadyforusertrialsandlikelytoenterproductionby2005.Untilthe
1990s,thechallengeforRCIwastomeet"therangeandwarheadcapacityforthemissile."Butfrom"20022010
thefocusisonaccuracyofhitorhittokill,"which"requiresspecialtechnologiessuchasinfraredandRFseekers
embeddedintothemissileswithhighprecisionhomingdevices."TheRCIisalsoworkingonabeyondthevisual
rangemissileAstra.Onetestflightofthemissileisexpectedtotakeplacein2004andafterthegovernmentgrants
formalsanctionfortheprojectin2004,missiledevelopmentwilllikelybeaccomplishedinthenextthreeorfour
years.SaraswatalsoprovidesdetailsaboutIndianindustryparticipationinthevariousmissileprojects.
"India'sMissileProgramisSpurringIndustries:Dr.V.K.Saraswat,Director,ResearchCenterImarat,"Business
Line,6February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,6February2004.
5February2004
AccordingtotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),thesupersonicBrahMoscruisemissileis
readyfordeploymentatsea.DRDOchiefDr.V.K.Aatreclaimsthatthemissile'sguidancesystemwasdevelopedby
Indiaentirely,withRussiacarryingoutsystemsintegration.Thelandbasedversionofthe290kmmissileiscapable
ofdeployingbothconventionalandnuclearwarheads.TheDRDOisalsodevelopinganairlaunchedversionofthe
missilewithareducedlengthanddiametertoallowittobefittedontherecentlyacquiredRussianSU30MK1
combataircraft.DRDOofficialsclaimthatanumberoftestsofthelandversionofthesolidfuelBrahMoshave
beenconductedattheInterimTestRange(ITR)inBalasore.ThelandbasedversionoftheBrahMosisa"single
vehicleweaponcarryingthreemissilesincontainerswithlaunchreadinesstimeoffiveminutes."Thelandbased
missilesarecapableofoperationinanuclearandbiologicalenvironmentandthecarriersarefittedwithhydraulic
launchercontrolsystemswiththeoptionforusingremoteinstruments.EngineersattheDRDO'sRDEfacilityin
Punehavedevelopedanindigenousheavydutytatrabasedcarriertogivethemissilesallterrainmobility.
"ExpoBrahMos,"PressTrustofIndia,5February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,5February2004.
5February2004
IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthattheBarakantimissilesystemthatIndia
obtainedfromIsrael,malfunctionedduringtrials.Themalfunctionwasanalyzedbytheequipmentmanufacturer
andrectified.Subsequently,theBaraksystemsuccessfullyengagedanddestroyedalowflyingsurfacetosurface
missileinateston21January.
PARLSQuestions,"PressTrustofIndia,5February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com,5February2004.
4February2004
Agroupof15privateUSarmsdealersbegintalkswithIndiaonpotentialarmssales.AseniorVicePresidentofthe
USChambersofCommercesaysthat"overthenextthreedayswewilltakeacloserlookatthepotentialforsales
ofsophisticatednewtechnologies,shoreourideasaboutmeasuresthatcanbetakenbybothgovernmentsto
strengthenbilateraldefensecooperation,explorepotentialmodalitiesforcodevelopmentofadvanced
technologies."RetiredUSGeneralDanielChristmantellsreportersthat"onmissiledefense,UScorporationsare
lookingatthesupplyofPatriotmissilesmaybetherewouldbetalksonthat."Christmanalsodismissesfearsin
IndiaconcerningpotentialdisruptionsinthesupplyofcriticalcomponentsintheeventofaUSsanctionsregimeas
happenedin1998;andsays,"thepactbetweenPresidentBushandPrimeMinisterVajpayeehasalteredthe
strategicpartnershipandsotherewouldbenolightswitchdiplomacy."MajorUScompaniesparticipatingin
India'sDefexpo2004exhibitionincludeRaytheon,GEAircraftEngines,GeneralDynamics,Honeywell,ATKThiokol,
andNorthropGrumman.
USarmsmakerstoofferhightechmilitaryhardwaretoIndia,"AgenceFrancePresse,4February2004;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5February2004;"DEFEXPOUS,"PressTrustofIndia,4
February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,4February2004.
4February2004
AccordingtoAlexanderBaskakov,ManagingDirectoroftheRussiansideofthejointRussoIndianBrahMosmissile
project,theBrahMosisageneralpurposemissilefitforanytypeofbasing.Themissilehasarangeofabout
300km,itswarheadweighs200kg,anditsvelocityrangesfrom160800meterspersecond.IndiaandRussiaonly
tookoneandahalfyearstoproceedtothedevelopmenttestingofthemissile.Baskakovsaysthatthemissileis
nowreadyfordeploymentonIndiannavysurfaceandsubmarineplatforms;plansarealsoafoottoproducea
modifiedversionofthemissilefortheairforce.Inaddition,IndiaandRussia,whicharejointlycoproducingthe
missile,plantoexportittocountriesinSouthEastandEastAsia.However,thelistofpotentialcustomerscouldbe
expandedinthefuture.
YuriSidorovandVladimirShvarev,"RussoIndian'BrahMos'missilesprovesitseffectiveness,"ITARTASSNews
Agency,4February2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5February2004.
3February2004
Indiahasbegunresearchanddevelopmentonatwostagereusablespacevehiclewhichwillbecapableoftaking
offandlandinglikeanaircraft.Thevehicle,whichisnamedAvatar,wouldbeabletodeploya1,000kgpayloadinto
lowerearthorbit.TheAvatarprojectisexpectedtocostabout$2billionanddevelopmentislikelytotakea
decade.AnIndiandefenseministryofficialsaysthatthevehiclewillbecapableofperformingatleast100re
entriesandisprimarilyintendedas"areusablemissilelauncher,onewhichcanlaunchmissiles,land,...andbe
loadedagainformoremissions."VehiclessubsystemssuchastheScramjetenginehavealreadybeentestedat
theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)laboratories."
BulbulSingh,"IndiabeginsdevelopmentworkonAvatarspacevehicle,"AerospaceDaily,3February2004;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,5February2004.
23January2004
IndiaflighttestsashortrangePrithviballisticmissiletoevaluatehowquicklyfuelcanbeloadedinthemissile's
fueltanksaswelltotestanewlyacquiredsimulatortotrainmissilecrews.
"IndiatestsPrithvimissiletostudyfuelloading,"AerospaceDaily,26January2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,http://web.lexisnexis.com,29January2004.
23January2004
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)flightteststheshortrangePrithviballisticmissile
fromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipurinOrissastate.ADRDOpressstatementsaysthatIndia'sballistic
missiledefenseprogramhasenteredtheflightevaluationphasewiththefiringof"itsfirstmissile"fromthe
integratedtestrange.Thestatementfurthersays"themissileandthegroundelementssuchasmultifunction
surveillanceradar,tracking,firecontrolradar,command,controlandcommunicationsystemandlaunchcontrol
systemsperformedtospecificationinrealtimemeetingallmissionobjectives."
"Prithvi,"PressTrustofIndia,23January2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,23
January2004.
13January2004
TheIndianArmyisreportedlyraisingtwospecialmissilegroups444and555fortheinductionoftheAgniIand
AgniIIballisticmissiles.The555MissileGroupisresponsiblefortheAgniII.AccordingtotheIndiansources,the
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)hastransferredtechnologyrelatedtotheproductionof
bothmissilestoBharatDynamicsLimited,Hyderabad.However,theArmyhasstillnotgainedpossessionofthe
AgniI.
"India'sAgniImissileyettobehandedovertoArmy,"BBCMonitoring,13January2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
12January2004
TheUnitedStatesreleasestextofthe"NextStepsinStrategicPartnershipwithIndia."Undertheagreement,the
UnitedStatesandIndiaagreetoexpandcooperationintheareasofnuclearactivities,civilianspaceprograms,and
hightechnologytrade.Theproposedcooperationwillproceedthroughaseriesofmutuallyreinforcingreciprocal
steps.Cooperationwillinvolvenuclearsafetyandregulatoryissues,missiledefense,andenhancedcooperationin
peacefulusesofspacetechnology.Thetwocountieswillalsoundertakemeasuresatthebilateralandmultilateral
levelstostrengthenlaws,regulations,andprocedurestocombatthespreadofweaponsofmassdestruction.
"NextStepsinStrategicPartnershipwithIndia,"WhiteHousePressReleases,12January2004;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,13January2004.
6January2004
AccordingDr.V.K.Saraswat,DirectoroftheResearchCenterImarat(RCI),India'sScramjetengineshouldbeready
by2006andwillthereafterbeintegratedintoanairframecapableofwithstandingtemperaturesupto3,000
Kelvin.
"India'sRCIairsnewresearchinformation,"FlightInternational,6January2004;inLexisNexisAcademic
2January2004
AccordingtosourcestheAgniIIIballisticmissilewillbetestedinthenextthreeorfourmonths.Further,India's
NuclearCommandAuthoritychairedbytheprimeministerhasissueddirectionsfortheoperationalizationof
India'slandbasedAgnimissilegroups,fighterbombers,andseabasedplatformsassoonaspossible.Ascheduled
testoftheAgniIIIinlate2003wasdelayedduetotechnicalproblems.Thoseproblemshavesincebeenrectified.
RajatPandit,"IndiatotestfireAgniIIIsoon,"TimesofIndia,2January2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,1January2004.
1January2004
AccordingtotheDirectorofIndia'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.Aatre,India
willtestthe3,000kmrangeAgniIIIballisticmissilein2004.Inaddition,theBrahMosmissile,whichIndiahas
jointlydevelopedwithRussia,hasbeenclearedforinductionintotheIndianNavy(IN).DRDOwillalsobeginwork
onaversionoftheBrahMosfortheIndianAirForce(IAF);andtheairforceversionofthemissilewilllikelybe
carriedaboardtheSU30MK1thattheIAFhasacquiredfromRussia.AatrealsosaysthattheDRDOhasexplored
possibilitiesforjointresearchanddevelopmentwithIsraelforelectronicwarfareandsensorsfortheIndia'sLight
CombatAircraft(LCA)andUnmannedAerialVehicles(UAV).
"Govt.totestfireAgnithisyear,"IndianExpress,1January2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com,1January2004.
1January2004
Indiareportedlyplanstoflyahypersonicplanein2007.Aneightmetertechnologydemonstratorisbeingbuiltby
theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad;anditwillbepoweredbya"Scramjet"
enginethattakesinoxygenfromtheatmosphereandburnsliquidhydrogen.AccordingtoDRDLsourcesIndiahas
madeconsiderableprogressinmasteringairbreathingenginetechnology(ramjet)atsubsonicspeedsthroughits
Akashsurfacetoairmissileprogram,buthasyettomastertechnologyatsupersonicspeedupto7mach.DRDLis
closelycollaboratingwithotherinstitutionsincludingtheIndianInstituteofTechnology(IIT)andIndianInstituteof
Sciences(IISc)todevelopnickelcobaltandcarboncompositematerialsforthehypersonicplaneproject.The
hypersonicprototypewouldbeaprecursortotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)
AerobicVehicleforHypersonicAerospaceTransportation(AVATAR).
"Hypersonic,"PressTrustofIndia,1January2004;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com,
1January2004.
2003
31December2003
TheScientificAdvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.Aatresaysthatthe3,000kmrangeAgniIIIwillbetested
sometimeduringthenextthreemonths.Dr.AatredeniesanycollaborationwithIsraelonmissiles.Dr.Aatrealso
indicatesthattechnicalproblemsassociatedwiththeAkashmissilesystemhavebeencorrectedandsaysthatthe
missilewillbetestedinMarch2004.
"AgniIIItobeTestFiredinThreeMonths,"PressTrustofIndia,31December2003,NationwideInternational
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1January2004,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
27December2003
Dr.A.SivathanuPillai,theCEOandManagingDirectorofBrahMosAerospaceandtheChiefControllerofResearch
&DevelopmentfortheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),saysthattheBrahMos
supersoniccruisemissileisreadyforproductionandaddsthatthecommercialproductionforthemissilewillbegin
in2004.Dr.PillaistatesthatthejointIndoRussianBrahMoscruisemissileprojectrepresentsthefirstprojectofits
typeanddescribesitasasymboloftruestrategicpartnershipbetweenIndiaandRussia.Dr.Pillaiaddsthatthetop
priorityaccordedfortheprojectbytheIndiangovernmentenabledtheteamtocompletetheprojectinhalfthe
projectedtime.Headdsthatthegovernmentwillbenefitgreatlyfromitsinvestmentintheproject.Dr.Pillai,
withoutrevealingtheinvestedamount,saysthatthemissilewillprovidegreatreturnssinceitischeapandhas
excellentquality.Dr.Pillaisaysthatthetwogovernmentsshouldarriveatadecisiononprospectivebuyerssince
themissileisessentiallyaweapon.
"BrahmosMissileSetforProduction,"BusinessLine(Chennai),28December2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
25December2003
TheManagingDirectorandCEOofBrahmosAerospaceDr.A.SivathanuPillaisaysthattheproductionofthenaval
versionoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillbegininJanuary2004.Dr.PillaisaysthattheBrahMosmissile
iscapableofhittingatargetninetimesmorepowerfullythanasubsonicmissile.AccordingtoDr.Pillai,BrahMos
Aerospaceisplanningtoincreasethecapitalof$250millioninordertodevelopthelandbasedversionofthe
BrahMosmissile.Dr.PillaisaysthattheAirForceversionofthemissilewillbedevelopedafterthecompletionof
thedevelopmentofthelandbasedArmyversionofthemissile.
"BrahmosSupersonicCruiseMissileProductioninNewYear,"PressTrustofIndia,25December2003,
NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,28December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
22December2003
IndiaandIsraelnegotiateondevelopingcloserrelationshipsindefenseproductionespeciallyintheareasof
missiles,surveillance,andantiterrorismwarfaretechnology.MajorGeneralAmosYaron,DirectorGeneralin
Israel'sMinistryofDefense,leadsthe11memberIsraelidelegation.MajorGeneralYaronmeetsDefenseSecretary
AjayPrasadinaoneononemeetingandalsoholdsdelegationleveltalkswiththeIndiandelegation.Major
GeneralYaronalsomeetsIndia'sArmyChiefN.C.Vij,theChiefofAirStaffS.Krishnamurthy.Accordingtosources
inthedefenseministry,thetalksfocusedonseveralIndoIsraeliprojectsincludingthePhalconAirborneRadar,
missiledevelopment,radaravionics,andantiterrorismwarfareequipment.Defensesourcesalsoindicatethat
cooperationintheareaofmissilesonlyincludedmissilesthatdonotfallunderthepurviewoftheMissile
TechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).
"India,IsraelDiscussDefenceCooperation,"PressTrustofIndia,22December2003,NationwideInternational
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
22December2003
TheIndianDefenseMinistrysaysthattheTrishulmissilesystemwassuccessfullytestfiredwithanewguidance
systemandstatesthatitwillnotbuyanequivalentforeignmissilesystem.AseriesoftestsfortheTrishulmissile
areplannedtofinetunetheguidancesystem.Earlier,Indiainvitedbidsfromforeigncompaniestosupplyshort
rangesurfacetoairairdefensesystems.ADefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistsays
thatthenewguidancesystemhasbeendevelopedsincetheannouncement.Accordingtoofficials,Indiawillnot
procureforeignmissilesystemsfollowingthesuccessfultestingoftheTrishulmissilewiththenewguidance
systemTherecenttestsfortheTrishulmissileincludedskimmingtestsfortheNavy.TheArmyandtheAirForce
willalsobeprovidedwiththemissile.ADRDOscientistpointsoutthatcomparedtotheexistingRussianshort
rangesurfacetoairmissiles,theTrishulmissilehasashorterreactiontimeandasuperiorcontrolsystem.
Accordingtothescientist,theTrishulmissileiscapableofturningthrough360degreesinfoursecondsandits
highfrequencyandadvancedguidancesystemmakesitresistanttoelectroniccountermeasures.
BulbulSingh,"Trishul'sNewGuidanceSystemPassesTests,IndiaClaims,"AerospaceDaily,22December2003,
Vol.208,No.57,p.6;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21December2003
IndiaplanstoconductadditionalflighttestsfortheTrishulmissilesysteminthenexttwoweeks.Thetestswillbe
witnessedbytopofficialsfromtheAirForcewhohaveexpressedkeeninterestinthecurrentseriesoftests.
Accordingtoinformedsources,theAirForcehasnotallocatedfundstoprocureforeignshortrangesurfacetoair
missilesystems.
T.S.Subramanian,"SuccessfulTrishulTestsBoostDRDO,"Hindu(Chennai),21December2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,20December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21December2003
Forthefourthtimeinthreedays,IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulmissileat1.00PMISTfrom
theInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Themissileisfiredfromamobile
launcheratamovingtarget.OfficialsindicatethatthecurrenttestsareaimedattestingtheaccuracyoftheTrishul
missilesystem.
"IndiaTestsAntiAircraftMissileFourTimesinThreeDays,"AgenceFrancePresse,20December2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTest
Fires4thSurfacetoAirMissileTrishul,"XinhuaNewsAgency,21December2003,WorldNews;inLexisNexis
19December2003
IndiateststheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulmissiletwicefromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuron
seaonIndia'seasterncoast.Thefirsttestisconductedat11.20AMISTandthesecondtestisconductedat2.45
PMIST.Accordingtovarioussources,inoneoftheteststhemissilewastargetedatamovingobjectdroppedfrom
anAN32aircraft.Accordingtosources,thetrialsareaimedatevaluatingtheaccuracyandotherparametersof
themissile.Themissileisthreemeterslongandmeasures200cminwidth.TheTrishulmissilefliesatsupersonic
speeds.Boththetestsaredeclaredassuccessful.
"IndiaTestFiresTrishulSurfacetoAirMissile,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,19December2003;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"TrishulTestFired,"Hindu
(Chennai),19December2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
"IndiaTestsTrishulMissileforThirdTimeinTwoDays,"PakistanNewswire,19December2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
18December2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulmissilefromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronsea
onIndia'seasterncoast.Officialsdescribethetestasasuccess.Themissileisfiredatamovingtarget.
"IndiaTestsShortRangeSurfacetoAirMissile,"DeutschePresseAgentur,18December2003,Politics;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,18December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestFiresTrishulSurfacetoAir
Missile,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,19December2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19
December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
18December2003
TheIndiangovernmentproceedscautiouslyonacquiringIsraeliBarakantimissilesystemfortheIndianNavy.
AccordingtoanIndianNavyofficial,thefailureoftheBarakmissilesystemduringitstrialshasmadeittougherfor
themissilesystemtobeusedontheRussianaircraftcarrierAdmiralGorshkovthatwasrecentlypurchasedby
India.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaPostponesContractforBarakMissileSystem,"AerospaceDaily,18December2003,Vol.208,
No.55,p.2;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17December2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformstheupperhouseofparliament(RajyaSabha)thattheIsraeli
Barakmissilesystemwillundergoretrialssincethepreviousroundoftrialsweredeclared"unsatisfactory."Mr.
Fernandessaysthateventhoughthemissilehitthetargetsuccessfullyduringtheprevioustest,thetestrevealed
certaintechnicalmalfunctions.AccordingtoMr.FernandesIsraeliexpertsanalyzedthefailuresandanewroundof
testswillbeheldshortly.Mr.FernandessaysthatIndiaisstillimportingsurfacetoairmissilesfromRussia.He,
however,refusestodivulgedetailsaboutthecurrentstateofIndia'sindigenousairdefensesystemcitingthe
sensitivenatureofsuchinformation.
"IndiatoConductRetrialofIsraeliMissileDefenceSystem,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,17December
2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,17December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17December2003
TheDirectorofResearchCenterImarat(RCI)Dr.V.K.Saraswat,speakingattheinaugurationofaseminarcum
exhibitionon"AerospaceTechnologiesChallengesintheMillennium,"saysthatIndiaisfocusingondeveloping
reusablerocketsandprecisionstrikeweapons.Dr.Saraswataddsthatthefuturetrendsinmissiletechnologyare
indeveloping"hittokill"missileswithahighdegreeofprecisionwhichdonotdamagesurroundingbuildingsand
killcivilians.HeaddsthatseveralcompaniesinHyderabadpossesstheabilitytomakeseveralprecision
componentsneededforaviationandaerospaceindustry.
"AerospaceResearchFocusonReusableRockets,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),17December2003;inLexisNexis
15December2003
TheDirectoroftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)Dr.PrahladasaysthattheDRDOwill
testthesurfacetoairTrishulmissilesystemforthelastphaseoftrials.Hesaysthatlastyearthemissilehadsome
problemswiththeguidancesystemwhichwerecorrectedlater.Dr.Prahladaindicatesthatthecurrenttestsare
conductedtotesttheimprovedguidancesystem.AccordingtoDr.Prahlada,theAirForcehasshowninterestin
theplannedmissiletestswhichwillinvolvelivewarheads.Dr.Prahladaindicatesthattheplannedseriesoftests
willbeaweeklongexerciseinvolving4tests.Healsoaddsthattheairdefenseprojectisprogressingwell.
"DRDOtoConductTrishulMissileTrialsThisWeek,"PressTrustofIndia,15December2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
15December2003
Dr.V.K.Saraswat,theDirectorofResearchCenterImarat(RCI),saysthatanairdefensesystem,calledProgramme
AD,withacentralizedcommand,control,andcommunicationstructureandconnectedtoseveralmissioncontrol
unitsthroughoutthecountrytodetectincomingenemyaircraftandmissileswillbecomeoperationalbytheendof
2004.Dr.Saraswatdisclosesthataportionofthesystemisalreadyoperationalandiscurrentlyundergoingtests
withsimulatedbatteriesandradars.TheRCIisdevelopingtheairdefensesysteminconjunctionwithother
defenselaboratoriesincludingtheHindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)andBharatElectronicsLimited(BEL).Dr
Saraswatsaysthattheafterallthecontrolmissionsareconnectedtothecentralcommand,control,and
communication,theinterceptormissilecanbefiredfromthemissilebatteriestomeettheincomingmissileor
aircraft.Dr.SaraswatsaysthatRCIhasalsodevelopedthehighspeedScramjetenginewhichiscurrently
undergoingtests.Dr.Saraswatprojectsthattheenginewillbeoperationalinanothertwoorthreeyears.Afterthe
completionoftestsontheengine,theRCIwilldevelopanairframefortheaircraftthatcanwithstand
temperaturesashighas3000degreecalvin.Dr.Saraswatsaysthatseveraldefenselaboratoriesincludingthe
DefenseMaterialsResearchLaboratory(DMRL)areengagedindevelopingtheairframeusingsiliconcarbidebased
composites.Dr.Saraswatindicatesthatthescramjettechnologywillbeusedtolaunchsatellitesintolowearth
orbits(LEO)whichwillresultinareductioninthecostforlaunchingsatellites.HesaysthattheRCIisalsoworking
ondevelopinganadvancedaccuratenavigationandcontrolsystemandterminalguidancesystemwithimaging
seekersthatwillallowairandlandbasedmissilesandaircrafttoconductprecisionstrikes.Headdsthatthe
technologywillallowmissilestohavezerocircularerrorprobability(CEP)orzeromissdistancesystem.According
toDr.Saraswat,RCIisalsoworkingonaprojecttocreatealowcostnavigationsystemforprecisionguidedsub
munitionswhichwillallowamissiletocarry20submunitionstobeabletotarget20separatetargets.
Y.Mallikarjun,"IndigenousAirDefenseSystemtobeOperationalNextYear,"Hindu(Chennai),15December
2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,14December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"RCILaunchesDefence
System,ProgrammeAD(WillHelptoInterceptIncomingAircraftorMissiles),"IndiaBusinessInsight(Bangalore),
15December2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11December2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsthelowerhouseofparliament(LokSabha)thattheflighttests
fortheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilemetallthetestobjectivesandstatesthatthemissilehasprovedits
performance.AnIndianofficialsaysthattheproductionandinductionofthemissilewillbeginwithinsixmonths.
RajatPandit,"BrahmosonDeploymentTrack,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),14December2003;inLexisNexis
7December2003
TheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileisreadyformassproductionandtheBrahMosAerospacePrivateLtd.
AwaitsordersfromtheIndianDefenseMinistrytocommenceproduction.Dr.A.SivathanuPillai,theCEOof
BrahMosAerospacePvt.Ltd.andtheChiefControllerforResearch&DevelopmentattheDefenseResearchand
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),saysthattheBrahMosmissilecanbeproducedandsoldtocountriesfriendly
toIndiaandRussia.Dr.PillaisaysthattheIndianandRussiangovernmentswillidentifythecountriestowhichthe
missilecanbesold.
Ch.Sushilrao,"BrahmosFirmWaitsforOrders,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),7December2003;inLexisNexis
5December2003
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)saysthatithastestedacryogenicenginebyfiringitfor1,000
secondsontheground.TheISROtestexceedstheusualrequirementof721secondsoffiringtimeforsuchtests.
ThelongdurationendurancetestisconductedatISRO'sLiquidPropulsionSystemsCenteratMahendragiriin
TamilNaduinSouthIndia.AnISROpressreleasesaysthatthe7.1metrictonthrustenginewasfired
simultaneouslywithtwo400kgthrustcryogenicenginesthatweremountedonasingleblock.AnISROpress
releasesaysthattheorganizationhasobtainedthetechnologytolaunchhighaltitudesatellitesandundertake
mannedlunarmissions.
"IndiaMastersRocketTechnologytoSendaMantotheMoon:SpaceAgencyhas2015TargetDateAfter
SuccessfulTestofCryogenicEngines,"Gazette(Montreal,Quebec),6December2003,News,p.A27;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,6December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;FrankMorringJr.,"IndianEngine,"Aviation
Week&SpaceTechnology,Vol.159,No.24,InOrbit,p.17;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6December2003,
4December2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsIndia'slowerhouseofparliament(LokSabha)thatthe
governmenthasnotdecidedtoabandontheAkashsurfacetoairmissileproject.Mr.Fernandessaysthatthe
missilefacedsometechnicalproblemsinthesubsystemswhichhavebeencorrected.Mr.Fernandessaysthatuser
trialsareplannedtobeheldnextyear.
"IndiaConveysConcernstoSriLanka,"PressTrustofIndia,4December2003,NationwideInternationalNews;in
3December2003
IndianDefensesourcesindicatethattheBrahMoscruisemissilecanbelaunchedfromsubmarines.Accordingto
thesources,thegroundlaunched,theshiplaunched,andthesubmarinelaunchedversionsofthemissiledonot
havethesamedesign.Accordingtothesources,theairlaunchedversionofthemissileneedsadditional
developmentsincethemissilewillbelaunchedfromaplatformmovingatgreatspeedsandhencethemissile
shouldhavelessweight.Sourcesindicatethatthedevelopmentfortheairlaunchedversionofthemissilewilltake
aboutthreeyears.
T.S.Subramanian,"AntiShipVersionofBrahMosProvesitsMettle,"Hindu(Chennai),3December2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,2December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
26November2003
IndiaandIsraelsigna$100milliondealtotransferthethirdconsignmentoftheBarakmissilesystem.Accordingto
theIsraelinewspaperHaaretz,theBarakmissilesystemfailedonceinthetestsconductedbytheIndianNavy.
Accordingtothereport,thebackupmissilefiredaccuratelyandhitthetarget.SourcesfromtheIsraeliAircraft
Industries(IAI)saythefailurewascausedbyaprobleminthecommunicationfrequenciesofthemissileandthe
warship.Thefailurecouldalsobeattributedtoafailureinthemissilesguidancesystem.TheradarfortheBarak
missilesystemismountedonaship'smastanditprovideswarningaboutcruisemissiles,smartbombs,and
helicopters.EachwarshipwithaBarakmissilesystemisequippedwith32allweathermissilesandeachmissile
weighsabout100kg.
AtulAneja,"India,IsraeltoSign$100MillionMissileDeal,"Hindu(Chennai);inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
23November2003
IndiasuccessfullytestfirestheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileforthesixthtime.Themissileisfiredfroma
movingwarshipINSRajputwhichwascruisingatabout12to15knotsanhourintheBayofBengaltowardsa
movingdecommissionedshipatadistanceof290km.AnotherwarshipINSKalingamonitorsthepointofimpact.
Dr.A.SivathanuPillai,theChiefControllerofResearch&DevelopmentattheDefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO)saysthatdifferentversionsoftheBrahMoswillbetestedinthenextfewdaysfollowing
whichthemissilewillbeproducedandinducted.ThetestinvolvedtwowarshipsfromtheEasternNaval
Command.AnIndianNavyofficialsaysthatthreemoretestswillbeconductedagainstmovingtargets.TheIndian
Navyhasestimatedthatitwillrequireabout75BrahMoscruisemissilesandtheIndianArmyhasestimatedthatit
willrequire50BrahMosmissiles.
"BrahmosTestFiredSuccessfully,"PressTrustofIndia,23November2003,NationwideInternationalNews;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"BrahMosCruise
MissileTestFiredfromDestroyer,"AerospaceDaily,1December2003,Vol.208,No.42,News,p.2;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,4December2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;T.S.Subramanian,"AntiShipVersionof
BrahMosProvesitsMettle,"Hindu(Chennai),3December2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,2December
21November2003
AlexanderBaskakov,theManagingDirectorforBrahMosAerospaceLtd,saysthatIndiaandRussiawillfinish
testingtheBrahMoscruisemissileandinitiatebatchproductionofthemissile.Mr.Baskakovsaysthatthe
BrahMoswillremainthebestantishipmissileforthenext1015yearsagainstwhichthereisnodefense.The
missileassemblyisongoingatHyderabad.ThefirstbatchoftheBrahMosmissileswillbeavailableforsalein2004.
CountriesinEastandSoutheastAsiahaveexpressedinterestinbuyingthemissile.
YuriSidorov,"Russia,IndiatoStartBrahMosMissileProductionin2004,"Tass,21November2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,22November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21November2003
USUnderSecretaryforDepartmentofCommerceKennethJusterandIndia'sForeignSecretaryKanwalSibal
discussthe"quartetissues"namely,civiliannuclearcooperation,civilianspacecooperation,hightechnology
exports,andmissiledefense.Thedetailsofthediscussionsarenotrevealed.Mr.Justersaysthatthe"framework"
ofnuclearandmissilenonproliferationregimesisofinteresttoIndiaeventhoughIndiaisnotasignatorytothe
nuclearandmissiletreaties.
"HiTechCooperationGroup:QuartetIssuesDiscussed,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),21November2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,21November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
19November2003
IndiaandtheUnitedStatesagreetosignaMasterInformationExchangeAgreement(MIEA)thatwillallowthe
sharingofclassifiedresearchdataandincreasetechnicalcooperationbetweenthetwocountries.Officialsfrom
thePentagonandtheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)discussthepeacefulusesof
nuclearenergyandsharingofdataonmissiles,especiallydataonUSexperimentswithantimissilesystems.The
decisiontosigntheMIEAistakenduringthethirdmeetingoftheIndoUSJointTechnicalGroup.
"ClassifiedDataTransferAccordwithUSSoon,"FinancialExpress(Mumbai),19November2003;inLexisNexis
1622November2003
TheBarakantimissiledefensesystemfailstohitthetargettwiceinthetrialsconductedoffthecoastofMumbai.
Inbothinstances,theBarakmissileinterceptorfailstohitaRussiansurfacetosurfacemissilewithadeactivated
warhead.ThespokespersonfromtheIndianNavyrefusestocommentontheincident.TheIndianNavyplansto
acquireatleasteightBarakmissilesystemsfromIsraelatanestimatedcostofRs.1,000crore.Officialsfromthe
IndianNavy,Rafael,andIsraeliAircraftIndustriesareworkingtofixtheproblem.HighlyplacedIndiandefense
officialscharacterizetheproblemas"temporary"innature.
"IsraeliShowpieceAntiMissileSystemFailsNavy'sTests,HardWorkAhead,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),23
November2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11November2003
Indiaplanstobuy100BrahMossupersoniccruisemissilesoverthenextdecadeandRussiaplanstopurchase60
missiles.
BulbulSingh,"FirmsSubmitBidstoSupplyShortRangeMissilestoIndia,"AerospaceDaily,11November2003,
Vol.208,No.30,News,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22January2004,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11November2003
SeveninternationalfirmssubmitbidsforthesupplyofshortrangesurfacetoairmissilesfortheIndianAirForce
(IAF).TheIAFrequestedthetendersfromforeignsuppliersfollowingthepoorresultsbytheTrishulmissilesystem.
TheforeignfimsincludeFrance'sMBDAandThales,Russia'sRosoboronexport,Switzerland'sOerlikonContraves,
andSouthAfrica'sDenel.AseniorAirForceofficialsaysthatthegovernmentplanstoprocuremissilesworth$250
millionwithinayearunderafasttrackprogram.TheAirForceplanstotestthemissilesystemduringJanuaryand
FebruarynextyearandplaceordersbyApril2004.
9November2003
IndiatestfirestheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileforthefifthtimearound12.30PM(IST)attheInterimTest
Range(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Themissileisfiredfromamobilelauncher.Followingthe
testoftheprecisionguidancecapabilityintheprevioustestlaunchonOctober29,today'slaunchisaimedat
testingotherparameters.
"IndiaTestFiresSupersonicBrahMosMissile,"DeutschePresseAgentur,9November2003,Miscellaneous;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"'Brahmos'SuccessfullyTest
Fired,"PressTrustofIndia,9November2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9
November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6November2003
KeralaHitechIndustriesLtd(Keltec),ownedbytheGovernmentofKerala,integratesthemanufactureoftitanium
gasbottlesandSecondaryInjectionThrustVectorControl(SITVC)tankswhichareusedinthePolarSatellite
LaunchVehicle(PSLV)aswellasothersatellitelaunchvehicles.Thecompanyhashandedoverthefirstbatchof
productstotheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCenter(VSSC).Earlier,theproductionoftitaniumgasbottleswasdoneat
threedifferentplaces.ThehemispherepressingwasperformedatBharatHeavyPlate&Vessels(BHPV)in
Hyderabad,themachiningandweldingwasdoneatKeltec,andfinallypressuretestingwasdoneatVSSC.The
ManagingDirectorforKeltecMr.JohnsonPetersaysthatKeltechasdevelopedthetechnologytoproduce600mm,
400mm,and370mmdiametertitaniumgasbottles.Titaniumgasbottlesareusedforstoringhighpressurehelium
gasinsatellitelaunchvehicles.Inasimilarfashion,themanufactureofSITVCtankswasperformedatvarious
facilities.ThefabricationwasdoneatVSSC,thealuminumcoatingwasdoneatBharatHeavyElectronicsLtd.
(BHEL)inHyderabad,andfinallythepressuretestingisdoneatVSSC.Mr.Petersaysthattheintegrationofthe
manufacturingprocesswillresultinareductionofproductioncostsandalsoensurebetterdeliveryschedules.
"KeltecIntegratesTitaniumGasBottlesProduction,"BusinessLine(Chennai),6November2003;inLexisNexis
4November2003
P.Mohandas,theChairmanofBharatDynamicsLtd(BDL)saysthateventhoughtheDefenseResearchand
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)undertakesdevelopmentofmissilesystesms,theBDLisengagedinconcurrent
engineeringtoproducethemissilesquickly.Mr.MohandasstatesthatthesurfacetoairAkashmissileisatan
advancedstageofdevelopmentandalsosaysthatthesurfacetoairTrishulmissileisbeingtested.Mr.Mohandas
saysthatBDLisplanningtoexportmissilesthatarenotpartoftheIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopment
Program(IGMDP).
"CompanyAskedtRefurbishMissilestoEnhanceReliability,"PressTrustofIndia,4November2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Bharat
DynamicsAimstoDoubleTurnover,"BusinessLine(Chennai),5November2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
29October2003
IndiatestfirestheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileat11.20AMISTforthefourthtimefromtheInterimTest
Range(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.AccordingtosourcesfromtheDefenseResearchand
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),thetestwasprimarilyconductedtoestablishtheprecisionguidancecapability
inthesurfacetosurfaceversion.Thesourcesindicatethatthetestachievedallthemissionobjectives.Theground
rangeinstrumentationatITRandtheshipslocatedattheimpactpointtrackedthemissile'sparameters.The
missilewastestfiredtoarangeof290kmwithprecisionimpactonthetargetpoint.AccordingtoDr.A.Sivathanu
Pillai,theChiefControllerofResearch&DevelopmentatDRDOandtheManagingDirectorfortheIndoRussian
jointventure,thetestwasaimedtoverifytheprecisionguidancesystemandthefirecontrolsystem.TheDRDO
recentlyannouncedthattheBrahMosmissilewillbereadyforcommercialproductionandinductionintothe
armedforceswithinthenexttwoyears.
"BrahmosFlightTested,"PressTrustofIndia,29October2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,29October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaSaysWorld'sFirstSupersonicCruise
MissileTestaSuccess,"DeutschePresseAgentur,29October2003,Politics;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29
October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"IndiaConductsFlightTestofSupersonicBrahMos
Missile,"AerospaceDaily,30October2003,Vol.208,No.22,News,p.6;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4
November2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"BrahmosTestFiredSuccessfully,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),31
October2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
29October2003
ThechiefoftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.Aatresaysthatthetestofthe
3,000kmrangeAgniIIIhasbeenpostponedtillJanuary2004.Dr.Aatresaysthatthepreparationsforthetestsare
"infullswing."Dr.AatreindicatesthattheTrishulmissileprojectwillberevivedafterthecompletionoftheuser
trialsfortheAkashmissile.
"IndiatoPutOffAgniIIIMissileTillNextYear,"XinhuaNewsAgency,29October2003,WorldNews,Political;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17October2003
IndianpolicearrestHansRajShiv,theDirectorofIndianNECEngineersPrivateLtd,forallegedlyexportingbanned
chemicalstoIraq.Mr.Shivisbelievedtohaveexported10shipmentsofequipmentthatincludedtitaniumvessels
andcentrifugalpumps.Titaniumisoftenusedtobuildthecasingsandwarheadsformissiles.Thetotalworthof
theequipmentisestimatedat$800,000.EarlierinFebruary2003,theUnitedStatesimposedsanctionsonHans
RajShivandhiscompanyforviolatinglawsthatprohibitedtradingchemicalandbiologicalweapons.
"IndianPoliceArrestManforAllegedExportofChemicalstoIraq,"AgenceFrancePresse,18October2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
15October2003
AspokespersonforIndia'sMinistryofExternalAffairscriticizesUSDepartmentofStatespokespersonRichard
BoucherforincludingIndiainhiscommentsonPakistan'smissiletest.Thespokespersonsays"he[Richard
Boucher]oughttohaveconfinedhimselftoreactingtothattestratherthanclutteringupwhathehadtosayby
thinlydisguised,unwarrantedreferencestoIndia."Earlieron14October,RichardBoucher,inhiscommentson
Pakistan'stestfiringoftheShaheen1ballisticmissile,askedIndiaandPakistantorestraintheirmissileprograms.
"IndiaBlasts'Cluttered'USMissileReaction,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),17October2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,16October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
15October2003
AsourceintheRussianDefenseMinistrysaysthatpreparationsarebeingcompletedfortestingtheBrahMos
supersoniccruisemissilebeforetheendof2003.
"NextLaunchofRussianIndianCruiseMissileSetforEndof2003,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,15
October2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7October2003
TheChiefofAirStaffS.KrishnaswamysaysthatIndiahasstartedeffortstobuildweaponplatformsinspace.Mr.
KrishnaswamysaysthatIndiahastopossessaspacecommandsinceadvancedcountriesaremovingtowards
havinglaserweaponplatformsinspace.AboutsixmonthsbackIndianparliamentariansexpressedconcernover
thelackofeffortstobuildanaerospacecommandtomanagespacebasedmilitaryassets.Mr.Krishnaswamyalso
acknowledgesthepresenceofproblemswiththeIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgram(IGMDP)and
saysthattherearetemporarydelaysinthedevelopmentofquickreactionandmediumrangemissiles.According
toMr.Krishnaswamy,thesurfacetoairAkashmissilefacedproblemswithitstwostageramjetpropulsion
technology.HesaysthattheAirForceplanstoprocureimportedmissilesasamakeshiftsolution.
"IAFWorkingonWeaponPlatformsinSpace,"Hindu(Chennai),7October2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,6October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;RobertWall,"IndiaEyesWeaponizingSpace,"Aviation
Week&SpaceTechnology,13October2003,Vol.159,No.15,InDefense,p.51;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
6October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
28September2003
TheViceChiefofArmyStaffLieutenantGeneralShantonuChoudharysaysthattheArmywillsoondeploythe
700kmrangeAgniIandthe1,500kmrangeAgniII.Lt.GenChoudharysaysthattheartilleryregimenthasalready
deployedtheshortrangePrithvimissilewitharangeof225km.HealsosysthattheArmyhascreatedaseparate
missileregimentintheartillerywhichwillbearmedwiththeAgniI,AgniII,andthePrithvimissiles.Defense
Ministryofficialsindicatethatthe333Prithvimissilegroupisarmedwithliquidpropelledmissileswhichcancarry
apayloadof1,000kgover150km.Officialssaythatthe333missilegrouphastwoindependentsubgroupswhich
canbedeployedindependently.Officialsourcesalsorevealthatthe3,000kmrangeAgniIIIwillbetestfired
towardstheendof2003.
"AgniMissilesInductedintoArmySoon,"PressTrustofIndia,28September2003,NationwideInternational
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,28September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24September2003
India'sPrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayeeplanstomeetUSPresidentGeorgeBushinNewYorkanddiscuss
cooperationinmissiledefenseissues.AccordingtoseniorIndianDefenseMinistryofficials,PrimeMinister
VajpayeeisexpectedtoinformPresidentBushthatthetransferofmissiledefensetechnologywillleadtogreater
regionalstability.AccordingtotheDefenseMinistryofficials,theinitialdisagreementswithinthegovernmentover
theUSmissiledefensesystemhavegivenwaytoaconsensusontheissue.Overthepasttwoyears,Indiaandthe
UnitedStateshaveheldfourroundsofinformaldialogonmissiledefenseissues.
BulbulSingh,"VajpayeetoPromoteCooperationonMissileDefenseswithUS,"AerospaceDaily,24September
2003,Vol.207,No.58,News,p.2;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,2October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23September2003
TheIndiangovernmentsanctionsthetransferoftwonewAgnimissilegroupstotheArmyinordertoexpeditethe
processofoperationalizingthedeploymentofshortandmediumrangeAgnimissiles.Thenew334missilegroup
willbearmedwiththe700kmrangeAgniImissileandthe335missilegroupwillbearmedwiththe1,500kmAgniII
missile.ThenewmissilegroupsareexpectedtoberaisednearSecunderabadinAndhraPradesh.BharatDynamics
Ltd.(BDL),theorganizationwhichproducesmissilesislocatedinSecunderabad.TheArmyhasalreadyallocated
manpowerforthenewmissilegroupseventhoughthegovernmentisyettoreleasefundsforthemissilegroups.
SourcesindicatethatthenewmissilegroupshavebeenallocatedtotheArmysincethenewlyformedStrategic
ForcesCommand(SFC)isnotyetoperational.ThegovernmentalsoapprovesthecreationoftwonewPrithvi
missilegroups,named444and555missilegroups.Currently,theArmyhasdeployedtwoPrithvimissilegroups,
namelythe222andthe333missilegroups.OfficialsindicatethatthenewPrithvimissilegroupswillbecome
operationalby2005andthemissilegroupswillberaisedinSecunderabadcontingentonthefundsallocatedby
theMinistryofFinance.Untilnow,onlythe333Prithvimissilegroupiscompleteandhasbeenshiftedalongwith
the40thartillerydivisiontoapermanentlocationinMadhyaPradesh.The333missilegroupisarmedwithliquid
propellantPrithvimissiles.ThenewPrithvimissilegroupswillhavesolidfuelmotors,whichwillreducetheneed
formobilefueltoppers,neededforliquidfueledmissiles,byonethird.Accordingtohighlyplacedsources,alarge
numberofNavyandAirForcepersonnel,apartfromtheArmypersonnel,areundergoingtrainingtousevarious
surfacetosurfacemissiles.AccordingtoaforthcomingarticleinthedefensemagazineForce,theIndian
governmentplanstouseonlyconventionalwarheadsonPrithvimissilesanduseittoattacktheenemy'sstrategic
reservesanddegradetheenemytheater.Accordingtothearticle,thegovernmentplanstokeeptheAgniasthe
mainstayofitsnucleardeterrence.ThereportsaysthattheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO)hasnotequippedthePrithvimissilewithincendiarywarheadsandblastcumearthshocksubmunitions.
Moreover,thegovernmenthasalsonotapprovedarmingthemissileswithfuelairexplosives.
"IndianGovt.toHandOverAgniMissilestoArmy,"PressTrustofIndia,2September2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21September2003
ThechiefoftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)Dr.V.K.Aatrewillleadahighlevel
delegationtoIsraelinearlyOctober.SeniorofficialsinIndia'sMinistryofDefensestatethatthevisitisafollowup
tothenegotiationsheldwiththeheadoftheMinistryofDefenseExportsMaj.Gen.AmosMayer.Thenegotiations
wereheldduringthevisitofIsraeliPrimeMinisterArielSharon'svisittoIndia.OfficialsindicatethatIndiais
seekingcooperationindevelopingtheshortrangeseaskimmingmissileanddevelopinganewinertialnavigation
system.Accordingtoofficials,thedelegationwillalsoseekcooperationindevelopinglongrangemissileslikethe
3,000kmAgniIII.TheagendaforthemeetingalsoincludescollaborationtorevivethesurfacetoairAkashmissile
systemandtheTrishulmissilesystem.TheMinistryofDefensedoesnotprovideanyofficialnoticeaboutthe
proposedtrip.
"IndianDefenceTeamtoVisitIsraelforHelponMissileProgram:Report,"AgenceFrancePresse,21September
2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
"DRDOTeamVisitingIsraeltoExploreDefenceCollaboration,"FinancialExpress(Mumbai),21September2003;in
12September2003
Indianofficialsindicatethatthe700kmAgniIand1,500kmAgniIIarebeinginductedintothemilitary.Officials
alsoindicatethatthe3,000kmrangeAgniIIIwillbetestedatanappropriatetime.
"AgniMissilesBeingInductedintoArmedForces,"PressTrustofIndia,12September2003,Nationwide
10September2003
Israel'sDeputyPrimeMinisterYosefLapidsaysthattheUnitedStatesisstudyingtheproposaltoselltheArrow
antimissilesystemtoIndia.
"IsraelSaleof"Arrow"AntiMissilesDependentonUSApproval,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,10
September2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
8September2003
AccordingtotheIsraelinewspaperHaaretz,theUnitedStateshasblockeddiscussionsbetweenIndiaandIsraelon
thepossiblesaleoftheArrowantimissilesystem.Accordingtothenewsreport,theUnitedStateshasadvised
Israel'sPrimeMinisterArielSharonnottooffertheArrowantimissilesystemduringhisforthcomingvisittoIndia.
AtulAneja,"U.S.ObjectstoSaleofArrowMissilestoIndia,"Hindu(Chennai),8September2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,8September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7September2003
TheIndiangovernmentapprovestheprocurementof30additionalnuclearcapablePrithvimissileswith150300
kmrange.ThenewPrithvimissileswillbepropelledbysolidfuelsincetheArmyexpertsfoundsolidpropelled
missilestobemorereliableandtargetoriented.Thegovernmentalsoapprovesthepurchaseofadditionalmissile
launchers.Currently,eachArmymissilebattalionhaseightlaunchers.Defenseofficialsalsostatethatpreparations
areunderwaytotestthe3,000kmAgniIIIandindicatethatthemissilewillbetestedinthefirstweekof
November.ThegovernmentalsoapprovestheinductionoftheAgniIandAgniIImissilesintotheStrategicForces
Command(SFC).Thelocationofheadquarters,commandstructure,andlocationofalternatecommandare
finalizedandbeingimplemented.ThegovernmentalsoapprovesthetransferofthetwoArmymissilebattalionsto
theSFC.OfficialsindicatethatthesedecisionsweretakenatthemeetingofthePoliticalCouncillastweek.
"GovernmenttoProcureMorePrithviMissiles,"PressTrustofIndia,7September2003,Nationwide
5September2003
TheDirectoroftheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)Dr.Prahladasaysthattheshortrange
surfacetoairAkashmissilewillbesentforusertrialsin2004.Dr.PrahladaindicatesthattheAkashmissilehita
flyingtargetduringtheflighttrials.HealsosaysthattheTrishulmissilewillalsobetestedandstatesthatthedates
forthetesthavenotbeenfinalized.ReferringtotheproblemswiththeTrishulmissile,Dr.Prahladasaysthatthe
missilefacedaproblemtwoyearsagowhichwascorrectedsubsequently.
K.R.Sreenivas,"Akash,NagtobeSentforUserTrialsin2004,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),6September2003;in
5September2003
TheUnitedStatesisundecidedonwhethertoallowthesaleoftheIsraeliArrowantimissilesystemtoIndia.The
UnitedStateshasneitherdeniednorapprovedthesale.TheArrowantimissilesystemisjointlydevelopedby
IsraelandtheUnitedStates.ThesaleoftheArrowantimissilesystemrequirestheapprovaloftheUnitedStates.
TheWhiteHouseandthePentagonarebelievedtosupportthesalewhereastheDepartmentofStateandthe
nonproliferationlobbyinWashingtonDCopposethesale.Pakistanhasalsoexpresseditsconcernsoverthe
possiblesaleoftheantimissilesystemtoIndia.
C.RajaMohan,"U.S.HoldsBackIsraeliArrow,"Hindu(Chennai),5September2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,5September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
4September2003
India'sNuclearCommandAuthority(NCA)directsthemilitarytotransferthecontrolofthenucleararsenaltothe
StrategicForcesCommand(SFC)whichwasestablishedinJanuary2003.Thedirectiveisissuedafterameetingof
thePoliticalCouncilinwhichitisrevealedthatthecommandandcontrolandwarningsystemsandthe
infrastructurefortheNCAarenotoperational.Accordingtoofficials,theIndianarmedforcesarereluctantto
transferthenucleararsenaltotheSFC.
BulbulSingh,"MilitaryForcestoTransferNukeControltoNewCommand,"AerospaceDaily,4September2003,
Vol.207,No.46,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2September2003
India'sPrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayeechairsatwohourmeetingofthePoliticalCounciloftheNuclear
CommandAuthority(NCA).ThemeetingisalsoattendedbyDeputyPrimeMinisterL.K.Advani,DefenseMinister
GeorgeFernandes,FinanceMinisterJaswantSingh,andNationalSecurityAdvisorBrajeshMishraandothertop
governmentanddefenseofficials.ThePoliticalCouncilreviewsthestepsundertakentosetuptheStrategicForces
Command(SFC)withemphasisoninstitutingthechainofcommand,thetransferofnuclearassetsfromthethree
servicestotheStrategicForcesCommand,andtheimplementationoftheChiefofIntegratedDefenseStaff(CIDS).
ThemeetingalsoreviewsthepreparednessoftheSFCwithrespecttothenucleardeliverysystemsandthe
meetingalsoexaminesthedoctrineoftheSFC.
"IndiaHoldsHighPoweredMeetingtoReviewNuclearDeterrence,"XinhuaNewsAgency,2September2003,
WorldNews,Political;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,3September2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
September2003
TheIndianAirForceinvitesbidsforthesupplyofshortrangesurfacetoairmissilesfollowingthepoortestresults
shownbytheTrishulmissilesystem.
25August2003
DuetoproblemsassociatedwiththeTrishulmissileproject,theIndianNavydecidestobuymoreBaraksystemsat
anestimatedcostofRs.100croreforeachmissilesystem.TheNavyplanstoequipotherwarshipsincludingthe
BrahmaputraclassfrigateswiththeBarakmissilesystem.IndiandefensesourcesindicatethattheTrishulmissile
system,despiteundergoing70tests,isstillfacingproblemswiththeguidance,control,andpropulsionsystems.
SourcesindicatethattheNavyplanstostandardizetheantishipdefensesontheBarakmissilesystem.TheNavy
alsoplanstousetheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileasitsprimaryantishipweapon.TheBrahMoscruise
missileisbelievedtobemoreadvancedthantheantishipmissilescurrentlypossessedbyChinaandPakistan.
RajatPandit,"TrishulisBlunt,SONavalForcesSeekBarak,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),25August2003;inLexis
20August2003
RussiadisplaystheaerialvariantoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileattheInternationalAerospaceShow
(MAKS2003)inMoscow.IndiaandRussiaarejointlydevelopingtheBrahMoscruisemissile.AlexanderLeonov,the
DeputyChiefDesignerofNPOMashinostroyeniyasaysthatflighttestsoftheBrahMoswillbecompletedin2003
andserialproductionwillbeginsimultaneouslyinIndiaandRussiain2004.TheIndianandRussianproduction
facilitiescanproduce100BrahMosmissilesannually.Mr.LeonovsaysthattheBrahMosmissilehasbeen
successfullytestedinbothinclinedandverticalpositionsandalsofromtheIndianwarshipINSRajput.Mr.Leonov
saysthatthedisplayedversionofthemissileisintendedfortheSukhoiSu30MKI.ThethreeKrivakclassstealth
frigates,whichIndiarecentlyacquiredfromRussia,canalsobearmedwithBrahMosmissiles.Mr.Leonovsaysthat
IndiaandRussiaplantoexportthemissiletosomefriendlycountries;thesecountrieshavebeenindentified.Mr.
Leonov,however,doesnotdisclosethenamesofthecountries.
"AerialVersionofBrahMosonDisplayatIntlAerospaceShow,"PressTrustofIndia,20August2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
19August2003
AnIndianDefenseMinistryofficialsaysthatthetestsfortheAkashsurfacetoairmissilewillcontinueandadds
thatthegovernmentplanstoinvest$500milliontoprocureothermissilesystems.TheAkashmissilesystem,
basedontheRussianSA6airdefensesystem,isnearingcompletion.IndiaisdevelopingtwoversionsoftheAkash
missile.Oneversionhasarangeof25kilometerswhereasthesecondversionhasarangeof60kilometers.
BulbulSingh,"IndianArmyRejectsAkash,AsksforOtherMissiles,"AerospaceDaily,19August2003,Vol.207,
No.35,News,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17August2003
IndiaseeksinformationonthePatriotantimissilesystemfromtheUnitedStatesandalsoseeksUSapprovalfor
India'sparticipationintheIsraeliArrowantimissileproject.IndianDefenseMinistryofficialsexpressconfidence
thattheUnitedStateswillprovideanearlyresponsetoIndia'srequests.Indianofficialsstatethattherequestis
partofanactionplantobuildanantimissilesystemalongIndia'swesternborderwithPakistan.Theplan
envisagesatprovidingarapidresponsecapabilitytoIndia'sarmedforcesintheeventofanuclearorconventional
missileattack.TheplanalsocallsforlinkingexistingsystemsliketheLowLevelTransportableRadarsfromIsrael
withthestilltobeinductedAirborneWarningandAirControlSystem.Anothercomponentoftheplaninvolves
thelinkingofgroundcomponentswithanindigenousspysatellitesystem.IndianDefenseministryofficialsstate
thattherequestfortechnicalinformationonthePatriotsystemisimportantsinceIndiaisplanningtorestarttrials
fortheTrishulmissilewhichwasshelvedrecently.TheTrishulmissile,originallyintendedforsurfacetoairmulti
targetrolewaslateradaptedasanantimissilesystemaftersometechnicalbreakthroughs.Theprojectfaced
someproblemsaftertheimpositionofUSsanctionsfollowingthenucleartestsinMay1998.Defensescientistsare
alsoattemptingtoadapttheAkashmissileasanantimissilesystem.
"IndiaPlansanEarlyIndigenousAntiMissileSystem,"PressTrustofIndia,17August2003,Nationwide
17August2003
TheHindustanTimesreportsthatIndiaplanstoshelvethesurfacetoairAkashmissileproject.TheAkashmissile
systemwasintendedtoprovideairdefensecapabilitiesfortheArmyandprotectthevitalassetsoftheAirForce.
However,thedelaysinthedevelopmentofthe25kilometerrangemissileincreasedthecostforthemissileand
theArmyinitiatedeffortstolookforalternateforeignmissilesystems.Accordingtothenewsreport,oneAkash
missilesystemcomprisingoffourmissilebatterieswasestimatedtocost$187.5millionin1985andthecost
escalatedto$416million.Apartfromthecostoverruns,theAkashmissilealsofacestechnicalproblems.Theradar
forthemissilesystemonlyscansa90degreeswathe.Hencethemissilesystemcannottrackaircraftandmissile
approachingfromdifferentdirectionsatthesametime.TheAkashmissilecanreachamaximumspeedofMach3
whichissuitabletotargetaircraftbutisinsufficienttotargetmissilessincetheyflyatmorethanMach6.The
defenseministrystatesthatthemissileiscapableoftrackingseveraltargetssimultaneously.Thenewreport,
however,statesthatthemissile'sabilitytorespondtomultipleunknowntargetsisdoubtfulsincethemissiletests
onlyinvolvedknownsingletargets.Accordingtothereport,theArmyisnotconfidentthattheAkashmissilewill
beinductedeventhoughaseriesoftestsareplannedforJune2004.TheArmyandtheAirForcealsofoundthe
BMPIIchassisunsuitableformountingthemissiles.
"AFPCitesHindustanTimesSayingIndiatoShelveSecondAntiAircraftMissile,"WorldNewsConnection,17
August2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India'sMedium
RangeMissileAkashSetAside(AfterBoththeIndianArmyandAirForceRejectIt),"IndiaBusinessInsight
(Bangalore),30September2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9October2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
14August2003
Aspartofitseffortstoacquireairdefensecapabilities,Indiarequests"technicalinformation"regardingthePatriot
antimissilesystemfromtheUnitedStates.India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformstheupperhouseof
parliament(RajyaSabha)thattheIndiangovernmenthassentarequesttotheUSDefenseCooperationAgency.
IndiaisalsoexaminingtheIsraeliArrowantimissilesystem.ButMr.Fernandessaythatthereisnoproposalto
acquireandupgradetheArrowantimissilesystem.RussiaalsorenewsitsproposaltosellthelongrangeS300V
antimissilesystemalongwiththeshorterrangeTorM1andBukM1systemsfortheatermissiledefenses.
RajatPandit,"IndiaWantsInfoonPatriotMissileSystem,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),14August2003;inLexis
8August2003
TheDirectoroftheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCenter(VSCC)Dr.G.MadhavanNairsaysthatIndiawilllaunchitsfirst
reusablespacecraftby2005aboardthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV).Afterconductingexperimentsin
materialsprocessingandotherareas,thespacecraftwillberetrievedandreused.AccordingtoDr.Nair,the
projectwillcostaboutRs.500million.Dr.NairalsosaysthatIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)is
developingthenextvariantoftheGeoSynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicleMarkIII(GSLVMarkIII),whichwill
beabletodeploya4tonsatelliteintogeosynchronousorbit.Dr.V.K.Aatre,thescientificadvisortotheDefense
Minister,deniesthatthegovernmentisreviewingitsdecisiontocontinuewithcertainguidedmissileprojects.
Acknowledgingtheexistenceofproblemsincertainprojects,Dr.Aatresaysthat"nosuchprogramisbeing
abandoned."
"IndiatoLaunchReusableSpacecraftby2005,"PressTrustofIndia,8August2003,NationwideInternational
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
8August2003
Dr.R.N.Agarwal,theformerDirectoroftheAgnimissileprojectandcurrentlytheDirectorofAdvancedSystems
Laboratory(ASL),statesthatthecarboncompositecontentofthenewvariantsofAgniwillbeincreasedfrom35
percentto80percentmakingthemlighterandhencetravellongerranges.Dr.AgarwalsaysthatAgni'sreentry
heatshieldisentirelymadeupofcarboncomposite.Dr.Agarwalmakeshisremarksatthenationalsymposiumon
"StrategicMaterialsandTechnologiesforComposites"organizedbytheASL.Dr.AgarwalsaysthatIndiadeveloped
thecarboncompositetechnologycompletelyindigenouslysinceitwashighlyrestricted.Dr.Agarwaladdsthat
futuristicprojectssuchasthereusablehyperplanewillutilizecompositematerialsextensively.
"LightweightAgniVariantontheWay,"PressTrustofIndia,8August2003,NationwideInternationalNews;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7August2003
Taiwan'scustomsofficialsboardtheNorthKoreancontainership"BeGaeDong"dockedatKaohsiungharborand
find1,000tonsofaluminumoxide.Theshipdockedintheharbortounloadthe1,000tonsofaluminumoxide.The
spokespersonfromtheKaohsiungcustomsbureauMr.WongYaomingsaysthatthealuminumoxidewasmadein
IndiaandwasdestinedforPyongyang,NorthKorea.Earlier,theUnitedStatesinformedtheTaiwaneseofficials
thattheshipwascarrying"missilemakingmaterial."Mr.Wongsaysthatitisnotpossibletodetaintheshipsince
ithaddeclaredthealuminumoxide.AccordingtoMr.Wongaluminumoxidealonedoesnotpresentadanger.
[Aluminumoxidewhenmixedwithotherchemicalsproducesaluminumsaltwhichisusedinproducingmissile
shells.]
"TaiwanFinds'MissileMaking'MaterialonN.KoreanShip,"DeutschePresseAgentur,8August2003,Politics;in
6August2003
TheIndianNayplanstoupgradeitsKiloclasssubmarinesandconvertthemintomissilecapablesubmarines.The
IndianNavyhas10kiloclasssubmarinesinitsfleetof16submarines.AccordingtotheNavy'splansfiveKiloclass
submarineswillbeconvertedtocarrymissiles.Afterthetransformation,thesubmarineswillbecomecapableof
firingmissileswitharangeof150200km.Currently,theKiloclasssubmarinescanonlyfiretorpedoes.According
toCommodoreUdayChitanavistheKiloclasssubmarines"SindhuKesari"and"SindhuRatna"havealreadybeen
upgraded.Currentlythe"SindhuGhosh"isundergoingtransformationinRussia.
"IndianNavySubmarinesUndergoingUpgradationProgramme,"PressTrustofIndia,6August2003,Nationwide
67August2003
TheUSIndiaDefensePolicyGroup(DPG)meetsinWashingtonDC.IndiaandtheUnitedStatesdecidetoholda
missiledefenseworkshopinIndiawithinthenextfewmonths.TheworkshopisintendedasafollowuptotheJune
2003MultinationalBallisticMissileDefenseConferenceinKyoto,JapanandattendedbyIndiaandtheUnited
States.IndiaalsoagreestoparticipateintheJuly2004MultinationalBallisticMissileDefenseConferenceinBerlin
andtheRovingSandsMissileDefenseExercisein2005.Bothsidesalsoagreethatmissiledefenseenhances
cooperativesecurityandstability.
"USDOD:JointStatementonU.S.IndiaDefensePolicyGroup,"M2Presswire,11August2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,11August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
30July2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatthe700kmAgniIandthe2,000kmAgniIIare
intheinductionphase.Mr.Fernandessaysthatthe200kmversionofthePrithvihasbeeninductedintotheArmy
whereastheAirForceversionofthesamemissileisunderinduction.
"20MissileTestsinIndiainFirstHalfof2003atCostof16MlnDollars,"AgenceFrancePresse,30July2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31July2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24July2003
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)decidestostrengthenthesecurityaroundthe
InterimTestRange(ITR)inBalasoredistrictandWheeler'sIslandinthenearbyBhadrakdistrict.TheDRDOplansto
setupsophisticatedradarstationsalongthecoastline.TheDRDOisincreasingthesecurityafterOrissa'sChief
Ministerraisedconcernsaboutthepresenceofforeignnationalsinthevicinityofthemissilefacilities.Duringthe
lasttwoyears,OrissapolicenabbedBangladeshinationalsforsuspiciousmovementsaroundthemissilefacilities.
Asafirststep,theDRDOplanstosetuparadarfacilityatKendrappadistrict.TheDRDOhasalsorequestedthe
OrissaStategovernmenttoprocurelandfortheradarfacility.
"IndianDefenseBodytoStrengthenSecurityRingAroundMissileLaunchingCenters,"WorldNewsConnection,
24July2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26July2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23July2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformstheupperhouseofparliament(RajyaSabha)thatthedefense
ResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isworkingtoremovetheproblemsassociatedwiththeTrishul
missileprojectandconvertitintoanantimissilesystem.Mr.Fernandessaysthattheprojectiscurrentlydelinked
fromuserserviceduetodelaysarisingoutoftechnicalproblems.Mr.Fernandesclaimsthatthefourtestsforthe
TrishulmissileconductedinJune2003metallmissionobjectiveslikevalidatingguidancesystemandoperations.
However,theArmy,Navy,andtheAirForceareallowedtoimportforeignmissilestomeettheirurgentdemands
whileDRDOsolvesproblemsassociatedwiththemissile.
"India'sHomeMadeSAMNotaDUDMissile:DefenceMinister,"AgenceFrancePresse,23July2003,
17July2003
TheoutgoingUSAmbassadortoIndiaAmbassadorRobertBlackwillstatesthattheUnitedStatesdoesnot"fixate
onIndia'snuclearweaponsandmissileprogram."
MaseehRahman,"OutgoingEnvoyCitesShiftinUSPolicy;FocusforAlliesisNowonCivilNuclear,Space,and
OtherHighTechnologyAreas,"SouthChinaMorningPost(HongKong),18July2003,News,p.11;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,19July2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17July2003
IndiadecidestoincreasetheproductionofitsmissilesinordertocounterPakistan'sHatf,Shaheen,andGhauri
missiles.Accordingtoaseniordefenseofficial,theDefenseministrysanctioned$500milliontoBharatDynamics
Limited(BDL)toproducesixtypesofmissiles.Indiaplanstoproduce50PrithviImissilefortheArmy,50PrithviII
missilesfortheAirForce,25PrithviPlusmissilesfortheArmy,and25DhanushmissilesfortheNavy.Withthe
exceptionofPrithviIwhichhasarangeof150kilometers,alltheothermissileshavearangeof250km.TheArmy
hasalsoordered25AgniImissilesand25AgniIImissiles.
BulbulSingh,"IndiatoBuildMissileStocksWhileSeekingMissileDefense,"AerospaceDaily,17July2003,Vol.
207,No.12,News,p.2;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23July2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
16July2003
IndiaandtherepresentativesofLockheedMartindiscussthepricingfortheP3BOrionmultimissionmaritime
aircraft.IndiandefenseofficialsindicatethatIndiacanfittheaircraftwithBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilesto
providestrikecapabilityfortheaircraft.
C.R.Jayachandran,"IndiaSeeksMoreNavalStrikeCapability,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),16July2003;inLexis
9July2003
AspokespersonfortheMinistryofDefenserejectsreportsthattheTrishulmissileprojectisshelvedandstates
thatthemissilesubsystems,airframes,andcontrolsworkedasexpectedinmissiletestsconductedbetweenJune
22andJune25.ThespokespersonsaysthatinfuturetheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)
willconductthetestsinassociationwiththeuser,i.e.themilitary.Thespokespersonalsostatesthatthemissile
testsachievedbetterthanspecifiedresultsagainstmovingtargets.Thespokespersonrevealsthatthemissiletests
beforeJune2003werenotmeetingallthedesiredparametersandsaysthattheproblemwasarisingdueto
inconsistencyoftheguidanceandcontrolsystems.Accordingtothespokesperson,theDRDOconductedthetests
lastmonthaftercarryingoutmodificationstotheguidanceandsubsystemsandpropellants.Accordingtothe
spokespersonfourmissileswerelaunchedfromtheTrishulCombatVehicleinfullcombatconfigurationandthe
testsmetalltheflightobjectives.
"FurtherTestsofTrishultobeCarriedOutWithUsers,"PressTrustofIndia,9July2003,Nationwide
7July2003
AseniorscientistattheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)deniesreportsthattheTrishul
missileprojecthasbeenabandonedandsaysthattheprojectiscurrently"notuserdrivenbutR&Ddriven."The
seniorscientistsaysthattheDRDOisexaminingproblemareasandensureconsistencyinperformanceinnorder
toretainthecustomerconfidence.ThescientistdeniesnewsreportsthattheTrishulmissileprojectisshelvedand
saysthataprojectascomplicatedasasurfacetoairmissilewillinvolvesomedelaysandsetbackspriorto
induction.ThescientistpromisesthattheDRDOwillprovidetheNavywiththeTrishulmissileaftercorrectingthe
problemsincommandguidance.AnotherscientistattheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)
saysthatthefourtestsoftheTrishulmissileconductedbetweenJune22toJune25wereconductedinthe
presenceofIndianAirForce(IAF)officialsandstatesthattheresultsweresatisfactory.TheDRDLscientistadds
thatthemisseddistancewaswithinthestipulatedguidelines.
AnanthaKrishnanM.,"TrishulProgrammeisAlive,Kicking:DRDO,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),8July2003;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8July2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5July2003
ThescientificadvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.AatresaysthattheTrishulmissileprojecthasbeen
convertedintoaresearchanddevelopmentprojectsinceitdidnotmeettherequirementsofthearmedservices.
Dr.Aatresaysthatthefourtestsofthemissilesystemlastmonthwereconductedtosolvethetechnicalproblems
andsaysthattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willsolvetheproblemsassociatedwith
themissilesystem.Dr.Aatredoesnotprovidedetailsabouttheproblemsassociatedwiththesystem.Hesaysthat
theDRDOallowedtheNavytoprocuretheBarakantimissilesystemsincetheNavywantedtohaveasystemuntil
theTrishulmissilesystemiscompleted.
"IndiaShelvesDevelopmentofShortRangeAntiAircraftMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,6July2003,
25June2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulballisticmissileat1.20PMISTforthefourthconsecutiveday
fromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Accordingtosources,thetestis
conductedtoverifythemissile'saccuracyandotherparameters.
"TrishulTestFiredAgainontheFourthConsecutiveDayatChandipur,"PakistanNewswire,25June2003,
NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
"AnotherTestFiring,"Hindu(Chennai),25June2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,25June2003,
24June2003
TheIndianExpress,quotingsources,saysthatallthefourtestsfortheTrishulmissilefailed.Thenewsreportsays
thatthefirsttestoccurredonJune20inwhichthemissiledidnottakeofffromthemissilelauncher.Inthesecond
testonJune22,themissilewaslaunchedbutitdidnotflytoitsmaximumrangeof810km.Accordingtothenews
report,thethirdtestonMondayalsofailed.ThefourthtestonJune24failedasthemissiledidnothittheLakshya
microlightaircraftandboththemissileandthetargetfellintothesea.AspokespersonfromtheDefenseMinistry
deniesthatthefourthtestfailedtomeetitsspecifications.UntillastweektheDefenseMinistryplannedtoshelve
theTrishulmissileproject.Lastweek,however,adecisionwastakentotestthemissile.
"FourTestFiringsLater,TrishulYettoFindItsTarget,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),24June2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,25June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24June2003
ForthethirdtimeinthreedaysIndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulballisticmissilearound6.50
AMGMTfromamobilelauncherattheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.The
targetisamicrolightunmannedaircraft.
"TrishulTestFiredfortheThirdTime,"PressTrustofIndia,24June2003,NationwideInternationalNews;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
23June2003
IndiateststheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulsurfacetoairmissileforthesecondtimeintwodays.Themissile
islaunchedfromamobilelauncherattheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.
Themissilesuccessfullyhitthemicrolightunmannedaircrafttarget.
"IndiaConductsSecondTestofTrishulSurfacetoAirMissile,"DeutschePresseAgentur,23June2003,Politics;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestsShortrangeMissile
Again,"AgenceFrancePresse,23June2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24June2003,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaSuccessfullyTestFiresShortRangeMissileforSecondConsecutiveDay,"BBC
MonitoringInternationalReports,23June2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23June2003,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
22June2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulballisticmissileat2.00PMISTfromtheInterimTestRange
(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Thescientiststermthetestasasuccess.Themissileistestedto
evaluateitsaccuracyandotherparameters.TheIndiangovernmenthadearlierplannedtoshelvetheTrishul
missileproject.TheTrishulmissilehasarangebetween500meterstoninekilometersandcancarrya15kg
payload.Themissilecanalsoflyabovetheseaatalowaltitude.TheArmyandtheAirForcecanalsousethe
missile,originallyintendedfortheNavy.Themissilehasaradaraltimeterwhichallowsthemissiletoflyabove
wateratlowaltitudes.
"IndiaTestsHomegrownShortRangeSurfacetoAirMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,22June2003,International
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaConductsSecondTestof
TrishulSurfacetoAirMissile,"DeutschePresseAgentur,23June2003,Politics;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
23June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India"TestFiringofShortRangeSurfacetoAirTrishulMissile
Detailed,"WorldNewsConnection,23June2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,25June2003,
21June2003
IndiaacquirestheabsolutegravimeteratacostofRs.2crores.Thedeviceiscapableofaccuratelymeasuringthe
gravitationalpull"g"topartsperbillionandthedevicecanbeusedindevelopingmissiles.JapanandChinaarethe
onlyotherAsiancountriespossessingtheequipment.India'sNationalGeophysicalResearchInstituteacquiresthe
instrumentandplanstousethedeviceinAntarcticaforresearchpurposes.TheDirectoroftheDefenseResearch
andDevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)Dr.Prahladasaysthatthedevicecanbeusefulfordefensepurposes.
AccordingtoaseniorscientistatDRDL,thegravitationalforce"g"isanimportantcomponentindesigningmissile
anddeliverysystemsandaddsthattheaccuracyandefficiencyofamissilecanbeimprovedbyknowingthe
accurate"g"valueatitslaunchingsiteandtargetsite.
[1.Thegravitationalpull"g"istheforceexertedbytheearthtowardsanobject.Thegravitationalpullvariesacross
locationsbasedonthedensityoftheundergroundmaterialsataparticularlocation.Duringthelaunchofamissile,
"g"actsasanegativeforcepullingthemissilebacktowardstheearth.Duringthereentryphaseofamissile,"g"
actsasafavorableforcepullingthemissiletowardsthetargetonearth.Usually,duringthedesigningphasefora
missile,"g"isassumedasconstant.However,theabilitytocalculatethe"g"atthelaunchsiteandthetargetsite
enablesthedesignofmissilewithhighaccuracy.]
LisonJoseph,"GravimeterGivesIndiaStrategicEdge,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),21June2003;inLexisNexis
20June2003
ThescientificadvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.AatresaysthatIndiawillconductthenextroundoftestsfor
theBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileafterthemonsoonseason.
"BangaloretoHave'SmartMaterials'Center,"Hindu(Chennai),20June2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
19June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11June2003
IndiaandtheUnitedStatesdiscussthesaleofhightechnologymilitaryequipmentandmodulesofthemissile
defenseshield.TheUnitedStatescontinuestoprovideinformationtoIndiaregardingthebasicconceptsofthe
missiledefensesystem.IndiaisalsoinvitedtoattendamissiledefensecooperationconferenceinJapaninJulyand
toattendamissiledefenseexercisescheduledinJulyaswellattheWhiteSandstestingfacilityinCalifornia.The
UnitedStateshasnotapprovedthesaleofthePatriotantimissilesystemandtheissuehasnotprogressedbeyond
India'srequestforinformationregardingthePatriotsystem.Thedelayisprobablyduetotherestrictionsimposed
bytheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR)regardingtheexportofmissileandsensitivetechnologies.India
andtheUnitedStatesarediscussingthisissueseparately.
SandeepDikshit,"India,USDiscussSaleofHiTechMilitaryEquipment,"Hindu(Chennai),11June2003;inLexis
10June2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairAkashballisticmissilefromamobilelauncherat11.40AMISTatthe
InterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Anofficialatthetestsitedescribesthetest
as"amajormilestoneinthecountry'sintegratedguidedmissiledevelopmentprogram."
"IndiaTestFiresAkashMissileFor3rdTimein2Weeks,"JapanEconomicNewswire,10June2003,International
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestFiresSurfacetoAir
MissileAkash,"DeutschePresseAgentur,10June2003,Miscellaneous;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18June
2June2003
ScientistsfromtheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)indicatethattheBrahMossupersonic
cruisemissilewillbetestfiredanytimethisweek.Accordingtothesources,twoIndianwarshipsINSRajputand
INSNilgiriarestationedofftheParadipcoasttoconductthetest.Russiahasalreadytestedthemissilefromits
warships.DRDOsourcesalsosuggestthatIndiawillcarryoutsomemoretestsforthe800kmrangeAgniIballistic
missile.Indiaisalsoplanningtocarryoutthefirsttestforits3,000kmrangeAgniIII.
"AkashSuccessfullyTestFired,"PressTrustofIndia,2June2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
2June2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairAkashmissilefromamobilelauncherat1.15PMISTattheInterim
TestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.IndiateststhemissilewiththeRajendraphased
arrayradarsystem.IndianscientistshadearlierattemptedtousetheshortrangesurfacetoairTrishulballistic
missileinconjunctionwiththeRajendraarrayradar.Buttheeffortwasshelvedafterseveralfailurestointegrate
theTrishulmissilewiththeRajendraradar.ScientistsfromtheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO)termthetestaspartofdevelopmenttrialsandsuggestthatthemissilecouldbemodifiedasananti
missilesystem.AccordingtoDRDOsources,themissilewillbetestedseveraltimesbeforeitsinductionintothe
military.TheAkashmissileusesasecondstageramjetmotoranditisguidedbyagroundbasedradarandan
onboardhomingsystem.AccordingtoanIndianmilitaryofficial,theAkashmissileisbasedontheRussianSA6air
defensemissileanditcouldbemodifiedtointerceptshortrangemissilessuchasPakistan'sHatf1.TheAkash
missileisalsoexpectedtobeintegratedwiththeRussianS300Vantimissilesystem.Originally,theAkashmissile
wasscheduledtobeginusertrialsin2003.However,theimpositionofUSsanctionsfollowingthenucleartestsin
May1998delayedtheprojectsincecriticaltechnologiessuchasguidancesystemsbecameavailableonlyafterthe
removedthesanctionsin2001.
"AkashSuccessfullyTestFired,"PressTrustofIndia,2June2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,2June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"India'sAkashMissileNearingUser
Trials,"AerospaceDaily,3June2003,Vol.206,No.45,News,p.6;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6June2003,
June2003
ThescientificadvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.Aatrestatesthat"theTrishulmissileisaclosedproject.Itis
outofreckoningforinduction.Wehaveallowedtheusers(thethreeservices)toimportmissilesofthisclass."Dr.
Aatrestatesthatthemissilehasacommandandguidanceproblem.Accordingtoofficials,theDRDOhasspent
aboutRs.300croreontheTrishulmissileprojectwhichwasstartedin1983.TheTrishulmissilewasoriginally
intendedtoreplacetheRussianmadeGeckosmissilesuppliedfortheAirForceandtheNavy.TheArmy'sversion
ofthemissilewascalledTrishulCombatVehicle.Theteststointegratethemissile,missilelauncher,surveillance
radar,andthefirecontrolsystemfailed.AccordingtoaDRDOofficial,themissiledidnothititsintendedtarget
duringitslaunchfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)andtheINSDronacharya.TheDRDOofficialcitestheproblem
withthecommandguidancesystemandsaysthattheteamwasnotabletoguidethemissileinthefinalstagesof
itsflighttowardsthetarget.Accordingtosources,theTrishulmissile'sdesignusesgroundbasedradarsfor
guidancesinceusingonboardsensorswouldhavebeenexpensiveandwouldhaverequiredasophisticated
networkonboardthemissileaswellasontheground.Thesourcesindicatethatattemptstochangethe
commandguidancemechanismwereanalyzedandrejectedsinceitinvolvedmajorchangestootherpartsofthe
missile.
B.R.Srikanth,"ACosmiComicShow:,"Outlook(NewDelhi),30June2003.
30May2003
AccordingtoaDefenseofficial,IndiaisconsideringthepurchaseoftheRussianS300Vantimissilesystem.
However,IndiaisgivinghigherprioritytotheIsraeliArrowantimissilesystemandtheAmericanPatriotAdvanced
Capability3(PAC3)antimissilesystem.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaSeekstoAcquirePAC3MissilesfromUS,"AerospaceDaily,30May2003,Vol.206,No.43,p.
6;"IndiaHopesforaPatriotNod,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),24May2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4
June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
29May2003
AnIndianDefenseMinistryofficialsaysthatIndiaplanstobuyatleast10BarakmissilesystemsfromIsrael.
Accordingtotheofficialthreesystemswillbeacquiredduringthenexttwoyearsandtheremainingsystemswill
beprocuredwithinfiveyears.IndiaalreadypossessessevenBarakmissilesystems.TheBarakmissilesystemis
designedtoprotectcombatshipsagainstseaskimmingmissilesandaircraft.Thedecisiontoprocureadditional
BaraksystemswastakenafterIndiadecidedtoshelvetheTrishulmissileproject.Accordingtothedefenseofficial
Indiawantstobuytheverticallaunchmissilesystemsthatcanlaunchmissilesfaster.
BulbulSingh,"IndianNavytoBuyAdditionalBarakMissileSystemsfromIsrael,"AerospaceDaily,29May2003,
Vol.206,No.42,p.6;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,3June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
29May2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairAkashballisticmissileat5.00PMISTfromamobilelauncheratthe
InterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.Themissileweighs650kgandcancarrya50
kgpayload.Themissileutilizesatwostageramjetpropulsiontechnology.Accordingtoadefensescientist,Indiais
alsobuildingtheRajendraradarwhichcantrack64aircraftsuptoarangeof60kmsimultaneously.
"Akash,"PressTrustofIndia,29May2003,NationwideInternationalNews;"IndiaHopesforaPatriotNod,"
IndianExpress(Mumbai),24May2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29May2003,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
27May2003
AsourceintheRussianDefenseMinistrysaysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillbetestedbetween1
5June2003.Accordingtothesource,ateamoftechnicalexpertsfromtheMashinostroyeniyeresearchand
productionassociationhaveleftforNewDelhitoattendthemissiletest.Themassproductionofthemissileis
expectedtobegininIndiaandRussiain2004.
"NextTestLaunchofRussianIndianCruiseMissileSetforEarlyJune,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,27
May2003;"IndiaHopesforaPatriotNod,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),24May2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
2531May2003
AccordingtoaseniordefenseofficialPrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayeewilldiscussthepotentialpurchaseofthe
S300VantimissilesystemwhenhemeetswithRussianPresidentVladimirPutin.Indiaproposesmakingadvance
paymentforthesystem.Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthediscussions,RussiawillsupplyfourtosixS300Vanti
missilesystemsuntilanewsystemisdeveloped.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaProposesBuyofRussianAntiMissileSystem,"AerospaceDaily,3June2003,Vol.206,No.
45,News,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6June2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24May2003
IndiahopesthattheUnitedStateswillprovideapositiveresponsetoIndia'srequestforthesaleofthePatriotanti
missilesystem.IndiabelievesthatapositiveresponsewillbegivenatthenextmeetingoftheDefensePolicy
Group(DPG)tobeheldinWashingtoninlateJuneorearlyJuly.
"IndiaHopesforaPatriotNod,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),24May2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24
21May2003
TheBushadministrationreleasesafactsheetoutliningtheNationalPolicyonBallisticMissileDefensewhichstates
thattheUnitedStateswillreviewitscurrentpoliciesandpracticesgoverningtechnologysharingandcooperation
onmissiledefense.Thefactsheetstatesthatsuchreviewwillincludeexistingexportcontrolregulationsand
statues.AUSadministrationofficialdeniesanystepstoloosenexistingexportcontrolregulationsandassertsthat
theissueisstillunderstudyand"farfromadecision."
TheWhiteHouse,"NationalPolicyonBallisticMissileDefenseFactSheet,"www.whitehouse.gov;TomRaum,
"AdministrationEyesPossibleEasingofMissileExportRules,"AssociatedPress,21May2003,Washington
Dateline;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
1824May2003
IndiadiscussesthepossiblesaleofthePatriotantimissilesystemwiththevisitingUSAssistantSecretaryofState
forArmsControlStephenG.Rademaker.
11May2003
TheScientificAdvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.K.Aatresaysthatthe700kilometerAgniIisreadyfor
inductionintotheArmy.
"AgniReadyforInductioninArmedForces,"PressTrustofIndia,11May2003,NationwideInternationalNews;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
8May2003
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)successfullylaunchestheGeoSynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle
(GSLVD2)fromtheSatishDhawanSpaceCenter.TheGSLVD2placesa1,800kilogramexperimental
communicationsatelliteinageosynchronoustransferorbit.TheChairmanoftheISRODr.K.Kasturirangansays
thatGSLVMarkII,whichisthenextversionofGSLV,willcarryapayloadof2,250kilograms.
"IndiaMovesClosertoGlobalMajorinSatelliteLaunch,"PressTrustofIndia,8May2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;R.K.
Radhakrishnan,"NextGSLVVersiontoCarryHeavierSatellite,"Hindu(Chennai),10May2003;inLexisNexis
7May2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernanesinformstheupperhouseofparliament(RajyaSabha)thatAgniIand
AgniIIareunderproductionandwillbedeployedin2003.Healsostatesthatthegovernmenthasapprovedthe
developmentofthe3,000kilometerrangeAgniIIIinordertomeetlongtermsecurityneeds.Mr.Fernandesstates
thatthemissilewillbetestedinthenearfuturebutdoesnotprovideaspecificdate.Somesourcesindicatethat
thefirsttestforAgniIIIislikelytooccurinNovemberorDecember2003.Mr.FernandesstatesthatPrithviIhas
beeninductedintotheArmyandaddsthatthelongerrangePrithviIIiscurrentlyunderproductionafter
completingflighttests.Mr.FernandessaysthatPrithviIIwillbedeployedbytheArmyandtheAirForce.
"AgniIandAgniIIMissilestobeDeployedDuringtheYear,"PressTrustofIndia,7May2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,7May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaWillDeploy
TwoAgniVersionsThisYear,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),9May2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9May
6May2003
TheIndiangovernmentplanstoencouragepublicsectorundertakings(PSUs)toexploreforeignmarketstoexport
missilesandtheirsubsystems.Themissilesconsideredforexportsincludeantitankmissilesandballisticmissiles.
TheIndiangovernmentispreparingplanstosellsubsystemsfortheshortrangePrithviballisticmissile.Some
countriesarebelievedtohaveexpressedinterestinbuyingtheentiremissile.Accordingtounconfirmedreports
IndiamighthaveexportedsomesubsystemsforthePrithvimissile.ThePSUsarecurrentlyunderutilizedduetothe
longdelaysingettingclearancefortheproductionofmissilesandtheirsusbsystems.Suchdelaysareproduced
sincethemilitarytakesalongtimetoacceptnewmissilesdevelopedbytheDefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO).Asaresultofsuchdelays,theorganizationschargedwithmanufacturingmissilesare
producingpistolsandsmallarms.
"PSUstobeEncouragedtoExportMissiles,"Hindu(Chennai),6May2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6
4May2003
Japan'sdefensechiefShigeruIshibaseeksIndia'sunderstandingontheideaofcreatingamissiledefensesystem.
Mr.IshibainformsIndia'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesthattheproposedantimissilesystemisentirely
defensiveinnaturewhichdoesnotthreatenothercountries.
"JapanSeeksIndia'sUnderstandingforMissileDefense,"JijiPressTickerService,5May2003;inLexisNexis
2May2003
Indiaisconsideringsellingmissilestofriendlycountriesinordertoboostdefenseexports.Themissilesearmarked
forexportrangefromantitankmissilestocruisemissiles.Indiandefensesourcesstressthatsuchmissileexports
willnotviolatetheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR)eventhoughIndiadoesnotbelongtotheMTCR.
IndiaandRussiaplantoexporttheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileaftertheIndiaandRussianarmedforces
haveinductedthemissile.IndiaandRussiaplantoinducttheBrahMoscruisemissileinthenextsixtoseven
months.Officialsestimatea$10billionmarketfortheBrahMosmissile.AccordingtotheAsianAge,Indiais
consideringthepossibilityofexportingsubsystemsoftheshortrangesurfacetosurfacePrithviballisticmissile.
AccordingtoanofficialfromBharatDynamicsLtd.(BDL)Indiaisplanningtosellonlysubsystemsofthemissilein
ordertoensureIndia'ssecurity.
RajatPandit,"NewDelhiPlanningtoSellMissilestoFriends,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),2May2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,1May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiatoExportMissilestoFriendlyCountries:
Reports,"AgenceFrancePresse,2May2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1May2003,
May2003
India'sNationalSecurityAdvisorBrajeshMishradiscussesthepossiblesaleofthePatriotantimissilesystemwith
theUSDeputySecretaryofStateRichardArmitage.
29April2003
IndiatestfiresPrithviII,amodifiedversionofthePrithviballisticmissile,at11.30AMISTfromamobile
TransporterErectorLauncher(TEL)attheInterimTestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.A
pressreleasefromtheDefenseMinistrystatesthatalltestobjectiveswereachieved.TheDRDOdescribesthetest
aspartofusertrialsaimedatfinetuningthemissile.Themissileweighs4.6tonsatlaunch,whichincludesaone
tonpayload.Themissileiscapableofreaching150kilometersin300secondsandmissilepossessesanonboard
computerandadvancedinertialnavigationsystem.Themissileusesbothsolidandliquidpropellants.Defense
sourcesindicatethatPrithviIIhasarangehigherthantheversionofthemissilealreadyinductedintotheArmy.
Accordingtoasource,themilitarywantstoincreasetherangeofthemissiletoabout300350kilometers.
Accordingtoanarmyofficial,Indiahasdeployed80PrithviImissileswitharangeof150kilometers.TheIndian
ArmyandtheIndianAirForceneedmorethan100missilesofPrithviII.AspokespersonforPakistan'sForeign
MinistrystatesIndiaprovidedadvancenotificationforthetest.
"IndiaSuccessfullyTestFiresPrithviMissile,"BBCWorldwideMonitoring,29April2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,29April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"ModifiedVersionofPrithviMissileTestFired,"TimesofIndia
(Mumbai),30April2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,
"IndiaLaunchesPrithvi2MissiletoTestNewGuidanceSystem,"AerospaceDaily,30April2003,Vol.206,No.22,
p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5May2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"PakistanSpokesmanSaysIndia
InformedinAdvanceofMissileTest,"BBCWorldwideMonitoring,29April2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
29April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
28April2003
Inits19threport,theParliamentaryStandingCommitteeonDefensestatesthattheDefenseMinistryhasnot
initiatedanystepstocreateanaerospacecommand.TheCommitteereportobservesthatitsearlierreportssince
2000haverecommendedthecreationofanaerospacecommand.ThereportstatesthattheDefenseMinistryhas
nottakenactionforthepastthreeyears.Currently,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)manages
aerospaceissuesandforeigncollaborations.
"IndianAirForceYettoMaterializeAerospaceCommand,OnlyExploratoryWorkDone,"WorldNews
Connection,28April2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
27April2003
TheParliamentaryCommitteeonPublicUndertakingssaysthatthegovernmentshouldprovideearlyclearancefor
theindigenousproductionofmissilessincelongdelaysareforcingBharatDynamicsLtd.(BDL)tomakelosses.The
reportalsopointsoutthattheemployeesBDL,theorganizationchargedwithmanufacturingmissiles,areturning
tomanufacturingpistolsandriflesduetoabsenceoforderstoproducemissiles.Thecommitteereportalso
recommendsupgradingthetechnologicalcapabilitiesforBDLinordertokeeppacewithcurrentdevelopmentsin
modernweaponssystemssuchasimprovedguidancecapabilities.
"EarlyClearanceofIndigenousMissilesProductionbyBDL,"PressTrustofIndia,27April2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
26April2003
Indiaexplorestheoptionofcreatinganaerospacecommand.Currently,Indiadoesnotpossessimportant
componentssuchasdedicatedmilitarysatellitesorAirborneWarningandControlSystems(AWACS)thatare
necessaryforanaerospacecommand.TheIndianAirForcebelievesthatanaerospacecommand,amongseveral
otheruses,canbeusedinaballisticmissiledefensesystemforIndia.
RajatPandit,"GroundworkBeginsforAerospaceCommand,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),26April2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,26April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
6April2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesstatesthatIndiaisdevelopingthenuclearcapableAgniIIIballistic
missileandaddsthateffortsareunderwaytotestfirethemissilein2003.Withoutrevealingtheexactrangeof
AgniIII,Mr.FernandessaysthatAgniIIIhasalongerrangethanAgniII.AgniIIhasarangeofmorethan2,000
kilometers.Mr.FernandesalsosaysthatAgniIandAgniIIareavailabletothemilitaryfordeploymentandadds
thatthecustodianofthemissileswilleitherbetheStrategicForcesCommandortheArmybasedonthesituational
needs.Mr.FernandesindicatesthattheTrishulproject,despitebeingshelved,providedalotofknowledgethat
willbeusedinotherprojects.CommentingontheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissile,Mr.Fernandessaysthatitis
readyfordeploymentsincealltestingforthemissileiscomplete.Mr.Fernandesalsoindicatesthatseveral
countriesareinterestedinthemissileandstatesthattherangeforthemissiledoesnotviolatetheMissile
TechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).
"IndiaMakingEffortstoTestFire"AgniIII":Fernandes,"PressTrustofIndia,6April2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
26March2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangePrithviballisticmissileat11.30AMISTfromamobilelauncherattheInterimTest
Range(ITR)atChandipuronseaonIndia'seasterncoast.PakistanalsotestsamissileafewhoursafterIndia'stest.
Themissileis8.5metersinlengthandweighs4.6tonsincludingaonetonpayload.Themissileincorporateson
boardcomputerandadvancedinertialnavigationsystemandcanusebothsolidandliquidpropellants.Themissile
canreachitstargetatadistanceof150kilometersin300seconds.Themissilecancarryanuclearpayloador
conventionalincendiaryandfragmentarymunitions.India'sDefenseMinistryspokespersonBaljitSinghMenon
describesthelaunchasaroutineusertestforthemissile.AccordingtoMr.MenonseveralseniorArmyofficials
witnessedthetest.ThePrithvimissilehasbeentestedsixteentimessincethefirstteston22February,1988.
"IndiaTestsNuclearCapableMissile,SurprisesAnalysts,"AgenceFrancePresse,26March2003,International
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Prithvi,"PressTrustofIndia,
26March2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26March2003,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;"MissileTitForTat:IndiaTestFiresNuclearCapableRocket,ThenPakistanLaunchesa
ShortRangeOne,"Gazette(Montreal,Quebec),27March2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27March2003,
18March2003
TheIndiangovernmentdecidestoestablishstructuresfortheNuclearCommandAuthority(NCA)atAlwar,
Jodhpur,andPokhraninRajasthanandalsoatalocationinDelhiandatKargil.TheNCAstructure,estimatedto
costaboutRs.10,000croresincludestheprocurementofantimissiledefenses,landandseabasednuclear
deliverysystems,commandandcontrolcommunications,computersandintelligencesystems.TheNCA
componentssetupatAlwar,Jodhpur,andPokhranareexpectedtobeantiballisticmissiledefensecenters.Indiais
expectedtoseekRussianandIsraeliassistanceincreatingthecommandandcontrolcenters.
"IndiaMovesForwardonNuclear,ABMCommandandControlStructures,"Defense&ForeignAffairsDaily,18
March2003,Vol.XXI,No.39;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17March2003
IndiadisplaystheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileattheInternationalDefenseExhibitionIDEX2003atAbu
Dhabi.Dr.A.SivathanuPillai,theChiefControllerofResearch&DevelopmentatDRDOsaysthatIndiaislookingat
WestAsianandFarEastmarketsforexportingtheBrahMosmissile.TheChiefofStaffoftheUnitedArabEmirates
(UAE)ArmedForcesLt.Gen.SheikhMohammedbinZayedAlNahyanvisitsthestandshowingavideoofthecruise
missile'scapabilities.TheViceMinisterofDefenseforIranHussainAlanialsovisitstheIndianexhibit.
"BrahmostoEnterWestAsia,FarEast,"BusinessLine(Chennai),18March2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,18March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
12March2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformstheupperhouseofparliament(RajyaSabha)thattheshort
rangesurfacetoairTrishulmissilehasbeen"delinkedfromtheuserservices"asaresultofdelayinachievingthe
"stateoftheartthreebeamguidancesystem."Mr.Fernandessaysthattheprojectiscurrentlybeingpursuedasa
"technologydemonstrator."Mr.Fernandesaddsthattheprojectenabledscientiststoestablishseveralcomplex
technologiesandseaskimmingcapabilitiesthatcanbeusedinotherfuturemissileprojects.TheDefenseResearch
&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)begantheprojectabouttwentyyearsagoandhasspentabout$62.5million
ontheproject.Theprojectfacedproblemsindevelopingthetechnologyfortheguidanceandpropulsionsystem.
TheTrishulmissilesystemwasdesignedtodefendshipsbyinterceptinglowflyingobjectswitharesponsetimeof
sixsecondsafteridentifyingtheobject.Mr.FernandesdeniesthatUSsanctionsimposedafterthenucleartestsin
May1998affectedthedevelopmentofthemissile.AsaresultofthedecisiontoshelvetheTrishulproject,India
mightlookforforeignantimissilesystems.IndiaislikelytoacquiretheIsraeliBarakantishipmissilesystemwhich
iscurrentlyusedontheINSViraat,INSDelhi,andINSMysore.
"NavalVersionofTrishul,A'NonStarter',"Statesman(Kolkata),13March2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,13March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;V.K.Raghunathan,"IndiaScrapsSurfacetoSurfaceMissile;
TheTrishul,forTargetingLowFlyingObjects,FacesSnagsinDevelopingGuidanceandPropulsionTechnology,"
StraitsTimes(Singapore),17March2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16March2003,http://web.lexis
nexis.com;PatriciaParmalee,"India'sDefenseR&DOrganizationScrapsTrishulSurfacetoAirMissile,"Aviation
Week&SpaceTechnology,17March2003,Vol.158,No.11,p.11,IndustryOutlook;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,20March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"TrishulMissileBackonTrack,India'sDefense
MinisterSays,"AerospaceDaily,30July2003,Vol.207,No.21,News,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6
August2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7March2003
GermanprosecutorsinthecityofDortmundorderthearrestoftwobrothers,PeterL.andMichaelL.,forviolating
Germanexportcontrollawsbyexportinghighprecisionhydraulicramsthatwereusedinthemobilelaunchersfor
theAgnimissiles.ThetwobrothersaremanagersatMontanhydraulik,acompanybasedatHolzwickede,Germany.
ThecompanyhasanofficeinChennai,India.Thetwobrothersexportednineconsignmentsofhydrauliccylinders
between1997and2000bydeclaringthemasbridgelayinggeartotheexportauthorities.Thetwobrotherswere
awareoftheuseofthehydrauliccylindersintheAgnimissileprogram.Itisnotknownwhethertheequipment
wasusedinthemobilelaunchersforAgniIorAgniII.
"TwoArrestedinGermany:SuppliedPartsforIndianMissileLauncher,"DeutschePresseAgentur,8Match2003,
Miscellaneous;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9April2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7March2003
AseniorofficialintheIndianMinistryofDefensesaysthattheBrahMoscruisemissilewillbereadyforinduction
bytheendof2003aftercompletingflighttrials.TheofficialalsostatesthatanadvancedversionoftheAkashair
defensesystemwitharangeof30kilometersisunderdevelopment.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaHasTestedAllMissilesUnderDevelopment,MinisterSays,"AerospaceDaily,7March2003,
Vol.205,No.44,p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,12March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5March2003
Inawrittenreplytotheupperhouseofparliament(RajyaSabha),India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandes
statesthatAgniIandAgniIIballisticmissilesarecurrentlyintheproductionandinductionphase.Mr.Fernandes
statesthatPrithviIhasbeeninductedandthatPrithviIIandtheshiptosurfaceDhanushmissilesarebeing
inductedintothearmedforces.
"AgniMissileSystemUnderProductionandInductionPhase,"PressTrustofIndia,5March2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5March2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
4March2003
India'sDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)seeksassistancefromforeignscientistsespecially
fromtheformerSovietUnionfordevelopingmillimeterrangewaveimagesensorsthatcouldbeusedin
developingprecisiontargetingsystems.TheResearchCenterImarat(RCI),chargedwithdevelopingthetechnology
indigenously,isfacingproblemssinceIndiadoesnotpossessmanykeycomponentsforthewaveimagesensors.
IndiaisdevelopingwaveimagesensorssincetheprecisionguidancesystembasedonIndia'ssatellitesprovidesan
accuracyofonekilometer.Also,IndiadoesnotwishtodependonthehighlyaccurateGlobalPositioningSystem
(GPS)providedbytheUnitedStatessincetheUnitedStatesmightnotprovidethetechnology.Therefore,India
wishestousethewaveimagesensorswhichcouldbeusedwithsatellitetechnologyforobtaininglessthena10
meterresolutionincrossanddownrange.
"DRDOSeeksForeignHelpforPreciseTargetHittingTechnology(EffortstoDevelopIndigenousTechnologyare
FacingProblems),"IndiaBusinessInsight(Bangalore),4March2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5March
3March2003
Pakistan'sDefenseMinisterRaoSikanderIqbalinformsthePakistaniNationalAssemblythatPakistanhas
expresseditsconcernovertheproposedsaleoftheIsraeliArrowantiballisticmissilesystemtoIndia.TheUS
HouseofRepresentativesisinformedthattheStateDepartmenthasnotauthorizedthesaleoftheArrowanti
ballisticmissilesystemtoInidacitingpossibleviolationoftheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).
B.MuralidharReddy,"PakConcernedOverArrowMissileSale,"Hindu(Chennai),5March2003;inLexisNexis
2March2003
Inthedefensebudgetfor20032004,theIndiangovernmentallocatesseparatefundingfortheIntegratedDefense
Staff(IDS)therebyenablingtheIDStoinvestinproductionlinesforballisticmissiles.
"SeparateFundsforIDS,50%ofTotalforDRDO(CapitalOutlaytoPurchaseNavalFleetIncreasedbyRs3,300
Crore,"IndiaBusinessInsight(Bangalore),2March2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5March2003,
20February2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsthelowerhouseofparliament(LokSabha)thattheshortrange
surfacetoairTrishulmissileneedstobetestedandprovenforallitscapabilities.Themissile'sdevelopmentis
beingpursedaspartofatechnologydemonstrationproject.Mr.Fernandesobservedthatthemissile's
developmenthasestablishedseveralcomplextechnologiesandwellasseaskimmingcapability.Mr.Fernandes
alsosaysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileisbeingtestedonseverallaunchplatforms.
"TrishulNeedstobeProvedForAllCapabilities,"PressTrustofIndia,20February2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
20February2003
AccordingtoanofficialfromIndia'sForeignMinistry,Indiahasagreedtoinvest$150millioninIsrael'sArrowanti
ballisticmissilesystem.Theproposedinvestment,however,mustbeapprovedbytheUnitedStates.India'sefforts
todevelopanindigenousantimissilesystemAkashhavefacedcostoverrunsandtimedelays.Accordingtothe
foreignministryofficial,IndiaisalsodiscussingthepurchaseofRussia'sS300Vairdefensesystem.Butthe
discussionshavebecomeentangledinnegotiationsforthepurchaseoftheaircraftcarrierAdmiralGorshkov.
BulbulSingh,"IsraelInvitesIndiatoInvestinArrow2,"AerospaceDaily,20February2003,Vol205,No.33,p.5;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,25February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
20February2003
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)isconsideringthedevelopmentofreusableandreconfigurable
launchvehiclesinordertoreducethehighcostsofmanufacturingsatellitelaunchvehicles.
"ISROBidtoContainCostofLaunchVehicles,"IndiaBusinessInsight(Bangalore),20February2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,23February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
19February2003
TheChairmanoftheSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)laysthefoundationstoneforincreasingtheproduction
capacityofAmmoniumPerchlorateattheAmmoniumPerchlorateExperimentalPlantatAluvafrom300tonsto
800tons.AmmoniumPerchlorateisusedinthemanufactureofsolidpropellantforrockets.
T.S.Subramanian,"APowderthatwillPowertheNation'sStrategicCapability,"Hindu(Chennai),20February
2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
15February2003
IsraelreportedlyasksIndiatoinvest$100millioninthedevelopmentoftheArrowantiballisticmissilesystem.The
ArrowantiballisticmissilesystemisjointlydevelopedbyIsraelandtheUnitedStates;theUnitedStateshas
provided$628millionfortheproject.Themissilesystem,inwhichTurkeyhasalreadycontributed$100million,
revolvesaroundtheGreenPineRadarSystemthatcantrackandinterceptasmanyas14incomingtacticalballistic
missilesataheightof58km.TheDRDOhasalreadyacquiredoneGreenPineRadarSystemfromIsraelandis
planningtointegrateitwiththeAkashmissilesandtheindigenouslydevelopedRajendraradar.Indiaalsohopesto
integrateArrowinterceptorswiththissystem.AlthoughanyinvolvementinthemissiledefensesystemwithIsrael
willrequireUSapproval,PentagonofficialshavealreadystatedthatIndia'sacquisitionofArrowinterceptorswould
notviolatetheMTCRastheArrowconstitutesadefensiveweaponsystem.
ShishirGupta,"IsraelboostsIndianmissiledefencehope,"IndianExpress(NewDelhi),15February2003;in
"IsraelInvitesIndiatoParticipateinDevelopmentofAntiMissileDefenseSystem,FBISDocument
SAP20030216000029,16February2003.
12February2003
ThesupersonicantishipcruisemissileBrahMos/PJ10issuccessfullytestedfromthedestroyerINSRajputoffthe
Orissacoast.TheBrahMos,whichcombinesaspectsofYakhontandOnyxSLCMswithIndiancomputerguidance
systems,wasfirsttestedon12June2001.ThelatesttestconstitutesthefirstBrahMoslaunchfromawarship.
About40RussianscientistsandDRDOofficialswitnessthetestfiring.
"BrahMossuccessfullyflighttestedfromBayofBengal,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),12February2003,
12February2003
IndiatestfirestheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilefromtheshipINSRajput.Themissileiseightmeterslong,
hasawidthof670mm,andweighs3,000kilograms.Themissileusesthesamepropulsionsystemandhoming
devicethatisusedinthe'Yakhont'or'Onyx'antishipmissile.Indianscientistsdevelopedthemissile'sonboard
computerguidancesystem.Afteritslaunchfromaship,themissilecanreachamaximumheightof14kilometers
atMach2speed.Themissilehasarangeof185milesandcarriesapayloadof440pounds.Themissileisnot
capableofcarryinganuclearwarhead.Themissilehasapredeterminedtrajectoryandcanchangecourse20
kilometersfromthetargetusingasensor.Themissileisalsocapableofskimmingtheseasurface.Alongwiththe
Indianscientists,about40Russianscientistswitnessedthetestlaunch.ThecodenameforthejointIndoRussian
projectisPJ10.AspokespersonforPakistan'sForeignMinistryKamranNiazstatesthatIndiaisfollowingapolicy
ofmassivemilitarizationandrefusestoindicatewhetherPakistanmightconductamissiletestinresponse.
"BrahMosFlightTested,"PressTrustofIndia,12February2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,12February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;NeeleshMisra,"IndiaTestFiresCruiseMissile
CapableofHittingPakistan,"AssociatedPress,12February2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademic
11February2003
TheEuropeanAeronauticalDefenseandSpaceCompany(EADS)andBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)announce
planstojointlymanufacturemissilesfortheexportmarket.EADS,theparentcompanyofMBDA,isthelargest
aerospaceanddefensefirminEurope.
"Indian,Frenchfirmsclinchdealtosellmissiles,"DefenseAerospaceWebsite,11February2003,www.defense
aerospace.com.
10February2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillbeaddedtothe
IndianNavy.Mr.FernandesalsosaysthatthemissilewillbesoldtocountriesfriendlytoIndiaandRussia.A
representativefromtheIndoRussianjointventurecompanyproducingtheBrahMosmissilesaysthatthemissile
willbetestfiredfromashipnextmonth.
"RussianIndianMissileBrahmostobeInductedintoIndianNavy,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,10
February2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
9February2003
AkeyofficialfromtheDefenseResearchDevelopmentOrganizationannouncesthatIndiadoesnothavean
intercontinentalballisticmissileprogram.TheDirectoroftheResearchCenterImarat(RCI),Hyderabad,Dr.V.K.
Saraswat,alsoclaimsthatIndiahasalmostachieveditsgoalinoffensiveweaponryandiscurrentlyfocusingonthe
developmentofamissiledefensesystemusinghypersonicclassmissilesandlongrangedetection/trackingradars.
"IndiaHasNoICBMProgramme,DefenceOfficialSays,"YahooSingaporeWebsite,10February2003,
http://sg.biz.yahoo.com.
9February2003
TheDirectorofResearchCenterImarat(RCI)Dr.V.K.SaraswatsaysthatIndiaisconcentratingondeveloping
missiledefensetechnologieslikehypersonicclassofmissilesandlongrangedetectionandtrackingradars.Dr.
Saraswat,however,deniesthatIndiahasaprogramtodevelopintercontinentalballisticmissiles(ICBM)and
statesthatIndiadoesnotfaceanythreatfromICBMs.StatingthatIndiapossessesthecapabilitytobuildany
offensivesystem,Dr.SaraswatstatesthatIndiaislookingtobuildalayereddefensesystem.Dr.Saraswataddsthat
IndiagainedvaluableexperiencefrombuildingtheAgniandthePrithviseriesofmissilesthatwouldenableitto
buildanykindofoffensivemissiles.DescribingthecapabilitiesoftheAkashsurfacetoairmissile,Dr.Saraswatsays
thatthemissilepossessesmultitargetcapability,computerizedoperationsforlowactiontime,andacoded
commandguidanceforsecureandsimultaneousmultipleengagements.AccordingtoDr.Saraswat,thePrithvi,
AgniI,andAgniIImissilesareunderproduction.TheformerChiefAdvisortotheDefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO),Dr.K.G.NarayananstatesthatIndiaislikelytodevelopanunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)
thatwillbeusedinaballisticmissilelaunchwarningplatform.
"IndiaDevelopingBallisticMissilestoCounterMissileAttacks,"PressTrustofIndia,9February2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Plansfor
MissileInterceptorsUnveiled,"Hindu(Chennai),9February2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8February
9February2003
ThesupersonicBrahMoscruisemissileisreadyforatestlaunchfromaship.DefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO)officialsacknowledgethattheversionofthemissiletobelaunchedfromashipisidenticalin
manyaspectstothemissilethatwaslaunchedfromland,buttheyalsostatethetestlaunchfromashipisamore
challengingduetotheunstablenatureofthelaunchplatformasitmovesandsways.TheAirForceversionofthe
missile,whichcouldbefittedontheSukhoi30andpossiblytheTU22,isbelievedtomorechallengingtobuild
sincethemissilehastobeshorterandlighterthantheversionslaunchedfromtheseaandland.DRDOofficials
alsoindicatethatthe150kilometerrangeDhanushballisticmissilecanbehandedovertotheNavysincethelast
testforthemissilewerecompletedsuccessfully.TheDhanushcanbelaunchedfromashipandcarryaoneton
payload.Accordingtoofficials,theDRDOcorrectedthemissile'searlierproblemswithsoftwareconfigurations.
"NavytoGetMoreTeethwithBrahmos,"Statesman(Kolkata),9February2003;inLexisNexisAcademic
7February2003
SourcesfromtheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)indicatethatIndiaispreparingtotest
firethe3,000kilometerrangeAgniIIIballisticmissile.Accordingtosources,theearliestdateforthemissiletestis
inSeptemberafterthemonsoonseason.Thesourcesstatethatthemissilehasapayloadcapacityofoneton
withoutspecifyingthenatureoftheweaponoritsyield.USStateDepartmentspokespersonTaraRigglerexpresses
disappointmentovertheplanstotestthelongrangemissileandurgesIndiaandPakistantoadoptrestraintin
theirnuclearweaponsandmissileprograms.TheChineseForeignMinistry,withoutexplicitlyreferringtothe
missileproject,issuesastatementurgingallpartiesinvolvedtoworktowardsmaintainingpeaceandstabilityin
theregion.
"IndiaPreparestoTestLongRangeMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,7February2003,InternationalNews;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"ChinaCallsforRegionalStability
AheadofIndianMissileTests,"AgenceFrancePress,8February2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademic
6February2003
TheIndianaviationcorporationHindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)andRussianfirmNPKIrkutsignapre
contractagreementforproducingSu30MKIpartsunderlicenseatHALenterprises.Aircraftpartswillincludetail
fins,canards,andstabilizers.
ViktorMyasnikov,"RussianAssaultonBangalore,"VremyaMN(Moscow),7February2003;in"IndianAirShow
inBangaloreHighlightsRussianArmsSales,"FBISDocumentCEP20030207000377,7February2003.
6February2003
India'sBharatDynamicsLimitedandtheFrenchcompanyMBDAMissileSystemssignanagreementforfuture
technicalcooperationintheIndianmanufactureofairtoairandsurfacetoairmissilesystems.Theagreement
alsocallsforthedesignofanewantitankmissile.TheFrenchcompanymayhelpIndiainitsgoaltoproduce
advancedversionsofMilanantitankmissilesandMicaairtoairmissilesforMirage20005fighters.
SandeepDikshit,"Pactsignedfordesigningnewantitankmissile,"Hindu(Chennai),7February2003;in"India,
FranceSignAccordforTechnicalCooperationinProductionofMissiles,"FBISDocumentSAP20030208000016,8
February2003.
5February2003
Dr.V.K.Aatresaysthatthe3,000kilometerAgniIIImightbetestedbeforeDecember2003.Dr.Aatrealsoindicates
thattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willsooninitiateasubsonicproject;buthedoes
notprovideanyadditionaldetails.Dr.AatrestatesthattherangeoftheBrahMoscruisemissileislimitedto290
kilometersduetotheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR)andaddsthattherangeoftheBrahMoscruise
missilemightbeincreasedbeyond290kilometers.
"IndiatoTest3000kmsRangeAgniMissileThisYear,"PressTrustofIndia,5February2003,Nationwide
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Brahmos'
RangeCurtailedbyMTCR,"IndiaBusinessInsight(Bangalore),6February2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8
3February2003
AccordingtoaDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)official,Indiahasbegunthedevelopmentof
atwostagespacevehiclecalledAvtarthatcantakeoffandlandlikeanaircraftandplacea1,000kilogrampayload
intoalowearthorbit.Thevehiclewouldbecapableofperformingabout100reentriesintotheatmosphere.
AccordingtotheDRDOofficial,theprimaryfunctionofthevehicleistoactasa"reusablemissilelauncher,one
whichcanlaunchmissiles,land...andbeloadedagainformoremissions."Theofficialestimatesthetotalcostfor
theprojecttobeabout$2billionwithadevelopmentalperiodoftenyears.TheDRDOofficialrevealsthatcertain
componentssuchasthescramjetenginehavealreadybeentested.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaBeginsDevelopmentWorkonAvatarSpaceVehicle,"AerospaceDaily,3February2003,Vol.
209,No.20,p.3;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,3February2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
29January2003
India'sPrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayeedisclosesthatIndiahasreceivedseveralenquiriesabouttheBrahMos
supersoniccruisemissile.Mr.VajpayeesaysthatIndiaevenreceivedoffersforcollaborationontheproject.Mr.
Vajpayee,however,didnotrevealthenamesoftheenquirers.
ArunkumarBhatt,"ManyEnquiriesAboutBrahMos:PM,"Hindu(Chennai),29January2003;inLexisNexis
28January2003
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)announcesitwilllauncharemotesensing100kgclassmicroXSAT
satelliteforSingapore.AnofficialstatesthatISRO'sAntrixCorporationandSingapore'sTechnologicalUniversity
(NTI)havesignedanagreement.ThiswillbetheISRO'sfifthlaunchofaforeignsatellite.TheXSATsatellite,which
willbeusedforlandandcoastalimaging,willbelaunchedonboardaPolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle.
"ISROtohelplaunchSingapore'ssatellite,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),28January2003,
www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
26January2003
TheBrahMos/PJ10cruisemissileispubliclydisplayedforthefirsttimeduringtheRepublicDayparade.
"Brahmosstealstheshow,"Hindu(Chennai),27January2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
22January2003
Speakingbeforethe54thannualgeneralmeetingoftheAeronauticalSocietyofIndia,PresidentA.P.J.AbdulKalam
announcesthatflighttrialsofthesupersonicBrahMoscruisemissilehavebegun.
"Supersonicmissilesystem'strialsbegin:Kalam,"InternationalNews(Islamabad),22January2003,
www.jang.com.pk.
21January2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthatIndia'srecentmissiletestsarenotintendedtosendany
message;insteadtheyareconductedtostrengthendefensepreparednessandtesttheabilityofthesystems.
"India'sMissileTestsDidNotSendSignalstoAnyone,"AgenceFrancePresse,21January2003,International
21January2003
India'sPresidentA.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatIndiahasbeguntheflighttrialsfortheBrahMoscruisemissile.
PresidentKalamalsosaysthat"whilereusablemissileconfigurationandtechnologyhasnotyetemergedinthe
world,Indiantechnologistshavestartedworkingonreusablehypersoniccruisemissilesystem,anintegrated
designofmultipletechnologiesderivedfromUAV,aircraftandmissilesystems."
"SupersonicMissileSystemBrahMosUnderFlightTrial,"PressTrustofIndia,21January2003;inLexisNexis
21January2003
IndiaconductsitsthirdmissiletestfiringinthreedaysbylaunchinganAkashsurfacetoairmissile.Themissileis
launchedfromamobilelauncherinOrissaat0655GMT.AseniorofficialfromtheDefenseResearchand
DevelopmentOrganizationsaysthat"alltheparametersofthetestwereachieved"andthatthisconstitutedone
ofthefinaltestsbeforetheAkashentersserialproduction.
"Indiaconductsanothermissiletest,"InternationalNews(Islamabad),21January2003,www.jang.com.pk.
20January2003
IndiatestfirestheAkashsurfacetoairmissileat12.25PMISTfromamobilelauncherattheInterimTestRange
(ITR)atChandipuronsea.AseniorDRDOofficialdescribingthetestasoneofthefinaltestsbeforemass
productionsaysthattheallthetestparameterswereachieved.Anotherdefensescientistsaysthatthemissile
requiresadditionalusertrialstotestmorethan100parametersofthesystem.Accordingtoadefenseofficial,the
testachievedmorethan80percentofitstestobjectives.Groundradarsandanonboardprecisionguidance
systemguidethemissile.Accordingtoaseniormilitaryofficial,themissilecanbeusedagainstPakistan'sHatfI
missilewithmodificationstothewarheadandguidancesystem.Accordingtoanotherdefenseministryofficialthe
missilecanbeusedtodefendlargeinstallationslikeairfieldsagainstattack.Indiaisalsoworkingonanadvanced
versionoftheAkashmissilewhichwillhavealongerrange.ThemissileunderdevelopmentisbasedonRussia'sSA
6andtheRajendraphasedarrayradarissimilartothe30N6'FlapLibB"radarusedwiththeS300antimissile
system.Pakistan'sInformationMinisterSheikhRashidcondemnsthetestandstatesthatPakistanwillnotbe
provokedbythetest.Indiansourcesdenythatthetestsaredesignedtosendapoliticalmessageandstatethatthe
testingofAkashmissilesistoevaluatetheirlaunchefficacyfrommobilelaunchers.
PratapChakravarty,"IndiaConductsThirdMissileTestin11Days,PakistanProtests,"AgenceFrancePresse,20
January2003,InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
"IndiaTestFires"Akash"fortheSecondTimeinThreeDays,"XinhuaNewsAgency,20January2003,WorldNews,
Political;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;SandeepDikshit,"Testing
Akash'sEfficacyfromMobileLaunchers,"Hindu(Chennai),21January2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20
January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"India'sAkashMissilehasAnotherTestFiring,"Aerospace
Daily,22January2003,Vol.205,No.14,p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27January2003,http://web.lexis
nexis.com;"Indiatestssurfacetoairmissile,"ChannelNewsAsia,20January2003,inLexisNexisAcademic
19January2003
IndiaandRussiaagreeonanarmsdealinwhichRussiaagreedtoprovidetheaircraftcarrierAdmiralGorshkovand
leaselongrangeTU22M3strategicbombersandanAkulaclassnuclearsubmarine.TheBrahMoscruisemissileis
expectedtobeusedinboththenuclearbomberandthenuclearsubmarine.TheBrahMoscruisemissile,even
thoughclaimedasanantishipweapon,isexpectedtobeusedinthefutureasalongrangenuclearweapon
deliverysystem.
ManojJoshi,"RussiaGivesNuclearEdgetoIndianDefence,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),19January2003;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,19January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
18January2003
IndiatestfirestheshortrangesurfacetoairAkashmissileat3.25PMISTfromamobilelauncherattheInterim
TestRange(ITR)atChandipuronseaontheeasterncoastofIndia.TheAkashmissileisintendedtobeananti
aircraftmissileandisdesignedtobeintegratedwiththeRajendraphasedarrayradar.Themissileweighs650
kilogramsandhasarangeof25kilometerswithapayloadcapacityof50kilograms.Themissileiscapableof
tracking100targetssimultaneouslyandcanflyatamaximumspeedoftwicethespeedofsound.Themissileuses
anintegratedtwostageRAMJETpropulsiontechnologyusingasolidpropellant.Thetestisintendedtoevaluate
theperformanceoftheguidancesystem.AccordingtoIndiansources,theusertrialsforthemissilearescheduled
tobeginsoon.
"IndiaTestFiresMediumRangeAkashMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,18January2003,InternationalNews;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"MediumRangeSurfacetoAir
MissileAkashTestFired,"PressTrustofIndia,18January2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,19January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;PratapChakravarty,"IndiaConductsThird
MissileTestin11Days,PakistanProtests,"AgenceFrancePresse,20January2003,InternationalNews;inLexis
18January2003
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesannouncesthatIndiaandRussiahavedecidedtoincreasethecharter
capitalintheBrahMosjointventurefrom$250millionto$300millioninordertomeettheproductiondemands
forthesupersonicmissile.Mr.FernandesdescribestheBrahMosjointventureasagrandsuccessandstatesthat
similarjointventuresintheresearch,development,andproductionofhitechweaponsystemsareunder
discussion.
"India,RussiatoMakeFurtherInvestmentinJointCruiseMissileVenture,"BBCMonitoringInternational
Reports,18January2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
16January2003
IndiaandtheUnitedStatesconcludetheirtwodaydiscussionsonmissiledefenseanddecidetocontinue
discussionsontheissue.AccordingtoanIndianExternalAffairsministryspokesperson,"thetwosidesdiscussed
securitycontributionsthatmissiledefensecouldmake...themeetingalsoprovidedanopportunitytoreviewthe
latestdevelopmentsintheUSmissiledefensepolicyandprogramme."Thetalksalsofocusedonthepossibilityof
Israel'ssaleoftheArrowantiballisticmissilesystemtoIndia.Indiarequiressixtoeightantimissilesystems.Indian
defenseofficials,however,remainskepticalwhetherIndiacanaffordtopay$3billionto$5billionforthesystems.
Indianscientistsarebelievedtobeseekingothermissiledefensesystems,evenoldersystems,inordertore
engineersuchsystemsanddevelopanindigenousmissiledefensesystem.
"IndoUSTalksonMissileDefencetoContinue,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),18January2003;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,19January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"India,USWrapUpMissileDefense
Talks,"AerospaceDaily,21January2003,Vol.205,No.13,p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24January2003,
16January2003
India'sdefenseministrydeniesatelevisionnewsreportthataPrithvimissilewaslaunchedunsuccessfullyand
caughtfire.TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganizationclaimstherewasnolaunchscheduledforany
Prithvimissilesfor16January2003.
"Prithvilaunchreportdenied,"Hindu(Chennai),17January2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
15January2003
IndiaandtheUnitedStatesbeginthethirdroundoftalksonmissiledefense.TheIndiansideisledbytheJoint
SecretaryforDisarmamentSheelkantSharmaandtheUSdelegationisledbyPrincipalDeputyAssistantSecretary
ofDefenseDavidTrachtenberg.AnIndianExternalAffairsMinistryspokespersonsaysthetalksare"exploratory
andconceptualinnature."
"India,U.S.holdstalksonWashington'smissiledefence,"BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,15January2003;inLexis
15January2003
IndianExpressreportsthattheprocessofraisingthe334thPrithviMissileGrouphasalreadybegun.The334th,like
the333rdMissileGroup,willbestationedinHyderabadandconsistsof12missilelaunchers.Bothgroupswillbe
integratedintotheStrategicForceCommandatanunspecifieddate.The334thMissileGroupisexpectedtobe
readybytheendof2003andwillinclude300400personnel.
ShishirGupta,"Agni:sharpeningourNpoint,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),15January2003,
12January2003
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)ChiefV.K.AatreconfirmsthatanAgniIIIballistic
missilewillbetestedbytheendof2003.AatrestatesthattheAgniIIIisnotmuchdifferentfromitsAgniIand
AgniIIpredecessorsbutwillhaveanextendedstrikerangeof3,5004,000km.ThisrangewillgiveIndiathe
capabilitytostriketargetsdeepwithinChina.
RajatPandit,"AgniIIITestLikelybyYearEnd,"EconomicTimes,12January2003;inLexisNexusAcademic
10January2003
Dr.V.K.AatresaysthatIndiaisdevelopingtheAgniIIImissilewitharangeofmorethan3,000kilometersand
expresseshopethatitwillbetestedbytheendof2003.Dr.AatresaysthatIndiapossessesthetechnologyto
developintercontinentalballisticmissileswithrangesbetween3,500kilometersand14,000kilometers.Headds
thatIndiadoesnothaveaneedtobuildintercontinentalballisticmissiles.Dr.Aatrealsostatesthatthe600800
kilometerrangeAgniIisreadyforinductionintothearmedservices.RespondingtoaquerywhethertheAgniIis
readyforinductionafteronlytwotests,Dr.AatrerepliedthatthemissilebelongstotheAgniseriesofmissiles
whichhavealreadybeentestedeighttimes.AccordingtoDr.Aatre,thenavalversionoftheBrahMoscruisemissile
willbetestedinlateJanuary.Accordingtohim,themissilereachesamaximumheightof14kilometersattwice
thespeedofsound.Themissilecancarrya200kilogrampayloadtoarangeofabout300kilometers.Thesensor
onthemissileheadenablesthemissiletodetectatargetandchangecourse20kilometersfromthefinalobjective.
"IndiaDevelopingNewVariantofNuclearCapableMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,11January2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,12January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India
Developing'AgniII'Missile,"PressTrustofIndia,11January2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexisNexis
10January2003
TheIndianAirForcethreatenstoabandontheTrishulsurfacetoairmissilecitingitspoorperformance.Asenior
IndianAirForceofficialinformsAerospaceDailythatthemissilehadtroubledetectingtargetsandmaintaining
accuracy.AseniorofficialfromIndia'sDefenseResearch&DefenseOrganization(DRDO)saysthattheTrishul
projecthasbeenscaledbackowingtoproblemsrelatedtotheguidancesystem.TheDRDOofficialcitesUS
sanctionsimposedafterthenucleartestsinMay1998ashavingadverselyaffectedthemissile'sdevelopment.
[1.TheTrishulmissilesystem,intendedtoreplacetheOSAAKairdefensesystem,isaquickreactionairdefense
missiledevelopedbytheDRDO.Theentiremissileassemblyincludesatrackingradar,afirecontrolradar,anda
missilebatteryonachassis.TheArmyandtheAirForceplannedtouseitagainstlowflyingaircraftwhereasthe
Navyintendedtouseitagainstseaskimmingmissiles.IntheArmyversionofthemissilesystem,atrackedvehicle
willcarrythreemissilesandoneradarsurveillanceandanotherradarfortrackingandguidance.Theairforce
versionofthemissilesystemusestwovehicles.Theradarislocatedinaseparatevehicleandthesecondvehicle
cancarryfourmissiles.Thenavalversionofthemissilesystemisexpectedtoincludeanaltimetertoenableitto
skimwaves.Theradarforthenavalversionisunderdevelopment.IndianmilitaryofficialsindicatethattheTrishul
doesnotincorporaterevolutionarydevelopmentslikevectoringcapabilities.TheTrishulprojectbeganin1984and
thegovernmenthasspentmorethan$250millionontheproject.]
BulbulSingh,"IndianAirForceThreatenstoAbandonTrishulMissile,"AerospaceDaily,13January2003,Vol.
205,No.8,p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
10January2003
TheIndiannewspaperStatesmanreportsthattheaircraftcarrierAdmiralGorshkov,purchasedfromRussia,willbe
equippedwiththeBrahMoscruisemissiles.
"BrahMosTeethforGorshkov,"Statesman(Kolkata),11January2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11
January2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
9January2003
An800kmrangeAgnimissileissuccessfullytestfiredwithaonetonpayload.ThisAgnivariantisintendedtofill
thegapbetweenshortrangePrithvimissilesandthe2,500kmrangeAgniIImissiles.
SandeepDikshit,"Agnimissiletestfiredsuccessfully,"Hindu(Chennai),9January2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
9January2003
IndiatestfirestheAgniIballisticmissilefromamobilelauncheronWheeler'sIsland.Thetestiswitnessedbythe
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandes,DRDOchiefandscientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.V.K.Aatre,Chief
ofIntegratedDefenseStaffLt.Gen.PankajJoshi,andDeputyChiefofStaffLt.Gen.J.B.S.Yadava.The15meter
longmissileweighing12tonshasarangebetween600800kilometers.Indiandefensesourcesindicatethatthe
missilecanbelaunchedfromamobilelauncheronaroadaswellasarailplatform.Apressreleaseissuedbythe
MinistryofDefenseindicatesthatthenetworkofgroundradartelemetrystationsandvisualobservationsfromthe
impactpointconfirmedthesuccessfulcompletionofmissionobjectives.AseniorofficialintheDefenseMinistry
saysthatthetestisexpectedtovalidatecertaincriticaltechnologieslikeguidanceandtelemetrysystems.Indian
sourcesindicatethataseriesofsevendevelopmentalflighttestsareplannedwithpayloadcapacitiesvarying
betweenoneandthreetonsbeforethemissileishandedoverforusertrials.Uponsuccessfulcompletionofthe
usertrials,themissilewillbehandedovertotheArmy.TheArmyisalsoplanningtoconductadditionaltestsfor
thePrithvimissilewhichhasalreadybeeninductedintotheArmy.Pakistan'sMinisterforInformationSheikh
RashidAhmedsaysthatthetestdemonstratesIndia's"warmongering"attitude.Indiadeniestheaccusationand
saysthatthetestsarepartofaroutinetestingmechanism.Indiaalsosaysthatitprovidedadvancenotificationof
thetesttoPakistan.ThespokespersonfortheUSStateDepartmentRichardBoucherexpressesdisappointment
overthemissiletestandurgesIndiaandPakistantoadoptrestraintontheirnuclearweaponsandmissile
programs.TheBritishForeignMinistryalsoexpressesregretoverthemissiletestandsaysthatthetestsends
wrongsignalstotheregionandtheworld.
"MoreAgniMissileTestsPlanned,"PressTrustofIndia,9January2003,NationwideInternationalNews;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,9January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"AgniTestfireSuccessful,MoreTrialsto
FollowSoon,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),9January2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10January2003,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;PalashKumar,"IndiaTestsBallisticMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,9January2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"BritainSays
IndianMissileTestSends"WrongSignals","DeutschePresseAgentur,9January2003;"US"disappointed"at
India'sMissileTest,"DeutschePresseAgentur,9January2003,Politics;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10
January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BulbulSingh,"IndiaTestsAgni1fromMobileLauncher,"Aerospace
Daily,10January2003,Vol.205,No.7,p.7;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15January2003,http://web.lexis
nexis.com;SandeepDikshit,"AgniMissileTestFiredSuccessfully,"Hindu(Chennai),10January2003;inLexisNexis
8January2003
Canada'sForeignMinisterBillGrahamexpresses"deepconcern"overIndia'splannedmissiletestsandurgesIndia
nottoconductsuchtests.Mr.GrahamalsourgesIndiatosigntheHagueCodeofConductagainstballisticmissile
proliferation.
"CanadaImploresIndiatoQuitTestingBallisticMissiles,"AgenceFrancePresse,9January2003,International
5January2003
K.Kasturirangan,ChairmanoftheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)andSecretaryoftheDepartmentof
Space(DOS),declaresthatIndiaisnotplanningonsendingamannedmissiontoouterspacein2003.TheDOS,
however,isfocusingonamissiontothemooninvolvinganunmannedspacecraft.
P.Sunderarajan,"Noplantosendmannedmissiontoouterspace,"Hindu(Chennai),6January2003,
www.hinduonnet.com.
45January2003
IndiaplacesthetwooperationalArmymissilegroupsundertheStrategicForcesCommand(SFC).Thetwoarmy
missilegroupspossessthe150250kilometerPrithviandthe2,500kilometerAgniballisticmissiles.TheSFCisalso
expectedtohaveciviliannuclearexpertsfromtheNuclearEnergyCommissionandmissileexpertsfromtheDRDO.
"MissileGroupstoFormNucleusofIndianStrategicForcesCommand,"BBCMonitoringInternationalReports,6
January2003;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,6January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
4January2003
TheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)approvesthecreationofaStrategicForcesCommand(SFC)tomanage
andadministerallnuclearandstrategicforces.IndiaalsocreatesaNuclearCommandAuthority(NCA)comprising
ofaPoliticalCouncilandanExecutiveCouncil.ThePoliticalCouncil,headedbythePrimeMinister,hasthesole
authoritytoorderthelaunchofnuclearweapons.ThePoliticalCouncilalsoincludestheDeputyPrimeMinisterL.K.
Advani,ForeignMinisterYashwantSinha,andtheDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandes.Thenucleardoctrine
releasedafterthemeetingsaysthatIndiawillcontinuetomaintainstrictcontrolovertheexportsofnuclearand
missiletechnologies.
"IndiaEstablishesStrategicForcesCommand,"PressTrustofIndia,4January2003,NationwideInternational
News;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com;EdnaFernandes,"IndiaSets
UpNuclearArsenalCommandStructure,"FinancialTimes(London),6January2003,WorldNews,p.6;inLexis
3January2003
InaninterviewwiththeAerospaceDaily,Dr.V.K.Aatre,thechiefoftheDRDO,statesthatIndiawillconducttests
fortheshorterrangeAgniImissile,surfacetoairPrithviIImissile,surfacetoairAkashmissile,andtheBrahMos
cruisemissile.Dr.Aatrestatesthateachmissilewillbetestedfourorfivetimesduringtheyear.TheIndianArmy
andtheIndianAirForcearebelievedtohaverequestedthepurchaseofabout200AgniImissiles.Afterthe
completionofusertrials,BharatDynamicsLtd.willproducethemissile.ThePrithviIIisdesignedfortheIndianAir
Forceandiscapableofcarryingnuclearwarheadsandaclusterofsubmunitionbomblets.TheAkashsurfacetoair
missileisbasedontheRussianSA6airdefensesystemandisintegratedwiththeRajendraphasedarrayradar
developedindigenously.
BulbulSingh,"IndiaPlansMissileTestsin2003,DRDOChiefSays,"AerospaceDaily,6January2003,Vol.205,No.
3,p.6;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9January2003,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
1January2003
TheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)ChiefV.K.Aatresaysthe600kmrangeAgniballistic
missileis"undertheprocessofinduction."
"Indiatotestindigenousmissilesoon,"Hindu(Chennai),1January2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
1January2003
Indiaconducts20missiletestsforseventypesofmissilesatanestimatedcostof$16million.Thisfigurealso
includesthecostoftheflighttestedmissiles.AccordingtoDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesallthetests
achievedtheirtestobjectives.
"20MissileTestsinIndiainFirstHalfof2003atCostof16MlnDollars,"AgenceFrancePresse,30July2003,
InternationalNews;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31July2003,www.hinduonnet.com.
2002
30December2002
AccordingtoIndiandefensesources,theCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)isplanningoncreatingaStrategic
ForcesCommand(SFC)inJanuary2003.TheSFCcommanderwillbeundertheauthorityoftheChiefsofStaff
Committee(COSC)untilaChiefofDefenseStaff(CDS)isappointedbythegovernment.Inthefuture,theCDSwill
serveasa"singlepointmilitaryadviser"totheciviliangovernmentinNewDelhi.
RajatPandit,"IndiaAllSettoSetupNuclearForcesCommand,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),31December2002,
28December2002
APrithvimissiletestispostponedforthesecondtimeintwodaysduetotechnicalproblemsinthemissile'ssub
systems.
"PrithviLaunchPutoffAgain,"Hindu(Chennai),29December2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
27December2002
ABrahMossupersoniccruisemissiletestispostponedduetoproblemsinthemissile'ssubsystems.
"BrahMosMissileTestsRescheduled,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),27December2002,
25December2002
IndiaandtheUnitedStatesaresettobeginanewroundofmissiledefensetalksinWashingtonon1516January
2003.ThetalkswillincludeaninteragencyteamfromIndiaheadedbytheforeignministry'sJointSecretaryon
Disarmament,SheelkantSharma.
"IndiaU.S.MissileDefenseTalksReadytoTakeoff,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),25December2002;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,24December2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
12December2002
AddressingthemediaataconferenceonsmartmaterialsinBangalore,ScientificAdvisortotheIndianDefense
Minister,V.K.Aatre,saysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillentertrialsintwomonths.
"IndoRussianMissiletoGointoTrialsinTwoMonths,"Hindu(Chennai),13December2002,
www.hinduonnet.com.
11December2002
InanaddresstotheRajyaSabha(India'supperhouseofparliament),DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthat
IndiaandRussiahavesignedaprotocolregardingtheexportofIndianmanufacturedweaponsystems
manufacturedunderRussianlicense.Accordingtotheagreement,theexportofarmamentstothirdworld
countrieswillbemadeonacasebycasebasis.ThisprotocolenablesIndiatospecificallyexportmissilesandspare
parts(foradvancedfighteraircraft)inthefuture.
"India,RussiaSignProtocolonArmsExports,"Hindu(Chennai),12December2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
11December2002
A.S.Pillai,ChiefControllerforResearchandDevelopmentattheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO),saysthatIndiais"intheprocessofconductingdevelopmentalflights[oftheBrahMossupersoniccruise
missile]fromvariousplatforms."Headdsthatthecruisemissile'sinductionintothearmedserviceswillcommence
in2004.
"BrahMostoBeInductedby2004,"PressTrustofIndia,11December2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
11December2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
4December2002
SpeakingatabanquetforRussianPresidentVladimirPutin,IndianPresidentDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalammakesthecase
formarketingBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilesto"friendlycountries."Hesaysthat"thejointventure
supersoniccruisemissileisauniqueexampleofthepartnershipbetweenourtwocountriesincriticalareasof
researchanddevelopment....Ourcooperationinthisareahassolidfoundationsandwillcontinuetoserveour
mutualneeds."
"KalamforSaleofBrahMosCruisemissiletoFriendlyCountries,"Hindu(Chennai),5December2002,
www.hinduonnet.com.
1December2002
RussiandefenseofficialssaythatRussiahasagainofferedIndiatheopportunitytoequipitselfwithintegratedair
andmissiledefensesystems.MoscowisproposingthesaleoflongrangeS300Vsurfacetoairmissilesystemsand
theshorterrange"TorM1"and"BukM1"systems.Accordingtomediareports,theS300Vsystemcantrackand
destroyaerialtargetsinallweatherconditions.ThisenablestheS300Vtoprotectvitalinstallationsfromlong
distances.ARussianofficialstatesthattheproposedairdefensesystemscouldprotectIndiainitsentiretyandthat
"theIndiangovernmentisconsideringit."
"RussiaMissileDefenseOfferAgain,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),1December2002;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,30November2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
28November2002
A.S.Pillai,theChiefControllerforResearchandDevelopmentattheDefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO),saysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillbereadyforserialproductionand
introductionintothemilitaryserviceswithinthenexttwoyears.
"BrahMosInductioninTwoYears,"Hindu(Chennai),28November2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27
November2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
19November2002
DuringavisittoNPOMashinostroyeniyainReutov(MoscowRegion),RussianPresidentVladimirPutinsaysthe
IndoRussianBrahMosprojectisa"successfulventurewithgoodprospectsahead."Putinaddsthatheishappyto
seethe"accurateandhighqualityexecution"ofIndiandefensecontractspriortohistriptoIndia.Putinis
scheduledtovisitIndiainearlyDecember2002.
VladimirRadyuhin,"PutinPraisesBrahMosProject,"Hindu(Chennai),20November2002,
www.hinduonnet.com.
16November2002
Indiadeclaresthatitwillnotbeasignatorytotheproposedinternationalcodeofconduct(ICOC)againstballistic
missileproliferation.NewDelhiclaimstheICOCisdiscriminatoryasitfailstodifferentiatebetweenmissile
developmentandspacelaunchvehicles.TheICOCproposalwillbeconsideredforapprovalataconferenceinThe
Hagueon2526November2002.
"India'sNotoDraftMissileRegime,"EconomicTimes(Mumbai),16November2002;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,16November2002,web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaWillNotBePartytoCodeagainstMissileProliferation,"
Hindu(Chennai),16November2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15November2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
26October2002
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthatshortandmediumrangeversionsoftheAgniIIsurfacetosurface
missilehavebeendeployed.
"AgniMissilesDeployed,SaysFernandes,"GlobalNewsWire,26October2002;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,31October2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
22October2002
Indiainductsthe250kmrangePrithviIIsurfacetosurfaceballisticmissileintotheIndianAirForce.However,a
seniorIAFofficialremarksthat"operationally,PrithviIImakesnosense,especiallywhen2,500kmAgnimissilehas
beengiventotheArmy....Itisawasteofmanpowerandmoney."AccordingtoIndiandefensesources,thePrithvi
isintendedfor"trainingandfamiliarization....Itistosupplementstrikeaircraft.Ithasadefiniterolein
circumstanceswhenstrikeaircraftcannotfly,butoneneedstokeepthepressureup."
VishalThapar,"PrithviIIMissileInductedintoIAF,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),22October2002,
14October2002
TheDirectorateofRevenueIntelligencerevealsthattheIndiancompanyNECEngineersPrivateLtd.gaveIraq
prohibitedweaponsofmassdestructionrelatedmaterialsandtechnicalinformation.AreportinIndiaToday
allegesthatbetweenSeptember1998andFebruary2001,"theNECshippedout10consignmentsofsensitiveand
prohibitedmaterialsworth$791,343toIraq....Theexportsincludedtitaniumvessels,sphericalaluminumpowder,
titaniumcentrifugalpumps,andindustrialcellswithplatinumanodesthatmayhavebeenusedinthemanufacture
ofrocketpropellant."Asaresultofthesefindings,theIndiangovernmentformsacoordinationgroupto
investigatetheexportactivitiesofNECEngineersPrivateLtd.Thiscoordinationgroupiscomposedofsenior
officialsfromIndia'sintelligenceagenciesandisdirectedbytheJointSecretaryoftheMinistryofExternalAffairs.
SheshirGupta,"TheIndianConnection,"IndiaToday,14October2002,www.indiatoday.com.
4October2002
IndiasuccessfullyteststhemediumrangeAkashsurfacetoairmissilefromtheIntermediateTestRange(ITR)at
ChandipuronseanearBalasore.Themissileisfiredfromamobilelauncher.Akashhasarangeof25kmandcan
delivera55kgpayload.Themissile'sRajendraradarcanengagefourtosixtargetsandtrackmultipleenemy
aircraftwithina4060kmrange.AccordingtoDRDOofficials,Akashhasnowenteredusertrialsaftercompletingits
guidancetestflights.ReportsindicatethatIndiaisnowonthevergeofcompletingitsintegratedguidedmissile
program.ThiswouldincludethesuccessfulproductionofitsAgni,Prithvi,Trishul,Akash,andNagmissileseries.
"IndiaSuccessfullyTestFiresMultitargetAkashMissile,"PressTrustofIndia,4October2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,7October2002,web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestFiresMissile,"AgenceFrancePresse,4
October2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5October2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
30September2002
ThescientificadvisertotheIndiandefenseminister,V.K.Aatre,saysthat"thenavalversionofPrithvi,christened
Dhanush,isreadyforinductionaftersuccessfultrialsatsea."TheDhanushutilizesasinglestage,liquidfueledtwin
enginewithaninertialguidancesystem.Themissile'sonboardcomputersareenhancedbyrealtimesoftware.
AccordingtoAatre,any"teethingproblemsfacedbyDRDOscientistsonthemissile'slaunchstabilizationsystem
havebeenrectified."
"IndianMissileDhanushReadyforNavy,"AsiaPulse,30September2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30
September2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
25September2002
IndiacarriesoutanothersuccessfultestoftheTrishulsurfacetoairmissile.Themissileistestedfromamobile
launcherattheIntermediateTestRange(ITR)inChandipuronseanearBalasore.AccordingtoITRsources,the
missileistestedtoverifyitsaccuracyandotherparameters.MediareportssuggestthattheTrishulhasasensitive
radaraltimeterandheightlockloopcontrol.Asaresult,thenavalversionoftheTrishulcanskimovertheseaat
lowaltitudes.
"TrishulTestFiredforSecondDay,"PressTrustofIndia,25September2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
25September2002,web.lexisnexis.com;"TrishulTestFiredSuccessfully,"PressTrustofIndia,24September
2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24September2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
24September2002
AddressingtheHouseofCommons,BritishPrimeMinisterTonyBlairstatesthattheIndianchemicalengineering
firmNECEngineersPrivateLimitedprovidedassistancefortheestablishmentofachemicalproductionfacilityinAl
Mamoun,Iraq.Thefacilityproducesammoniumperchlorate,oneofthekeyingredientsforproducingsolidfuelfor
missiles.BlairfurtherallegesthatthecompanyhaslinkstoachlorineproductionfacilityknownasFallujah2.The
IndiangovernmentfindsBritain's"selectivereference"totheIndiancompany"unfortunate."
"Indiancos.HelpingIraq:Blair,"Hindu(Chennai),25September2002,www.hinduonnet.com;ShishirGupta"The
IndianConnection,"IndiaToday,14October2002,www.indiatoday.com.
24September2002
IndiateststheTrishulshortrangesurfacetoairmissileattheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipuronsea,Orissa.
TheTrishulmissileisaboutthreemeterslongandhasarangeofninekilometers.Themissileusesasolidfuel
propellantandcandelivera15kgwarhead.Themissile"carriesaradioaltimeterandanautopilotdesignedto
allowtheengagementofseaskimmingtargets."
"TrishulTestFired,"Hindu(Chennai),25September2002,www.hinduonnet.com;DavidC.Isby"IndiaAnnounces
SuccessfulTrishulTests,"Jane'sMissilesandRockets(Coulsdon,Surrey),1November2002,www.janes.com.
22September2002
A.S.Pillai,ChiefControllerofResearchandDevelopmentfortheDefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO),announcesthatserialproductionoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillbeginin2004.Pillaiserves
asthechiefexecutiveofficerfortheBrahMosproject.
DavidC.Isby,"BrahMosProductiontoStartin2004,"Jane'sMissilesandRockets(Coulsdon,Surrey),1
November2002,www.janes.com.
19September2002
InthelatestissueofIndiaReport,aWashingtonbasedconsultantJohnE.Carbaughsays"manyUSofficialsare
keentoinvolveNewDelhiinUSplansforamultifacetedmissileshield."HeaddsthatseniorIndiandefenseofficials
havetraveledtotheUnitedStatesthisyearinordertodiscussIndianparticipationinthemissileshield.Carbaugh
alsowritesthatformerUSAssistantSecretaryofStateforSouthAsiaKarlInderfurthhaswarnedofpossible
consequencesiftheUnitedStatesweretopursuegreatercooperationwithIndiaregardingmissiledefense.
"U.S.KeentoInvolveIndiainMissileShieldProgram:Experts,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),19September
2002,www.hindustantimes.com.
12September2002
India's1,060kgmeteorologicalsatellite(METCAT)issuccessfullylaunchedfromSriharikotaonboardaPolar
SatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV).ThisisthefirsttimethattheIndianSpaceandResearchOrganization(ISRO)usesa
PSLVtolaunchameteorologicalsatelliteintoageosynchronoustransferorbit(GTO).TheMETSAT,whichwas
builtbyISRO,"carriesaveryhighresolutionradiometer(VHRR)capableofimagingearthinthevisible,thermal
infrared,andwatervaporbands.Itsdatarelaytranspondercancollectdatafromunattendedmeteorological
platformsandrelayittotheNewDelhiMetDatautilizationcenter."ThePSLVhasfourstagesthatalternate
betweensolidandliquidfuelsources.AccordingtoIndianmediareports,"thethirdstagesolidpropellantmotor
hasbeenoptimizedandtheliquidpropellantinthefourthstagehasbeenincreasedfromtwotonstotwoanda
halftons."P.S.Goel,theDirectorofISRO'ssatellitecenter,andRamakrishnan,theProjectDirectorofPSLV
Missions,explainthattheMETSATlaunchusingthenewPSLVserieshas"givenroomforoptimismthatISROwill
beabletofurtheroptimizethevariousstagestoraiseapayloadupto1,200kgforavarietyofuses."Theyremark
thatthePSLVmaybeabletosendpayloadsintonumerousorbits,includingthelowearthorbit,polarorbit,and
GTO.
K.Ramachandran,"ThePSLVLiftoffSuccessful,METSATPutinSpace,"Hindu(Chennai),13September2002,
www.hinduonnet.com;K.Ramachandran"MoonMissioninFourYears,"Hindu(Chennai),13September2002,
www.hinduonnet.com.
29July2002
AnIndiandefenseministryofficialsaysthatanIndoIsraeliJointWorkingGroupwillmeetforthefirsttimeon11
September2002inTelAvivtooutlinefuturemilitarycooperation.ThepurchaseofaUSIsraeliArrow2antimissile
systemisonthetopofIndia'swishlist.IndiaalsohopestoprocurethePhalconairborneearlywarningandcontrol
system,unmannedaerialvehicles,navalsurfacetoairmissiles,andothermilitaryequipment.IsraelwillneedUS
approvaltoselltheArrow2systemtoIndia.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"ArrowLeadsIndia'sWishListofArmstoProcurefromIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,
VA),511August2002,p.18.
24July2002
IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandestellsRajyaSabha(India'supperhouseofparliament)thatthe
governmentintendstoconductonemoretestofthe700kmrangeAgnibeforeproductionbegins.Fernandessays
thatdevelopmentinvolvingTrishulandAkashsurfacetoairmissilesshouldbecompletedbyDecember2003.The
NagantitankmissilesystemwillalsobereadybyDecember2004.HefurthernotesthatIndiawillbeginproducing
theBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilebylate2003andinductitintothearmedforcesby2004.Fernandesadds
thatalltheobjectivesweremetregardingrecenttestfiringsoftheAkash,Trishul,Nag,andBrahMosmissiles.
"AnotherTestofShortRangeAgniPlanned:Fernandes,"RediffontheNet,24July2002,www.rediff.com.
15July2002
IndianDefenseSecretaryYogendraNarainsaysthatthedealonIndia'spurchaseofGreenPineradarsfromIsrael
wasfinalizedinMay2002.IndiaintendstointegrateGreenPineradarswiththeindigenousRajendraradarsystem,
developedfortheAkashandTrishulsurfacetoairmissiles.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"ArrowLeadsIndia'sWishListofArmstoProcurefromIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,
VA),511August2002,p.18.
14July2002
TheChairmanoftheIndianSpaceandResearchOrganization(ISRO),Dr.K.Kasturirangan,saysthatIndiawill
undertakealunarmissionin2007.Headdsthata2007launchdatewouldrequireamissionreportfroma
scientificcommitteein2002.KasturirangansaystheISROexpectsthereport"anytimenow."
"IndiatoUndertakeLunarMissionin2007:Kasturirangan,"Hindu(Chennai),15July2002,
www.hinduonnet.com.
12July2002
AccordingtoTheTimesofIndia,asixyearoldletterwrittenbyDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamwasrecentlydiscoveredin
thefilesoftheDefenseMinistry.ThelettersuggeststhatthefailuresofIndia'sIntegratedGuidedMissile
DevelopmentProgramoutweigheditssuccesses.TheletterdealswithprogramdelaysintheTrishulmissile
programthatwastohavebeencompletedby1992.Intheletter,writtenin1996,Dr.Kalamacknowledgesdelays
intheTrishulprogramandpermitstheimportofIsraeliBarakImissilesystemsforIndianNavywarships.On29
February1996,Kalamwrites:"ThetypeofimmediatethreatandproposedacquisitionofBarakIbyNavywas
presented.TheNavyconfirmedthatthesesixBarakIsystemswillbeinstalledintheexistingclass15and16
ships....TheaboveproposalbytheNavyisagreedto..."TheapprovalofBarakIimportshadtwoconditions.First,
"theNavymonitorsandensurestheperformanceofBarakIsystems,asclaimed,andinstallsitattheearliest.
[Second,]theNavyplacestheorderimmediatelyforTrishulmissilesandsystemstogiveproductionthrust."The
proposaltopurchaseBarakIswasrevivedinJune1999.ThisresultedinanorderforsixmissilesatthepriceofRs
12billionintheyear2000.
RajeshRamachandran,"KalamHadAgreedtoMissileImportin1996,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),12July2002,
8July2002
AnseniorIsraeligovernmentofficialsaysthatIsrael'splannedpurchaseofLakshyaunmannedaerialvehicles(UAV)
isaimedatexhibitingIsrael'sintentiontodevelopmutualdefensecooperationwithIndia.Dependingonthe
successoftheLakshyatrials,theofficialclaimsthatIsrael"willpurchasetheLakshyaforpurposesofantiaircraft
training."AccordingtoaDefenseNewsreport,theIndianarmedforceshavealreadyorderednearly75UAVsfrom
Israelincluding50Searcher2miniUAVs.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianUAVtobeTestedinIsrael,"DefenseNews,1521July2002,p.18.
3July2002
AccordingtotheDirectorGeneralofIsrael'sMinistryofDefense,AmosYaron,IsraelmayprocureIndianLakshya
unmannedaerialvehicles(UAV)foruseastargetingdrones.However,procurementwouldbedependentonthe
successoftheLakshyatrialscurrentlybeingheldinIsrael.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianUAVtobeTestedinIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),1521July2002,p.18.
29June2002
IndiateststheRussianrocketsystem,Smerch,fromtheIntermediateTestRange(ITR)inChandipuronsea,Orissa.
Therockethasarangeof7090kmandispartofanadvancedweaponssystemthatIndiaisplanningtopurchase
fromRussia.IndiaplanstoconductfurtherSmerchtrialsinLadakhandattheAhmednagarArmorRange.
"RussianRocketTestFiredfromIndianTestRange,"DeutschePresseAgentur,30June2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,web.lexisnexis.com,1July2002;"IndiaPlanstoAcquireRussianRocketSystem,"GlobalNews
Wire,1July2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,web.lexisnexis.com.
28June2002
IndianDefenseSecretaryYogendraNarainsaysthatIndiahasreceivedanadvancedGreenPineRadarsystemfrom
Israel.Headdsthattheradarsystem,whichismainlyusedonanairborneplatformasanearlywarningandcontrol
system,willbeutilizedfor"advancedresearchpurposes."
"IndiaAcquiresMissileTracingGreenPineRadarfromIsrael,"PressTrustofIndia,28June2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,29June2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
2224June2002
AnIndiandefenseministryofficialsaysthatIndia'sturbojetpoweredunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV),theLakshya,
willbesubjectedtomissilelaunchtrialsandothertestsduringthenexttwomonthsinIsrael.TheLakshya,whichis
areusableUAVthatcanbelaunchedfromlandorship,isdesignedtooperateatamaximumaltitudeof30,000
feet.RepresentativesfromtheAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishmentinBangalorewilloverseethesetrials.
DefenseResearchandDevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialssaythatthetestingofthesupersonicLakshyain
IsraelisasteptowardsadvancedIndoIsraelicooperationinUAVproduction.TheIsraelidefenseministry,in
additiontohostingthesetrials,hasapparentlyagreedtopayforthemaswell.Whilethesetrialsproceed,Indiawill
continuetopursuethedevelopmentofacruisemissileUAVthatiscapableofcarryinga350kgpayloadovera
rangeof600km.AlthoughnumerouspayloadshavealreadybeendevelopedfortheLakshya,theIndianAirForceis
apparentlydissatisfiedwiththeUAVandiscallingforareplacement.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianUAVtoBeTestedinIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),1521July2002,p.18.
21June2002
IndiacarriesouttwosuccessfultestsoftheNagantitankmissileswithinathreehourtimespan.Thethird
generationguidedmissileistestedfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipuronseanearBalasore.Thetests
areconductedtodeterminetheNag's"advancedmaneuverabilityandtopattacktrajectory."
"NagMissileTestFired,"GlobalNewsWire,22June2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27June2002,
web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestFiresAntiTankMissile,"DeutschePresseAgentur,21June2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,21June2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
17June2002
AmediasourcereportsthatanexplosionhasoccurredatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL),India'sprincipalmissile
manufacturingfacility.However,theIndiangovernmentdoesnotconfirmnordenythisreport.
"ConfusiononAgniFactoryBlastReport,"Dawn(Karachi),18June2002,www.dawn.com.
5June2002
AseniorNavyofficialsaysthat12KlubZM54Eantishipmissiles,acquiredfromRussiafor$30millionin2000,
failedtoreachtheexpectedrangeof100kmduringtwounderseatrialsinMay2002andhencewillhavetobe
replaced.Accordingtotheofficials,IndiahassentrequestsforproposalstoFrance,Israel,Italy,andtheUnited
States.Headdsthatthedefenseministryhaspromisedtoprovideadequatefundsfortheprocurementofmissiles.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaSeeksAntiShipMissilesforSubs,"DefenseNews,1016June2002.
23May2002
TheHindureportsthatIndia'sStrategicNuclearCommand(SNC)shouldbeinplacebyJune2002.Accordingtothe
report,theIndianAirForcewillcommandtheSNCthatistobeheadquarteredinThiruvanathapuram(currently
theheadquartersoftheIAF'sSouthernAirCommand).TheSNCwilloperatewithintheconfinesofthenewly
createdIntegratedDefenseStaff(IDS).Thereportalsostatesthat"alargeportionoftheSNC'sairandseabased
assetswilleventuallybebasedontheAndamanandNicobarIslandsintheBayofBengal."Theseislandgroupings
housetheheadquartersoftheIndiantriservicecommandthatwasestablishedinOctober2001.
"StrategicNCommandtoBeinPlaceNextMonth,"Hindu(Chennai),24May2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
15May2002
InanaddresstotheRajyaSabha(India'supperhouseofparliament),DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthat
the"governmenthasapprovedinprincipletheraisingoftheAgnimissilegroupfortheArmy.TheDRDOhasbeen
workingonthedesignanddevelopmentoftheAgniballisticmissilesystembasedonthestrategicrequirementsof
thearmedforces."HeremarksthatthemediumrangesurfacetoairAkashmissileandtheshortrangeTrishulare
expectedtoenterserviceduring20032004.Thesemissileswillbecommissionedafteradditionalflighttestsare
completed.
"AgniMissileGroupforArmyCleared,"Hindu(Chennai),16May2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
9May2002
Indiacarriesoutasecondtestofthe"Lakshya"pilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA)fromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)at
Chandipuronsea,Orissa.Thetestvehicleisequippedwithanupgradedengine.
"LakshyaSuccessfullyTestFlown,"RediffontheNet,9May2002,www.rediff.com.
8May2002
InawrittenreplytotheRajyaSabha(India'supperhouseofparliament),DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessays
thatflighttrialsoftheBrahMoswillbeconductedin2002and2003.Healsoaddsthatserialproductionofthe
BrahMoswillcommencein2003sothatthemissilecanbeinductedintothearmedforcesby2004.Accordingto
mediareports,theIndianAirForceisexaminingtheoptionoffittingthethreetonBrahMoscruisemissilesonSu
30fighters.
"MoreTestsPlannedforBrahMosCruiseMissile:Fernandes,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),8May2002,
2May2002
TheIndiangovernmentinformstheIndianparliament'sStandingCommitteeonDefensethatithasapprovedthe
creationofaStrategicForcesCommandtocontrolstrategicmissilesandspacebasedassets.Thedefenseministry
alsoassuresthecommitteethattheAkashandTrishulsurfacetoairmissileprograms,whicharebehindschedule,
havebeenaccelerated.Inlieuofthedelays,thegovernmenthasapprovedaplanfortheAirForcetoupgradetheir
Pechorasurfacetoairmissiles.
"FirstStrategicForcesCommandontheAnvil,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),2May2002,www.hindustantimes.com.
28April2002
IndiacarriesoutasecondsuccessfultestoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilefromtheInterimTestRange
(ITR)atChandipuronSea,Orissa.Inparticular,themissile'sautopilotandguidancesystemsaretestedduringthe
launch.ThefirstseatestoftheBrahMosisplannedforJune2002.AccordingtoIndiandefensesources,themissile
willbeconfiguredtocarryanuclearpayloadatalaterdate.MilitaryofficialsbelievethattheBrahMoswillnotbe
inductedintotheIndianNavynorAirForceforseveralyears.Aseniornavyofficersaysthatthe"BrahMosisavery
versatilemissile,especiallyifitisusedwithasubseaplatform,likeasubmarine.Itwillbecomeanimportant
componentofIndia'sproposednucleardeterrencebasedonatriadofsea,land,andaerialplatforms."The
BrahMoswillapparentlyplayavitalroleinensuringasecondstrikecapabilityfortheIndianNavy.
"BrahMosGivesIndiaLeadoverPakistan,China,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),29April2002,
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com;"BrahMosTestFired,"Hindu(Chennai),29April2002,www.hinduonnet.com;
"Indian,RussianScientistsTestSupersonicCruiseMissile'BrahMos'inBalasore,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),28April
2002;inFBISDocumentSAP20020428000024,28April2002;RezaulLaskar"BrahMosMissileYearsAwayfrom
InductiononShips,Aircraft,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),29April2002,www.hindustantimes.com;"Russia,India
Stage'Successful'TestofBrahMosSupersonicCruiseMissile,"NezavisimayaGazeta(Moscow),30April2002;in
FBISDocumentCEP20020501000095,29April2002;"India:FirstSeaTestofSupersonicCruiseMissileBrahMos
SlatedforJune,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),30April2002;inFBISDocumentSAP200204300000066,30April2002.
26April2002
AfirebreaksoutinthesolidrocketpropellantsectionoftheHighEnergyMaterialsResearchLaboratory(HEMRL)
inPune.Sixpeoplearekilledandonepersonisinjuredintheaccident.
"6KilledinDRDOLabFire,"Hindu(Chennai),26April2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
25April2002
HindustanTimesreportsthatIndia'sStrategicNuclearCommand(SNC)shouldbeinplacebyJune2002.An
integrateddefensestaffwillcommandtheSNC.Accordingtothereport,theIndianAirForcewilllikelyprovidethe
SNCwithitsfirstcommanderinchief.Forthetimebeing,theSNCchiefwillanswertothechairmanoftheChiefs
ofStaffCommittee(COSC).TheCabinetCommitteeonSecurity(CCS)headedbyPrimeMinisterVajpayee,
however,willhavefinalauthorityregardingIndia'snuclearweapons.AllordersfromtheCCSwillbeconveyedto
thechairmanoftheCOSC.
"India'sNuclearCommandtoBeinPlacebyJune,"DailyTimes(Lahore),26April2002,www.dailytimes.com.pk.
16April2002
TheIndianArmybeginspreparationstoinducttheAgniIIintermediaterangeballisticmissile.AccordingtoIndian
defensesources,theAgniwillarmanewmissileregimentthatisbeingraisedbytheArmy.Theinductionschedule
fortheAgniisbeingdiscussedatanArmycommanders'conferencecurrentlyunderwayinNewDelhi.TheAgniII
systemwillgivethearmedforcesthecapabilitytodeliver1,000kgpayloadstotargetslocatedoutsidetherangeof
India'smilitaryaircraft.Atthesametime,Prithvimissileswillbeusedas"abattlefieldsupportweapon."
RajatPandit,"AgniIItoBeInductedintoArmy,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),16April2002,
10April2002
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesleavesforMoscowtodiscussacquisitionoftheAdmiralGorshkovaircraft
carrierandtheleaseoftwonuclearsubmarines.Fernandesalsointendstodiscussa$1billionproposaltoacquire
sixS300PMU1antitacticalballisticmissile(ATBM)systemsfromRussia.India,whichhasbeenattemptingto
negotiatethesaleoftheATBMsystemforfiveyears,plansonintegratingindigenousAkashsurfacetoairmissiles
andRajendraradarsystemswiththeS300PMU1storeducethesaleprice.AccordingtoVladimirSimonov,head
oftheRussiangovernmentagencyfordefensecontrolsystems,"theintegratedairdefenseproposalwillcertainly
beonthetableduringFernandes'visit."
RahulBedi,"PoliticsIndia:RussianNukeSubmarinesHighonShoppingList,"InterPressService,10April2002;in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11April2002,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
10April2002
AnIndiandefenseministryofficialsaysthattheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilewillenterserialproduction
phasebytheendof2003.Thiswillbeginafterthecompletionofadditionaltestlaunches.IndiaandRussiaare
currentlyfinetuningtwobasicBrahMosmissilesystems:a"'universal'versionforsubmarines,warships,and
shorebasedplatformsanda'BrahMosA'cruisemissileforvariousaircraft."Thenavalversionfeaturesa200kg
warheadwhiletheairbornevariantisarmedwitha300kgpayload.IndiangovernmentofficialssaythatBrahMos
exportswillberestrictedto"friendlythirdworldcountries."
RajatPandit,"'BrahMos'toBeInductedNextYear,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),10April2002,
31March2002
IndiaconductsasuccessfulgroundtestofanoptimizedtwometerdiametersolidmotorattheIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization's(ISRO)SriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota.Thismotorisearmarkedas
thenewthirdstagepowersourceforthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicles(PSLV).Accordingtopressreports,the
majorimprovementsinthethirdstagemotorincludethe"optimizationofthemotorcaseandnozzleand
increasedpropellantloading."ThemotorwilllikelybeusedforthenextPSLVmissionthatisplannedtoentera
geosynchronousorbit.Inthisorbit,thesolidmotorshouldincreasethepayloadcapabilitiesofPSLVsby70kg.The
VikramSarabhaiSpaceCenter(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuramisresponsibleforthedesignanddevelopmentofthis
newhighperformancemotor.
"SolidMotorforPSLVSuccessfullyTested,"Hindu(Chennai),1April2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
30March2002
IndiacarriesoutanothertestofthecryogenicenginefortheGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV).The
successfultestfiringlasts12minutes.AnIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)pressreleasesaysthatthe
testwascarriedoutattheLiquidPropulsionSystemsCenter(LPSC)testcomplexatMahendragiri,TamilNadu.
Accordingtothepressrelease,theengineproducedanominalthrustofseventons,and,thatwhiletheLPSCwas
accountablefortheengineandtestingfacilities,theVikramSarabhaiSpaceCenter(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram
wasresponsiblefortheproductionofpyrogenigniters,pyrotechnicdevicesandanalysissoftware.
"IndigenousCryoEngineSuccessfullyTestFired,"Hindu(Chennai),31March2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
25March2002
India'spilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA)"Lakshya"istestflownwithanewengineattheInterimTestRange(ITR)at
Chandipur,Orissa.LakshyaPTAswereoriginallyinductedintotheIndianAirForcein2000.
"LakshyaTestFlown,"Hindu(Chennai),26March2002,www.hinduonnet.com;"UAVLakshyaSuccessfullyTest
FlownwithNewEngine,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),25March2002,www.hindustantimes.com.
18March2002
V.K.Aatre,scientificadvisortothedefenseminister,saysthatIndiawilltesttheAgniIII[AgniI]withinthenext
threemonths.Thenuclearcapablemissilewillhavearangeof700km.
"IndiatoTestAgniIIIwithinThreeMonths,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),18March2002,
15March2002
India'sMinistryofDefenseannouncesthatthe2000kmrangeAgniIIballisticmissilehasenteredintoproduction
andwillsoonbecommissionedtothearmedforces.
"AgniIIEntersProductionPhase,"GlobalNewsWire,15March2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18
March2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
5March2002
TheAkashmediumrangesurfacetoairmissileistestedfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur,Orissa.
Akashhasarangeof25km.
"AkashTestFired,"Hindu(Chennai),6March2002,www.hinduonnet.com;"IndiaTestFiresAkashMissile,"
GlobalNewsWire,5March2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5March2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
4March2002
TheDeputyChiefManageroftheBrahMosCompany,AlexanderMaksichev,tellstheInterfaxNewsAgencythat
thesecondtestoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissileisscheduledforJune2002.AccordingtoMaksichev,the
BrahMosis"amultifunctionalmissileusedtodestroyawidevarietyofseabornetargets."Hesaysthataship
launchedversionisnowunderdevelopment.Thisvariantwillbe500kglightandhaveanalteredlaunchingdevice.
Thereafter,themissilecouldreportedlybelaunchedfromshipsandsubmarineswithoutanyadjustmentsor
designalterations.Thenewmissilewillhavea"flightrangeof290km,supersonicspeedofupto2.8Mach,a
payloadofupto300kgandalowradarsignature."Itsoperationmodewillalsoallowforfireandforget
capabilities.Accordingtounofficialsources,thedevelopmentofthismissilewillcostapproximately$240million
andbefinancedjointlybyRussiaandIndia.
"RussianIndianSupersonicMissiletoBeTestLaunched,"AgenstvoVoyennykhNovostey(Moscow),4March
2002;inFBISDocumentCET2002030400239,4March2002.
2March2002
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)conductsanothertestofthecryogenicrocketengine.The
indigenouslydevelopedengineisfiredfor40seconds.AccordingtoISROofficials,thenextphasewillincludea
prolongedtestingtimeof200seconds.
"IndiaTestsFireRocketEngine,"Dawn(Karachi),3March2002,www.dawn.com.
28February2002
Budgetproposalsforthefiscalyear2002allocateRs650billion($13.5billion),up4.8%fromthepreviousyear.The
IndianArmyplansforupgradesinairdefenseandantimissilesystems.TheNavyisnegotiatingthepurchaseof
additionalantimissilesystems,suchastheBarakfromIsrael.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianBudgetIncreaseTiedtoUnspentFunds,"DefenseNews,2531March2002,p.28.
27February2002
TheNavyexpectstobeginusertrialsoftheBrahMoscruisemissilessoon.ARajputclassdestroyerwillbeutilized
forthetrials,whicharesettobegininJuneorJuly2002.AccordingtoDefenseResearchandDevelopment
Organization(DRDO)officials,theBrahMos"hasseveralvarietiesofflighttrajectoriesandusesthefireandforget
principle."Inadditiontohavingalowradarsignature,theDRDOclaimsthattheBrahMosisaneasytooperate
cruisemissile.
JosyJoseph,"NavytoTestIndia'sFirstCruiseMissile,"RediffontheNet,27February2002,www.rediff.com.
19February2002
TheDirectoroftheCentralElectrochemicalResearchInstitute,M.Raghavan,tellsthepressthathisinstitutionhas
successfullydevelopedspecialcoatingstoprotectmissilesfromcorrosion.Inadditiontoincreasingtheservice
livesofmissiles,somenewcoatingsmayaddstealthcapabilitiestoaircraft.
"IndiaDevelopsNovelCoatingsforMissiles,Aircraft,"PressTrustofIndia,19February2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,19February2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
9February2002
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)successfullytestsanindigenouslydevelopedcryogenicintegrated
engineattheLiquidPropulsionSystemsCenter(LPSC)inMahendragiri,TamilNadu.The7.5tonengine,which
utilizesliquidhydrogenandliquidoxygenasitsfuelsource,istestedfor10seconds.Anewcryogenicpowered
rocketstagewillreportedlyreplacethethirdstageofGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicles(GSLV)inthe
future.
SyedMuthahar,"ISROTestFiresCryogenicEngine,"Hindu(Chennai),10February2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
7February2002
Delegatesfrom78nationsmeetinParistodiscussan"internationalcodeofconduct"regardingballisticmissile
proliferation.Indiasendsadelegationtoparticipateinthetwodayconference.
"78NationsMeetonBallisticMissileProliferationinParis,"XinhuaNewsAgency,7February2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,8February2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
5February2002
V.K.Aatre,scientificadvisortoDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandes,saysthatthegovernmentplanstoimprovethe
Agniballisticmissilebyincreasingitsrange,decreasingitsweight,andintroducingbettersystems.Healsonotes
thatIndiawillembarkonfurthertrialsoftheBrahMossupersoniccruisemissilethatisbeingcodevelopedwith
Russia.
"AgniStrikeRangetoBeIncreased,"RediffontheNet,5February2002,www.rediff.com.
January2002
TheIndianArmyrejectstheNishantunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)duetoitspoorhighaltitudeperformance.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaShowsSomeMovementinOpeningIndustry,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),2531
March2002,p.42.
31January2002
MediaandofficialreportsconfirmthattheIndiangovernmenthasdelegatedcontroloffrontlinemissilesto
militaryforces.Thisturnoverwasmadeontheconditionthatthemissileswouldonlybearmedwithconventional
warheads.
PratapChakravarty,"IndiaRidiculesPakistanandWarnsTroops,MissileswillHoldBorder,"AgenceFrance
Presse,31January2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31January2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
30January2002
IndiaannouncesthesuccessfultestofitsTrishulsurfacetoairmissileatCochin,Kerala.Accordingtoanofficial
statementfromthedefenseministry,themissilewastestedon28and29Januaryina"seaskimmingmode"in
ordertoestablishitscapabilitiesinan"antiseaskimmerrole."Themissile,whichfailedinitsfiveprevioustests,
willundergofurthertestingbeforetheNavyisallowedtoconductitsowntrials.Forthetimebeing,theNavywill
continuetoarmitsvesselswithBarakantimissilesystems,purchasedfromIsrael.
"India:TrishulMissileTestFired2829January,"BBCMonitoringSouthAsia,30January2002;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,30January2002,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndiaTestsNavalSurfacetoAirMissile,"AFX
Asia,30January2002;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31January2002,web.lexisnexis.com.
29January2002
TheIndiandefenseministryspeedsupplanstopurchaseS300VantimissilesystemsfromRussia.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaMovesAheadtoFulfill$2.5BillioninWeaponDeals,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),
1117February2002,p.34.
27January2002
AccordingtotheDirectoroftheNewDelhibasedIDSA,K.Santhanam,thedevelopmentofan800900kmrange
variantoftheAgniballisticmissilehasbeenundertakentoaddresssomeoftheshortcomingsoftheshortrange
Prithviballisticmissile.Thenewroadmobile,solidpropellantAgniwillfillthegapbetweentheshortrangePrithvi
(150250kmrange)andthelongerrangevariantsoftheAgni(1,5002,500kmrange)andwillallowmissilestobe
deployedandlaunchedfarawayfromIndia'swesternborder.Thisfactorwillraisethenuclearthresholdbetween
IndiaandPakistan,asitwillreducethelikelihoodofnuclearwarthroughmiscalculationormisperceptions.The
shortrangevariantoftheAgni,whichwasdevelopedwithinaspanof15months,usesproventechnologiesand
subsystemssuchasthefirststageandreentryvehiclefromtheAgniII.However,theairframeandsubsystemsin
thenewmissilewerereworkedtoaccountforthehigheraccelerationexperiencedduringtheboostphaseof
flight;inaddition,theshortrangevariantincorporatesanewclosedloopguidancesystemfortheatmospheric
phaseofthemissile'sflight.SanthanamdisclosesthattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)
isworkingona3,5004,000kmrangeAgniIII.TheAgniIIIwillberailmobileandcouldbetestedinlate2003.
K.Santhanam,"AgniI:AshortrangeNmissileIndiaurgentlyneeds,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),27January2002,
www.timesofindia.cominFBISDocumentSAP20020127000025,27January2002.
25January2002
IndiatestsashortrangeversionoftheAgniballisticmissile.Thesolidpropellantsinglestagemissilewitharange
oflessthan700kmwaslaunchedat0850ISTfromlaunchcomplexnumberfouronWheeler'sIsland,InterimTest
Range(ITR)inOrissa.India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandeswitnessedthetestanddescribedthemissile's
flightas"flawless."Fernandessaid,thetestenhancedIndia'scapabilitytodeploysurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)
systems.CommentingontheAgnitest,Indianforeignministry'sspokespersonNirupamaRaosaidthetestwaspart
ofIndia'seffortsto"guaranteecrediblenucleardeterrence."TheshortrangevariantoftheAgniasinthecaseof
othermissilesoftheAgnifamily(AgniIandII)cancarryaonetonwarhead.Raotoldreportersthetestwasguided
solelybytechnicalconsiderations.Indiadidnotconsider"...missiletestsassendingapoliticalmessage."Thetest,
accordingtoRao,wasundertakeninapredictableandtransparentmanner,"andthefivepermanentmembersof
theUNSecurityCouncilandPakistanhadbeeninformedofthetest.
"Agni3successfullytestfired,"RediffontheNet,25January2002,www.rediff.com;"Missileflexing:Agni
Tested,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),26January2002,www.hindustantime.com;AtulAneja&SandeepDikshit,
"ShortrangeAgnitestfired,"Hindu(Chennai),26January2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
14January2002
AseniorUSgovernmentofficialsaysthatanIsraelisaleofArrowantimissilesystemstoIndiacouldviolatethe
MissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).CitingtheUSIsraelidevelopedArrowsystemasacategoryone
missile,hesaysthatIsrael"probablycan'tdoit."IsraelisIndia'ssecondlargestarmssupplierafterRussia.
JanineZacharia,"U.S.TryingtoStopArrowSaletoIndia,"JerusalemPost(Jerusalem),16January2002,
www.jpost.com.
9January2002
TheUSintelligencecommunityreleasestheNationalIntelligenceEstimate(NIE),anunclassifiedsummaryofits
2001reportonforeignballisticmissiledevelopmentsthrough2015.ThereportindicatesthatIndia"ismaking
progresstowarditsaimofachievingselfsufficiencyforitsmissileprograms,butitcontinuestorelyonforeign
assistance."ThereportstatesthatthePrithvi1shortrangeballisticmissile(SRBM)(150kmrange)continuestobe
theonlydeployedballisticmissileinIndia.ThelongerrangePrithvi2SRBM(250km)isalsoaddressedasa
modifiedversionofthePrithvi1.WhiletheAgniballisticmissilewillbecomethenewmainstayforIndia'snuclear
armedmissilearsenalthisdecade,theSagarikasealaunchedballisticmissile(SLBM)isestimatedtoenterservice
in2010orlater.
"ForeignMissileDevelopmentsandtheBallisticMissileThreatThrough2015,"CentralIntelligenceAgency,
December2001,www.cia.gov.
7January2002
IndiateststheNishantunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)attheKolarairfieldnearBangalore.
"NishantTestFlown,"Hindu(Chennai),8January2002,www.hinduonnet.com.
2001
13December2001
TheIndianAirForcetestsa250kmrangePrithviballisticmissilefromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur,
Orissa.AccordingtoIndiandefenseministrysources,themissile,whichwaslaunchedbyanAirForceteam,
"impactedattheintendedtargetpointaccurately."The8.56mtallPrithvi250hasalaunchweightof4.6tons,
includingaonetonpayload.
"IAFversionofPrithvipassestest,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),13December2001,
16October2001
Russia'sDeputyPrimeMinisterIlyaKlebanovannouncesinNewDelhithatIndiawillleasefourTu22M3strategic
bombersfromRussia.Klebanovsays,"WeareconcludingtalksontheleasingoftheTu22bombers.We'relooking
forwardtosigningacontractforleasingfouraircraftwithinthenextmonth."TheTu22bomberscandeliver24
tonsofbombsormissilesoverarangeof6,800km.IndianofficialssuggestthattheIndianNavywillusetheTu22
formaritimereconnaissancepurposes.However,theTu22isdesignedasabomberandoneofitsvariantscan
carrynuclearweapons,includingcruisemissiles.
RezaulH.Laskar,"Indiatolease4strategicbombersfromRussia,"RediffontheNet,16October2001,
www.rediff.com;SandeepDikshit,"IndiatoacquirereconnaissanceaircraftfromRussia,"Hindu(Chennai),16
October2001,www.hinduonnet.com.
21September2001
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)conductsthesecondtestoftheDhanush,whichisa
NavalversionofthePrithviballisticmissile.The250kmrangeDhanushisflighttestedfromamodifiedoffshore
patrolvehicle(INSSubhadra),neartheInterimTestRange(ITR).AnIndiandefenseministrypressreleasesays,"the
telemetry,electroopticstation,andtrackingradarhavetrackedtheentiremissionrightfromtakeofftoimpact."
Indiandefensesourcesalsoclaimthatthe"technologydemonstratormetitsentiremissionobjectives,"and"the
Navywillsoonmovetowardsoperationalizationofthesystem."
"SeaLaunchedMissileDhanushTestFired,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),21September2001,
15September2001
AseniorIndiandefenseofficialsaysthattheArmywillbethecustodianoftheAgniballisticmissile.Theofficial
explains,"thequestionwhethertheAgnishouldalsobegiventotheIAF[IndianAirForce]isbeingconsidered.
WhethertheAgnimissilesystemsshouldbeplacedunderthenewlyevolvingstrategiccommandisanotherissue
beingdecided."TheAgniIwillbeinductedintotheArmybyDecember2001,andtheAgniII,whichhas"entered
limitedseriesproduction,"willbeinductedthefollowingyear.OthersourcessuggestthattheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isalsomakingheadwayintestingaballisticmissilefromanunderwatermissile
launcher,whichsimulatestheconditionsaboardanuclearsubmarine.
RajatPandit,"ArmytoinductAgnimissiles,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),15September2001,
7September2001
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)AkashandTrishulsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)projects
facefurtherinductiondelays.Thesedelaysareattributedtoproblemsinthe"guidance"and"propulsion
technologies."However,anIndiandefenseofficialclaimsthat"boththesemissileshaveenteredtheguidedflight
trialphase...[and]problemsduringusertrialsphasedoesnotmeanthattherehasbeenamajorsetback."Despite
thescheduleslippagesintheTrishulandAkashprograms,DRDOiscontemplating"missilesofthefuture."The
futuresystemsarelikelytoincorporateramjettechnology.Meanwhile,DRDOhascompletedafeasibilitystudyfor
abeyondthevisualrangeAstraairtoairmissile.ThedevelopmentoftheAstraislikelytotakeadecade.
"Snagsinmissileprogramme,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),7September2001,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
5September2001
AseniorIndiangovernmentofficialsaysthatIndiaisworkingtointegratetheAkashsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)
withIsrael'sArrow2missilesystemtobuildanantiballisticmissile(ATBM)architecture.TheArrow2canintercept
missilesatanaltitudeof48km;theAkashhasarangeof27km.TheATBMprojectinvolvesthenetworkingof
India'sRajendraphasedarrayradarwithIsrael'sGreenpineradar.BoththeAirForceandtheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)areinvolvedintheproject.
AtulAneja,"IndoIsraelipartnershipfornewmissileshield,"Hindu(Chennai),6September2001,
www.thehindu.com.
4September2001
India'sdefenseministryquashesrumorsinthepressthatthearmedserviceshaverequestedthedefenseministry
tostopfurthertrialsoftheTrishulsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)project.Adefenseministryofficialsays,"theremay
besomeinadequaciesinthetrials,buttheprojectison."
"Trishulprojectnotshelved,"Hindu(Chennai),5September2001,www.thehindu.com.
3August2001
TheGermanpaperDieWocheclaimsthataBavariabasedGermancompanyisunderinvestigationforsupplying
eighthydrauliccylindersforuseinIndia'sAgniballisticmissile.Thecylindersarelikelytobeusedtokeepthe
missileinaverticalpositionduringlaunch.AccordingtoDieterBauer,thestateprosecutorinWurzburg,the
companyobtainedanexportpermitbymakingfalsedeclarationsthatthecylindersweremeantforspecialized
vehiclesusedinbridgeconstruction.TheIndiangovernmentdeniesthesereports.IndianMinistryofExternal
AffairsspokespersonNirupamaRaosays,"wehaveseenthesereports.Noneoftheequipmentsuppliedhavebeen
utilizedinanymissiles."However,Raodeclinestoexplainthepurposeofimportingthecylinders.
ManikMehta,"GermanfirmindockforsupplyingtechnologyforAgni,"RediffontheNet,3August2001,
www.rediff.com;P.Jayaram,"IndiadeniesGermanequipmentwasusedinmissiles,"RediffontheNet,3August
2001,www.rediff.com.
1August2001
TheJane'sDefenceWeeklyreportsthatIndiahassignedacontractwithRussia'sRosoboronexportforthesupplyof
amodifiedversionoftheAntey2500surfacetoairmissile(SAM).TheAntey2500isanexportversionoftheS
300VM.ThemissilesystemswillbenewlybuiltandexpertsbelievethattheywillbeintegratedwithIndia'sAkash
andTrishulSAMsystemstoprovidealayereddefenseagainstaircraftandballisticmissiles.[Note:TheSovietS
300VIenteredserviceinthe1980sandwasbuilttocountertheUSPershingballisticmissilesinEurope.TheS
300VMisanimprovedversionoftheS300VIandwasacceptedforservicebytheRussianarmedforcesin1996.
TheS300VMuses"twoverticallylaunched,twostage,solidfuelmissiles;the9M83(SA12a"Gladiator")witha
maximumrangeof75kmandthe9M82(SA12b"Giant")withamaximumrangeof100km."Thenewmissilesuse
an"enhancedfirecontrolradar"andarebelievedtobe"faster...andhaveamuchhigherkillprobability."Boththe
9M83and9M82use"inertialguidanceforthelaunchphaseandsemiactiveradarhomingfortheterminal
guidanceandhavea150kghighexplosivewarhead."TheAntey2500canengageaircraftflyingataltitudesfrom
25mto30,000m.Itisalsodesignedtointerceptballisticmissileswitharangeof2,500kmandvelocitiesupto
4,500m/s.Theballisticmissilescanbeinterceptedatamaximumrangeof40kmataltitudesrangingfrom1,000m
to30,000m.]
JimO'Halloran,"IndiaBuysAntey2500SAM,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly,(Coulsdon,Surrey),1August2001,p.15.
27June2001
IndianForeignandDefenseMinisterJaswantSinghcommentsontheBrahmosmissilejointventurewithRussia
andsays,"wearenotcomingouthereasbuyerandseller,...wearecomingheretogetherasboththeproducer
andownerofthetechnology."
MikhailKozyrevandYelenaSeregina,"MissileForTwo:RussiaandIndiaHaveAgreedtoMakethePJ10
Together,"Vedomosti(Moscow),27June2001,inFBISDocument:CEP20010627000374,27June2001.
27June2001
TheDirectorofNPOMashinostroyeniyedivulgesthattheIndoRussianBrahmosmissileprojectwasconceivedin
1998;theBrahmosisbasedonthetechnologicalspecificationsoftheIndianAirForce.India'sDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andRussia'sNPOMashinostroyeniyearejointpartnersintheproject.Thejoint
venture'sregisteredcapitalisdividedevenly,althoughIndiahasthecontrollingblockofshares.Russiahas
contributedapproximately$122millionfortheprojectandIndia'scontributionisslightlylarger.TheBrahmos
missileisbasedontheRussianYakhontantishipmissile.Althoughthejointventurewillpurchasethetechnology
directlyfromRussia,Indiawillcontributetotheprojectintheformofelectroniccomponents.Further,contracts
duringtheserialproductionofthemissilewillbedividedequallyamongIndianandRussiancontractors.
MikhailKozyrevandYelenaSeregina,"MissileForTwo:RussiaandIndiaHaveAgreedtoMakethePJ10
Together,"Vedomosti(Moscow),27June2001,inFBISDocument:CEP20010627000374,27June2001.
19June2001
India'sNationalSecurityAdvisorBrajeshMishrawritestothechiefsofthearmedservices,urgingthemtoexpedite
workonthe$3billionefforttocreateanuclearcommandandcontrolsystem.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"TopIndianDefenseOfficialUrgesBetterNuclearWeaponsControlsforMilitary,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),28July,p.19.
June2001
Accordingtomediareports,theIndoRussianjointventuretodeveloptheBrahmos/PJ10cruisemissileisjustone
oftheproductsofasecretagreementreachedbetweenIndiaandRussiain1998.Apparently,Indiasignedthe
agreementtodeveloptechnologiesdeniedbyotheradvancedindustrializedcountries.AccordingtotheIndian
defenseminister'sscientificadvisorandheadoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),Dr.
V.K.Aatre,"wehaveinitiatedjointresearchprogramswithRussia.Wearenotgoingtoelaborateonwhatweare
doing."CommentingontheBrahmostest,TaposhBanerjee,aformerdefensesecretarysaysthatIndiaislooking
forinternationalpartnershipsinaspecificdefenseprogram.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"SecretIndiaRussiaPactProducesCruiseMissile,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),1824
June2001,p.3.
16June2001
CommentingonthesuccessfultestoftheBrahmos/PJ10supersoniccruisemissilewithIndia,RussianDeputy
PrimeMinisterIlyaKlebanovsaysthattheRussiangovernmentaimsatthe"jointdevelopment,exploitation,and
marketingofnewweapons"inlinewiththeIndoRussiandeclarationonstrategicpartnershipsignedintheyear
2000.KlebanovclaimsthatIndiaandRussiawill"pushthenewcruisemissiletothemarketsofthirdcountries."
VladimirRadyuhin,"India,Russiatomarketmissile,"Hindu(Chennai),16June2001,www.thehindu.com.
12June2001
IndiaandRussiajointlytestaramjetpoweredcruisemissileattheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).
The280kmrangecruisemissile,whichischristenedBrahmos/PJ10(mnemonicforBrahmaputraMoscow),isthe
resultofacollaborationprojectbetweentheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andRussia's
NPOMaschinostroyenia.TheIndoRussianjointventureapparentlybeganin1995.Whilethemissile'spropulsion
systemwasdevelopedinRussia,itsguidancesystemwasdevelopedbyDRDO.Themissileweightis3tons,length
is6.9meters,anddiameteris0.45meters.Asolidpropellantboosterhelpsthemissileachievesupersonicspeeds,
afterwhichanairbreathingkeroseneramjetenginepowersthemissileinitssixtosevenminutetrajectorytothe
target.TheBrahmos/PJ10canbelaunchedfromavarietyofplatformsincludingships,submarines,andaircraft.
Indiahopestobeginmanufacturingthemissileintwoyearsandofferitforsaleintheinternationalmarket.India's
DefenseMinisterJaswantSingh,whowaspresentatthetest,describesitasa"landmarkintechnology
partnership"betweenIndiaandRussia.
DebabrataMohantyandChandanNandy,"BirthinRussia,BlastOffinIndia,"Telegraph(Calcutta),12June2001,
www.telegraphindia.com;AtulAneja,"IndoRussianMissileTested,"Hindu(Chennai),13June2001,
www.thehindu.com.
31May2001
India'sDefenseMinisterJaswantSinghinformstheparliament'sconsultativecommitteeondefensethattheAgni
ballisticmissileislikelytobe"inducted"intothearmedforcesin20012002.Singhtellsmembersofparliament
that"limitedproduction"ofthe"operationalmissilesystem"hascommencedandthemissileformsthebedrockof
India'sminimumdeterrent."AccordingtoSingh,"noconstraintsinfundswillbeallowedtocomeinthewayofthe
indigenousdevelopmentoftheintegratedmissileprogram"...andthedevelopmentoftheAgniIIisproofofthe
country's"determinationtoindigenize"defenseproduction.Indiandefensesourcesclaimthatthegovernmentis
alsoconsideringapprovingthedevelopmentofmissileswithalongerrangethantheAgniII.
"LongrangeAgnimissilegetsgoahead,"TimesOfIndia(NewDelhi),1June2001,www.timesofindia.com;"India
tofinetunendeliverysystems,"Hindu(Chennai),31May2001,www.thehindu.com.
2001
ExpressingconcernsatChina'sgrowingnuclearcapabilities,theIndiandefenseministry'sannualreport(2000
2001)says,"EverymajorIndiancityiswithinreachofChinesemissilesanditisreportedthatthiscapabilityisbeing
furtheraugmentedtoincludeSubmarineLaunchedBallisticMissiles(SLBMs).Theasymmetryintermsofnuclear
forcesisstronglyinfavorofChina,whichadditionallyhashelpedPakistantobuildmissileandnuclearcapability."
"India'sSecurityEnvironment,"MinistryofDefenceAnnualReport,(NewDelhi:GovernmentofIndia,2000
2001),p.3.
May2001
India'sMinisterofStateforScience&Technology,B.S.Rawat,signsamemorandumofunderstandingonbilateral
cooperationinwithV.A.Tolokonsky,GovernorofRussia'sNovosibirskregion.AccordingtoRawat,theMoUwill
provideadditionalmechanismsforcooperationbetweenIndianandRussianscientistsinSiberiaandBashkortastan
inareasofindustrialapplicationsof"lasertechnology,catalysts,highpuritymaterials,accelerators,andheat
physics."InBashkortastan,theIndiandelegationdiscussedtheexpansionofcooperationinaviationandcomposite
materialtechnologies.
VladimirRadyuhin,"IndiasignsMoUwithRussianregionsonS&T,"Hindu(Chennai),23May2001,
www.thehindu.com;VinayShukla,"India,RussiasignMoUonscientificcooperation,"HindustanTimes(New
Delhi),16May2001,www.hindustantimes.com.
7May2001
TheIndianparliament'sSelectCommitteeonDefensecriticizestheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO)forpoormanagementoftheLakshyaunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)project.A42pagereportissuedby
thecommitteesays,"itisamplyclear"thatproductionoftheUAVatHindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)"cannot
beanticipatedwithanydegreeofcertainty,"asproductionfacilitieshavenotbeencreated.Thereportfurther
addsthatafter20yearsofworkingontheprojectandexpenditurestotaling$7.82million,thegoalof"providing
theuserswithunmannedtargetsremainslargelyunfulfilled."AccordingtoaseniorIndiandefenseofficial,DRDO
wassupposedtosubmitfiveUAVstotheAirForcein1996andanotherfiveweretobedeliveredtotheNavyby
1997.However,thepromisedUAVswereonlydeliveredtotheAirForceinApril2001;meanwhile,theNavyhas
notreceivedanyofthepromisedvehicles.TheofficialfurthersaidthatIndianlabshavebeenunabletodevelopan
enginefortheLakshya.However,DRDOofficialsmaintainthatDRDOcanmeetthearmedservices'requirements
forUAVs.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianUnmannedAerialVehicleQuietlyFadesIntotheDistance:20YearLakshyaProgram
FailstoYieldanEngine,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),7May2001,p.14.
4May2001
IndianForeignandDefenseMinisterJaswantSinghdeniesreportsthatIndiaisdevelopinganintercontinental
ballisticmissile(ICBM).DuringajointpressconferencewithRussianForeignMinisterIgorIvanov,Singhsays,"the
ICBMisneitherourprojectnorourintention."
"ReportonICBMdenied,"Hindu(Chennai),5May2001,www.thehindu.com.
May2001
India'sdefenseministryinvitesFrench,Israeli,andRussiancompaniestosignanagreementthatwillallowIndiato
licenseproduceadvancedairtoairmissiles.UndertheIndianplan,themissileswillbeproducedatBharat
DynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)inreturnforroyaltiesandcommitmentnottoexportthe
missilestoothercountries.ThelicenseproductionagreementwillalsosupplementIndia'splanstodevelopan
indigenousadvancedairtoairmissile(Astra).TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)is
workingona$15millionprojecttodeveloptheAstra;thefirstphaseoftrialsisexpectedtobecompletedby2003.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaSeeksLicenseToBuildMissilesItHasFailedToBuy,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),
1824June2001,p.60.
30April2001
AccordingtoDefenseNews,Indiandefensescientistsareplanningtotestanintercontinentalballisticmissile
(ICBM).Themissile,whichiscalledSurya,isbasedonacombinationofsolidmotorsandliquidpropellantengines
andisavariantofIndia'sAgniballisticmissile.However,theSurya'stestbedwillbeasinglestageliquidfuel
cryogenicengine.ThedevelopmentoftheSurya,whichisalsoknownasAgniIV,beganin1994.Itusescryogenic
enginetechnologydevelopedatIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)LiquidPropulsionSystemsCentre
(LPSC)inMahendragiri(TamilNadu)andguidancesystemsdevelopedfortheGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunch
Vehicle(GSLV).AccordingtoaDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientist,theSuryawillhave
arangeof5,000km.AfollowonversionoftheSuryaknownasSuryaII(12,000kmrange)willbetestedin2003
andthereafterthemissile'srangewillbeextendedto20,000km.TheSuryaIwillbe40minlengthandweigh40
tons.DRDOhasspent$75millionontheSuryaprojectsofarandthegovernmenthasallocatedanadditional$100
millionoutsidetheregular20012002defensebudgetfortheICBMprogram.Thedefenseministryisnowdebating
whetherIndiashoulddevelopICBMsorfocusonbuildingshortandintermediaterangeballisticmissiles.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndianScientistsPoisedtoTestLaunchCountry'sFirstICBM,"DefenseNews(Springfield,
VA),30April2001,p.26.
20April2001
TheGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV)appearstohaveunderperformedasfiguresreleasedbythe
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)showthattheGSAT1'sapogeeafterlaunchwas"32,051kmas
comparedtothe35,975km,whichshouldhavebeenachieved.Theshortfallof3,900kmiswellbeyondthelaunch
vehicle'spermissibleorbitaldispersion.Inaddition,theorbitalinclination,theangleatwhichthesatellite'sorbitis
inclinedtotheequator,is19.2,comparedtothe19degreesplannedfor."
N.GopalRaj,"ISROhopestoovercomeorbitshortfall,"Hindu(Chennai),20April2001,www.thehindu.com.
19April2001
DefenseMinisterJaswantSinghinformsparliamentthatIndiaconductedeightsuccessfulmissiletestsduring2000
2001.ThetestsincludedonetesteachofthePrithviandtheAgniIIballisticmissiles,andtwoeachoftheTrishul,
Akash,andNagmissiles.SinghdisclosesthatPrithvimissilesarebeinginductedintotheIndianAirForce.
"SinghsaysPrithvimissiles'beinginducted'intoIndianAirForce,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),19April2001,in
FBISDocumentSAP20010419000023,19April2001.
18April2001
SuccessfullaunchoftheGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV)at3:43p.m.;thevehiclesuccessfully
deploysthe1.54tonGSAT1satelliteinaGeosynchronousTransferOrbit(GTO)of181kmperigeeandanapogee
of32,051kmwiththeorbitinclinationof19.2withrespecttotheequator.AccordingtotheIndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)sources,thefirststage125tonsolidpropellantmotorburnedfor100secondsandcarriedthe
vehicletoanaltitudeof75km;thesecondstage,whichcarried37.5tonsofliquidpropellant,burnedfor150
seconds,takingthevehicletoanaltitudeof126km.Afterseparationofthesecondstage,thecryogenicstagewas
ignited.Thecryogenicstage,whichcarried12.5tonsofliquidhydrogenandliquidoxygen,burnedfor693seconds,
takingthesatelliteandequipmentbaytoanaltitudeof195km.ThecryogenicstagewasobtainedfromRussiaand
successfullyintegratedwithelectronicsystemsdevelopedbyISRO.
ISROPressRelease,"GSLVLaunchedSuccessfully,"18April2001,IndianSpaceResearchOrganization,
www.isro.org.
11April2001
ATrishulsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)explodesattheNavalArmamentDepotatCochin(Kerela).Indianofficialssay
theexplosionoccurredwhentheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)teamwascheckingthe
continuityoftheelectricalcircuitwitha28voltcurrent.Theexplosiontookplaceinthepropulsionsystemofthe
missile,whichwastobetestedbytheNavylaterduringApril.Themissilewasapparentlynotfittedwithits
warheadwhentheblastoccurred.
GeorgeIype,"MissileblowsupinCochinarmsdepot,"RediffontheNet,11April2001,www.rediff.com.
7April2001
ThefirstlaunchoftheGSLVDI(GeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle)isrescheduledfor18April2001;the
windowforthelaunchextendsupto25April2001.AccordingtoanIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)
pressrelease,the28March2001missionwasabortedaftertheautomaticlaunchprocessingsystemdetectedthat
oneofthestraponboostersdidnotdeveloptherequiredthrust.Adetailedstudyofthedataobtainedduringthe
fivesecondsofoperationofthefourstraponmotorsduringthecountdownsequenceshowedthatoneofthe
straponboostersdidnotdeveloptherequiredthrustduetoadefectiveplumbingintheoxidizerflowlineofthe
engine.Thisresultedinreducedflowofoxidizertotheengine.Theanomalousengineisbeingreplacedwitha
standbyengine.Areviewofvideoandotherdatafromthelaunchpadalsorevealsthatthefirethatspreadfrom
oneofthestraponboosterswasduetotheburningoffoaminsulationpadsandwasincidental;nopermanent
damagewascausedtothevehicle.
"GSLVDILaunchRescheduledfor18April2001,"IndianSpaceResearchOrganization,7April2001,
www.isro.org.
April2001
AccordingtoDefenseNews,IndiaisplanningtoleasetwoS300PMUantimissilesystemsfromRussiatoprotectits
nuclearcommandpostsandothervitalmilitaryinstallations.AteamofseniorIndianArmyandairofficialsare
currentlyundertakingasixmonthtrainingcoursetooperatethemissilesysteminRussia;theteamwillreturnto
IndiainJune2001.Indiaisexpectedtopay$50millionforleasingthetwoS300PMUsystems,whichwillbe
deliveredbyDecember2001.Anagreementtoleasethetwomissilesystemswillbesignedduringthemeetingof
theIndoRussianJointCommissiononMilitaryCooperationinApril2001.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaToLeaseAntimissileSystemsFromRussia,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),2April
2001,p.4.
31March2001
Indiaconducts18thtestofthePrithviballisticmissile.Themissile'sflightfromthe"Chandipuronsea"testrangeis
monitoredandtrackedbyanetworkofradar,opticaltrackingtelescope,threetelemetrystations,andanavalship
deployedintheBayofBengal.AccordingtoDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sources,the
testwasconductedto"gaugethepropulsionparametersofthemissile."Thetestisdescribedasroutineworkand
DRDOsourcessaythattheresultsofthetrialwillbefullyknownafterexaminingthedatafromthetest.
"India:Gaugingpropulsionparameterssaidmainobjectiveof31Marmissiletest,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),31
March2001,inFBISDocument:SAP20010331000069,31March2001.
30March2001
IndianspaceofficialstracethecauseoftheabortedGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV)launchon28
March2001toamalfunctioninggasinjectorinoneoftherocket'sfourstraponengines.Thegasinjectordrives
theturbine,whichinturnactivatesthepropellantpumpsinliquidstraponengines,didnotdevelopenough
pressuretodrivetheturbines.Thispreventedoneofthestraponfromgainingtherequiredmorethan95%thrust.
Althoughthethrustdevelopedbythatparticularstraponwasonlymarginallylow,theautomaticlaunchsequence
sensedthefaultandorderedtheshutdownofallthefourliquidstraponengines.IndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)officialsclaimthatsincethisisonlyaminorproblem,theGSLVcanbelaunchedwithinafew
weeks.
"GSLVD1malfunctioningtracedtogasinjector,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),30March2001,
www.deccanherald.com.
20March2001
DefenseNewsreportsthatIndiaisseekingtopurchaseelectroopticalseekersforballisticmissilewarheadsfrom
theMoscowbasedCentralScientificandResearchInstituteofAutomaticsandHydraulics.Theelectrooptical
seekerbeingsoughtwasdevelopedforRussia's8K14orScudBballisticmissile;itisalsodeployedonRussia's
IskanderEshortrangeballisticmissile.Anopticalseekerwarheadcomparesimageryfromtheonboardtarget
seekerwithstoredphotographsofthetargetimageinitsguidancecomputertoachievegreateraccuracyduring
theterminalstagesofawarhead'sflight.AnIndianofficialconfirmsthatIndiahassoughtRussiantechnical
assistancetodevelopelectroopticalseekersforballisticmissiles,butnoassistancehasbeenprovidedsofar.The
issuewillbediscussedduringthenextroundoftheIndoRussianJointCommissiononMilitaryCooperationinNew
DelhiinApril2001.
DouglasBarrieandSimonSardzhyan,"ArmsControlinCrosshairsinSensorSale:SystemWouldImprove
AccuracyofIndianMissiles,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),26March2001,pp.1,28.
29March2001
India'sChiefofArmyStaffGeneralS.PadmanabhanandNationalSecurityAdvisorBrajeshMishrameettodiscuss
defensereformsincludingthepostofChiefofDefenceStaff(CDS).Themeetingfollowsdirectionsfromthe
DefenseMinisterJaswantSinghforcompletingthepreparatoryworktoimplementtherecommendationsofthe
GroupofMinistersonhigherdefensemanagement.GeneralPadmanabhan'smeetingwithBrajeshMishrais
followedbyameetingofthetriserviceChiefsofStaffCommitteechairedbytheChiefoftheNavalStaff,Admiral
SushilKumar.AccordingtoseniorIndiangovernmentsources,theChiefsofStaffCommitteeispreparingtomakea
detailedpresentationontheformationoftheCDS,andassociatedstructuresrelatedtothenationalnuclear
commandbeforetheCabinetCommitteeonSecurityinearlyApril2001.
"ArmyChief,Brajeshdiscussdefencereforms,"Hindu(Chennai),29March2001,www.thehindu.com.
28March2001
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)abortsmissiontolaunchGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle
(GSLV).AccordingtoISROChairmanDr.Kasturirangan,onignitionofthestraponmotors,theinsulationofoneof
thefourmotorscaughtfire.Asaconsequence,"onestrapondidnotdeveloptheexpectedlevelofthrust,sothe
computerorderedtheshutdownoftheentiresystem."AlthoughISROhasnotyetfixedanewlaunchdate,the
GSLVisexpectedtobelaunchedsometimeinMay2001.
R.K.Radhakrishnan,"GSLVlaunchaborted,"Hindu(Chennai),29March2001,www.thehindu.com;"Relaunchin
May?"Hindu(Chennai),31March2001,www.thehindu.com.
27March2001
PrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayeeorderstheGroupofMinistersrecommendationson"ReformingtheNational
SecuritySystem"tobeplacedbeforethecabinetforformalapproval.Healsoapprovesthecreationofthepostof
ChiefofDefenceStaff(CDS).TheCDSwillbeasinglepointmilitaryadvisortothegovernmentandwillalsoserve
astheoperationalheadofIndia'snuclearforces.
"PMgivesthegreenlightforChiefofDefenceStaffpost,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),28March2001,
www.hindustantimes.com;"ArmyChief,Brajeshdiscussdefencenorms,"Hindu(Chennai),29March2001,
www.thehindu.com.
20March2001
IndiahasreportedlypurchasedpartsofIsrael'sGreenPineradarsystem,whichiscapableofdetectingballistic
missileattacksfromhundredsofkilometersaway.TheGreenPineradarhasbeendevelopedbyIsrael'sElta
ElectronicIndustries.Indiadecidedtobuytheradarin1998;butthesalewasdelayedduetoUSpressureonIsrael
todelaythesaleasaresultofIndia'sMay1998nucleartests.
"IsraelsuppliesradartoIndia,"Hindu(Chennai),21March2001,www.thehindu.com.
5March2001
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanDr.KasturiranganannouncesthatIndiawilllaunchthe
GeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV)sometimebetween28Marchand3April2001.Heattributesthe
delayintheGSLV'slaunchtoextended"quantumtestingandsimulationtesting"undertakentoreducethe
chancesoflaunchfailure.
"GSLVlaunchbyApril:ISROchief,"Hindu(Chennai),6March2001,www.thehindu.com.
5March2001
TheIndiangovernmentordersthechiefsoftheArmy,AirForce,andNavytodrawupablueprintforoperational
commandandcontrolofIndia'snuclearforces.Thegovernment'sdecisionismadeonthebasisofthe
recommendationsoftheGroupofMinister(GOM)onnationalsecurity.TheGOMwasappointedon17April2000
toreappraiseIndia'snationalsecurity.TheGOMsubmittedits137pagereporttoPrimeMinisterAtalBehari
VajpayeeinFebruary2001.ThereportrecommendstheIndiangovernmenttoappointaChiefofDefenceStaff
(CDS)toensure"provisionofsinglepointmilitaryadvicetothecivilpoliticalexecutive."Thereportfurtherstates,
"AsIndiaisnowastatewithnuclearweapons,thehighestimportancemustbeattachedtothecreationof
appropriatestructuresforthemanagementandcontrolofournuclearweaponsandstrategicforces.TheCDS
shouldexerciseadministrativecontrol,asdistinctfromoperationalmilitarycontroloverthesestrategicforces."
"ReformingtheNationalSecuritySystem:RecommendationsoftheGroupofMinisters,"GovernmentofIndia,
February2001,pp.100101;"ServicechiefstoplanoncontrolofNforces,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),5March
2001,www.timesofindia.com.
28February2001
Indiaofferstosellapproximately20Lakshyaunmannedaerialvehicles(UAVs)toIsrael.Theofferismadetothe
IsraelidefenseministryteamvisitingtheBangaloreairshow.IsraelisourcesindicatethatIsraelhasagreedtotest
theUAVinparttooffsetthecostsofthesaleofadditionalIsraelidefensesystemstoIndia.Indiahasalsoindicated
thatitwouldlikedefensecooperationbetweenthetwocountriestobeatwowaytrade.AnIsraeliofficialsays,
"...wearetalkingaboutalowcostandeffectiveUAVthatwecan'tfindanywhereelseandisnotworthdeveloping
ourselves."
"IsraelAgreestoTestIndia'sLakshyaUAV,IndiatoBuyIsraeliSeaMissile,"MiddleEastNewsline(Jerusalem),28
February2001,inFBISDocumentGMP20010228000065,28February2001.
22February2001
AccordingtotheCIA,"Indiacontinuestorelyonforeignassistanceforkeymissileanddualusetechnologies,
whereitstilllacksengineeringorproductionexpertiseinballisticmissiledevelopment.EntitiesinRussiaand
WesternEuroperemainedtheprimaryconduitsofmissilerelatedtechnologytransfersduringthefirsthalfof
2000."Thereportfurthersays,"Russianentitiesduringthereportingperiodcontinuedtosupplyavarietyof
ballisticmissilerelatedgoodsandtechnicalknowhowtocountriessuchas...India."
"UnclassifiedReporttoCongressontheAcquisitionofTechnologyRelatingtoWeaponsofMassDestructionand
AdvancedConventionalMunitions:1JanuaryThrough30June2000,"CentralIntelligenceAgency,22February
2001,www.cia.gov.
22February2001
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatlimitedproductionoftheAgniIIsurfacetosurface
missile(SSM)hasbegunanditwillbeinductedin20012002.TestflightshavealsobeenplannedfortheLakshya
pilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA),whichhasbeeninductedintheAirForce.UsertrialsfortheNishantunmannedaerial
vehicle(UAV)willbeginlaterinFebruary2001andproduction,induction,andoperationalizationwillcommence
aftercompletionofthetrials.
"AgniIItobeinductedby200102:Fernandes,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),22February2001,
9February2001
RussianAirChiefGeneralAnatolyKornukovsaysthatRussiaispreparingtosigntheleaseoffourTu22M3long
rangebombersarmedwithKh22cruisemissilestoIndia.ThedealhasbeenundernegotiationbetweenRussiaand
Indiasince1998.Earlier,theYeltsingovernmentputitonholdfearing"unwantedpoliticalconsequences"fromthe
UnitedStates.However,thePutingovernmenthasdecidedtoproceedwiththelease.RussiaconsidersKh22
cruisemissilesarmedwithconventionalwarheadssubstrategicweapons.However,theUnitedStatesconsiders
themstrategicweapons.[Note:TheKh22isa"shortrange,airlaunched,liquidpropellant,singlewarhead,airto
surfacemissile."TheKh22isbelievedtohavebeendesignedbytheTupolevandMikoyan(OKB155)design
bureausandisproducedattheKharkovplant.TheKh22isnowsupportedbyRussia'sRadugaNPO.TheKh22is
"11.7mlong,hasabodydiameterof1.0m,awingspanof2.99m,andweighs6,800kg.Guidanceinmidcourseis
inertial.Oneversionhasnoterminalguidance,onehasapassiveradarhomingseeker,andathirdversionhasan
activeradarseekerforterminalguidance."Themissilecanbearmedwithanuclearor1,000kgconventionalhigh
explosivewarhead.Whenreleasedathighaltitude,theKh22canachieverangesofupto400km.]
"RussiatoleaselongrangebomberstoIndia,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),9February2001,
www.hindustantimes.com;DuncanLennoxed.,"AS4'Kitchen'(Kh22Burya),"Jane'sStrategicWeaponsSystems,
(Coulsdon,Surrey:Jane'sInformationGroup,1997).
8February2001
India'sscientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.V.K.Aatre,deliversalectureattheAeroIndiainternational
seminaranddisclosesthattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)hasestablishedasilicon
foundryinBangalore(Karnataka)tomanufactureVLSIchipsusing0.8microntechnology.A486equivalentRISC
processorhasbeendevelopedandasignalprocessorwillbereadysoon.DRDOhasalsosetupagalliumarsenide
foundryinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).
"Nag,Trishultobeinductedinayear,"Hindu(Chennai),9February2001,www.thehindu.com.
8February2001
IndiaisdevelopingtheAgniIII,thenextinaseriesoflongrangemissiles.AccordingtoDr.V.K.Aatre,scientific
advisortoIndia'sdefenseminister,"AgniIIIisbeingplannedandwillhaveabetterrangeandcapability.Icannot
disclosewhenitwillbetestfired."However,Indiandefenseministrysourcessaythattherangeofthenewmissile
willexceed5,000km.AatrealsodisclosesthattheElectronicResearch&DevelopmentEstablishment(ERDE)has
succeededinintegratingtheRajendraphasedarrayradarwiththeAkashsurfacetoairmissile(SAM).However,
some"technicalglitches"remainandthesystemwillbeinductedassoonastheseproblemsareresolved.The
systemwillreplacetheSA6SAM,whichareinservicewiththeIndianarmedforces.Thenewradarwillalsobe
integratedwiththeS300Vairdefensesystem,whichisdesignedtocounteraircraftaswellasballisticmissiles.
AccordingtoIndiandefensesourcestheRajendraissimilartothe30N6FlapLidBengagementradarusedintheS
300antiballisticmissilesystem.
"IndiaDevelopingImproved,LongRangeAgniIIIMissile,"AsianAge(NewDelhi),8February2001,pp.1,2;in
FBISDocumentSAP20010208000044,8February2001.
8February2001
AccordingtoIndiandefensesources,theIndianNavywillsoonreceivetheBarakmissiledefensesystemfrom
Israelinadealvaluedat$300million.TheNavyplacedanorderfortheBaraksystemforitsBrahmaputraclass
destroyersaftertheTrishul,asimilarsystembeingdevelopedbyDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO),wasdelayed.
"IndianNavyto'Soon'ReceiveIsraeliMissileDefenseSystemWorth$300Million,"EconomicTimes(NewDelhi),
8February2001,inFBISDocumentSAP20010208000066,8February2001.
7February2001
CIADirectorGeorgeTenettestifiesbeforetheUSSenateSelectCommitteeonIntelligence.Tenettellscommittee
membersthat"Russianstaterundefenseandnuclearindustriesarestillstrappedforfunds,andMoscowlooksto
themtoacquirebadlyneededforeignexchangethroughexports...Russianentitieslastyear[2000]continuedto
supplyavarietyofballisticmissilerelatedgoodsandtechnicalknowhowtocountriessuchas...India..."Hewarns,
"....themissileandWMDproliferationproblemcontinuestochangeinwaysthatmakeithardertomonitorand
control,increasingtheriskofsubstantialsurprise.Amongthesedevelopmentsaregreaterproficiencyintheuseof
denialanddeceptionandgrowingavailabilityofdualusetechnologiesnotjustformissiles...thereisalsogreat
potentialof'secondaryproliferation'frommaturingstatesponsoredprogramssuchasthosein...India.Addtothis
grouptheprivatecompanies,scientists,andengineersinRussia,China,andIndiawhomaybeincreasingtheir
involvementintheseactivities,takingadvantageofweakorunenforceablenationalexportcontrolsandthe
growingavailabilityoftechnologies.Thesetrends...haveacceleratedoverthepastyear."
StatementbyDirectorofCentralIntelligenceGeorgeJ.TenetbeforetheSenateSelectCommitteeon
Intelligenceonthe"WorldwideThreat2001:NationalSecurityinaChangingWorld,"7February2001,
www.cia.gov.
2February2001
TheNishantunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)issuccessfullytestflownattheYelahankaAirForcebaseinBangalore
(Karnataka).ThescientificadvisortoIndia'sdefenseministerDr.V.K.Aatresays,"wehopetoinductitsoon.Ithas
toundergoseveraltrialsbeforeitsinduction."
"Nishantfinallyintheair,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),2February2001,www.timesofindia.com.
26January2001
Dr.AatreannouncesthattheLakshyapilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA)hasbeeninductedintheAirForce.TheNaval
versionwillbereadybyendof2001,whiletheArmyversionwillbedevelopedby2002.ThePTAwillbefittedwith
anindigenousengineinacoupleofyears.
"AgniIInowreadyforinduction,"Hindu(Chennai),26January2001,www.thehindu.com.
25January2001
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)DirectorDr.V.K.Aatreannouncesthat,"theoperational
configurationofAgniIIhasbeenproven.Itwillbeinductedsometimethisyear."Theinductionsequenceand
procedurehavealreadybeenworkedout.AatreconfirmsthattheAgniwillcarrynuclearwarheads.
"IndiatoIntroduceNuclearCapableMissileSoon,"NewYorkTimes,25January25,2001,www.nytimes.com;
"Agniinductionbyyearend,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),26January2001,www.hindustantimes.com;"AgniII
nowreadyforinduction,"Hindu(Chennai),26January2001,www.thehindu.com.
24January2001
TheBangalorebasedHindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)announcesthesuccessfultrialoftheindigenously
developedPTAE7jetengine.ThePTAE7hasbeendevelopedbytheEngineandTestBedResearchandDesign
Centre,EngineDivision,HAL.ThisisthefirstturbojetenginedevelopedinIndia;itwillbeusedtopowerthe
Lakshyapilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA),developedbyAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE).TheLakshya
PTAisusedforgroundair,airair,andshipairmissiletargetpractice.Itiscommandedfromthegroundby
telemetryandcanberecoveredbyaparachute,bothinlandandwater.ThePTAisprovidedwithtwotargetsona
1.5kmcable,andintheeventofanemergency,autorecoveryispossible.TheLakshya'smaximumflighttimeis50
minutesandithasamaximumlifeof10recoveries.[Note:PTAE7is"asingleshaft,lightweight,lowcost,short
lifeengine.Itiscomprisedofafourstagetransonicaxialcompressor,asinglestageturbine,anannularflow
combustionchamber,and16fuelflowburners...developsathrustof380kg.fatInternationalStandard
Atmosphere(ISA)sealevelstaticconditionswithspecificfuelconsumptionof1.15kg./kg.f/hr.Ithasalengthof
1,270mm,andamaximumdiameterof330mm,andweighs65kg."Theengineisdesignedwithmaterialand
featuresthatprotectitagainstseawatercorrosiontoenablereuseafterrecoveryfromthesea.Twoengineswere
successfullytestedthreetimesinDecember2000attheInterimTestRange(ITR)(Orissa).Eachtimetheengine
wasrecoveredfromthesea,refurbishedandrerunontheground.]
"PTAE7jetenginetrialsuccessful,"Hindu(Chennai),24January2001,www.thehindu.com.
19January2001
Despitethesuccessful17JanuarytestoftheAgniII,IndianArmyandAirForcerequestatleastfourmoreuser
trials,beforethemissileentersserialproduction.ReportssuggestthattheAirForceandArmyhaveanimmediate
requirementfor20AgniIIballisticmissilesandmightoperatethemjointly.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"AsArmsRaceinAsiaHeatsUp,IndiaTestsNewBallisticMissile,"DefenseNews(Springfield,
VA),29January2001,p.17.
18January2001
AnIndiannewspaperreportsthatadraftnucleardoctrinepreparedbytheChiefsofStaffCommitteehas
recommendedthatIndia'snuclearforcesbeheadedbyathreestargeneralandthatnuclearcommandandcontrol
restwiththecivilianleadership.Thedraftalsoproposesthatthenuclearforcecommanderberesponsiblefor
India'sland,sea,andairbasednuclearforces.Thedraftnucleardoctrinehasbeenunderconsiderationbythe
CabinetCommitteeonSecurityforseveralmonths.Similarly,theTaskForceonHigherDefenseManagement
chairedbyArunSinghhasalsorecommendedthatIndia'snuclearforcesbeplacedundertheproposedChiefof
DefenseStaff(CDS),whowillbeonparwiththethreeservicechiefs,andbethe"singlepointmilitaryadvisor"to
thecivilianleadership.However,therearereportsofdifferencesbetweentheArmy,Navy,andAirForceoverthe
custodyandcommandandcontrolarrangementsoverIndia'snucleardeterrent.TheArmyandNavyfavorthe
creationofthepostofCDS,whiletheAirForceisopposedtoit.TheAirForce'sviewisthatwhereasitisalreadya
nuclearforce,theArmywasnevermeanttobeanuclearforce,whiletheNavyneitherhastheplatformsnor
deliverysystemstobeanuclearforce.
"ReportSaysStagesetforCommandStructureofIndia'sNuclearForce,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),18
January2001,inFBISDocumentSAP20010118000019,18January2001.
17January2001
IndiaconductssecondtestoftheAgniIIfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa)inits"final
operationalconfiguration."TheAgniIIisamobile,twostage,allsolidfuelmissilewitharangeof"about2,000km"
andiscapableofcarryingapayloadweightofoneton.Theflightismonitoredwithshoreandshipinstrumentation
facilities,whicharenetworkedinrealtime.AccordingtotheAgni'sprogramdirectorR.N.Agarwal,theflighttest
resultsindicatedthatmissionobjectivesweremetsuccessfully.Indiandefenseofficialsalsoclaimthatthemissile,
whichusesaninertialnavigationsystemandglobalpositioningsystem(GPS),landedlessthan100mfromits
target.IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandeshintsthattheAgniwillbeinductedintothearmedforcessoon.
"TestFlightofAgniII,"PressInformationBureau,GovernmentofIndia,17January2001,http://pib.myiris.com;
"Fernandes:AgniMissilesWillSoonBeInductedIntoIndianDefenceSetUp,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),18
January2001,inFBISDocumentSAP20010118000073,18February2001;RahulBedi,"India'ssecondsuccessful
testofAgniIImissile,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),24January2001,inLexisNexisAcademic
4January2001
AMilanantitankmissileistriggeredaccidentallyduringademonstrationbeforedefensesecretaryYogendra
Narain.TheaccidentattheBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)plantinHyderabadleavesonepersondeadandfive
othersinjured.Indianexpertsspeculatethattheaccidentwasmostlikelyasystemsfailureandoccurredbecause
thestandardoperatingprocedurewasprobablynotbeingfollowed.
S.NageshKumar,"BDL:aprimemissileproductionagency,"Hindu(Chennai),5January
2001,www.thehindu.com;T.LalithSingh,"DoubtsoverBDLsafetynorms,"Hindu(Chennai),9January2001,
www.thehindu.com.
2January2001
TheIndianAirForce,inaninternaldocumentVision2020advocatesthecreationofanuclearaircommandthat
wouldwielda"firststrikecapability."TheAirForceplanwaspresentedtoPrimeMinisterVajpayeeinNovember
2000.AccordingtoRakeshDhingra,anofficialspokespersonfortheAirForce,thedocumentcontainsdetailsof
futureserviceplans,includingthenuclearaircommand;butspecificdetailsoftheplanareclassifiedandcannotbe
madepublic.AccordingtoanIndianAirForceofficial,however,thedocumentclaimsthattheAirForceisbest
suitedtorunIndia'snuclearwarmachineandneedsmoremoney,aircraft,missiles,electronicwarfareequipment,
andcommunicationsequipment.Italsoliststhenumberofaircraft,missiles,andotherassetsneededtohavea
completesystemfornucleardeterrence,aswellastheirmanagement,location,andmaintenance.
MohammedAhmedullah,"IndianAirForceAdvocatesFirstStrikeCapability,"DefenseWeek(Washington,DC),2
January2001,inLexisNexis,16January2001,www.lexisnexis.com.
January2001
AUSDepartmentofDefensereportonglobalproliferationtrendsstates,"Indiaprobablyhasasmallpileofnuclear
weaponcomponentsandcouldassembleanddeployafewnuclearweaponswithinafewdaystoaweek.The
mostlikelydeliveryplatformsarefighterbomberaircraft.NewDelhiisalsodevelopingballisticmissilesthatwillbe
capableofdeliveringanuclearpayloadinthefuture...Indiahasdevelopmentandproductioninfrastructuresfor
bothsolidandliquidfuelmissiles.Bystrivingtoachieveindependencefromforeignsuppliers,Indiamaybeable
toavoidrestrictionsimposedbytheMTCR[MissileTechnologyControlRegime].Nevertheless,India'sballistic
missileprogramshavebenefitedfromtheacquisitionofforeignequipmentandtechnology,whichIndiahas
continuedtoseek,primarilyfromRussia."
InthesectiononIndianballisticmissiles,thereportclaims,"AnIndiansubmarinelaunchedmissile,calledthe
Sagarika,alsoisunderdevelopmentwithRussianassistance.Itsintendedplatformisthe'AdvancedTechnology
Vessel'nuclearsubmarine."CommentingonIndia'scruisemissileinventoriesandcapabilities,thereportsays,
"Indiapossessesshiplaunchedandairborneshortrangeantishipcruisemissilesandavarietyofshortrangeair
launchedtacticalmissiles,whicharepotentialmeansofdeliveryforNBC[nuclear,biological,andchemical]
weapons.Allwerepurchasedfromforeignsources,includingRussiaandtheUnitedKingdom.Inthefuture,India
maytrytopurchasemoremodernantishipcruisemissiles,ortrytodevelopthemissilesthemselves.However,
fundingprioritiesforsucheffortswillbewellbelowthatforballisticmissiles."ThereportalsonotesthatLibyahas
successfullyobtainedballisticmissilerelatedgoodsandtechnologiesfromIndianandSerbiancompanies.
OfficeoftheSecretaryofDefense,"Proliferation:ThreatandResponse,"USDepartmentofDefense,January
2001.
2000
December2000
Thedefenseministryinformstheparliament'sStandingCommitteeonDefensethattherewillbe"considerable
delay"intheinductionoftheAkashandTrishulsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)systemsintothearmedforces.
"LCA,Akash,Trishulfacingslippages,"Hindu(Chennai),18December2001,www.thehindu.com.
2November2000
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)conductsasuccessfultestoftheLakshyaunmanned
aerialvehicle(UAV)fromInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).[Note:Lakshyawasdevelopedasan
unmannedtargetdrone,butspeculationpersiststhatitmaybeemployedasaweaponscarryingcruisemissileor
UAV.]
"Lakshyatestfired,"Hindu(Chennai),2November2000,www.thehindu.com.
22October2000
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saysthatitis"finetuning"asupersonicmissile
obtainedfromRussiatocarrynuclearwarheads.Aseniorofficialsaysthatthe"missileisinthefinalstagesof
developmentandcouldbehandedovertotheNavysoon."RussianscientistshavemetwithDRDOofficialsduring
thepastseveralmonthsfortechnicalconsultations.IndianofficialsrefusetoconfirmifthemissilehasanIndian
name,butanIndiannewsmediareportsuggeststhatthetopsecretmissileiscalledBrahmos.Indianofficialsclaim
thatthenewmissilecandelivera500kgpaylooadovera300kmrangeandthatitisa"supersonicweaponthat
can'tbeshotdown.Itrequiresalotofelectroniccountermeasurestoensureprotectionagainstit."Themissileis
likelytobefittedontheIndianNavy'sProject17(Stealth)warshipandwillalsobemodifiedfordeploymentson
aircraftandsubmarines.TheIndianNavyhasplanstoacquirethreeProject17warshipsandthefirstshipis
expectedtojointheNavyin2007.
SrinjoyChowdhury"IndiaReworksRussianMissiletoMakeItNCapable,"Statesman(Calcutta),21October
2000,www.thestatesman.net;SrinivasLaxman,"Buildingofstealthwarshipbegins,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),19
December2000,www.timesofindia.com.
9October2000
AddressingaseminaronairpowersponsoredbytheInstituteofDefenseStudies&Analyses(NewDelhi),defense
ministerGeorgeFernandessaysthatIndia'smilitarymodernizationprogramis"runningparallel"tothatofChina
andinthecomingyearsthedefensebudgetcouldbehikedto3%oftheGDP.
"Militarymodernisationprogramme'runningparallel'withChina,"Hindu(Chennai),10October2000,
www.thehindu.com.
8October2000
TheIndianAirForce'sChiefofAirStaff,AirMarshallAnilYashwantTipnis,saysthathisorganizationhasfinalizedits
doctrineforrespondingtoanuclearthreat.AccordingtoTipnis,"Indiaiscommittedtoanofirstusepolicyfor
nuclearweapons.Theonlyoptionthenistodevelopasecondstrikecapability."
"IAFdrawsupnuclearstrategy,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),8October2000,www.timesofindia.com.
5October2000
IndiaandRussiaagreetoanewsblackoutonsensitiveinformationexchangesintheareasofdefenseandnuclear
cooperation.Undertheproposedagreement,RussiaandIndiawillappointwatchdogstoenforcecompliancewith
thenewagreement.TheneedfortightersecrecyislinkedtothegrowingdefensecooperationasIndiamakesa
transitionfrompurchasingRussiandefensetechnologytocodevelopingnewweaponsystemswithRussian
defenseentities.AccordingtoRussiandailyVremyaNovostei,theRussiandefenseindustryisnegotiating"farmore
intriguingcontractswithIndia."
VladimirRadyuhin,"Secrecyondefense,nucleardeals,"Hindu(Chennai),6October2000,www.thehindu.com.
2October2000
RussiandefenseofficialsindicatethattheIndianNavyhasbeguntakingdeliveryofthe3M54Eclassofantiship
cruisemissiles.AKiloclasssubmarinefittedwiththemissilessetsailforIndiainlateAugust2000andtwo
successfulmissiletestswereconductedintheBalticSeaearlierinJune2000.OfficialsfromtheNovator
ExperimentalMachineBureauhavealsodisclosedthatflighttestsofaverticallylaunchedfrigateversionofthe
3M54fortheIndianNavywillcommencein2001.NovatorhasalsoofferedIndiaasubsonicvariantofthe3M54
missile.[Note:SpeculationpersiststhatIndiamighttryandpurchasethe3M14variantofthe3M54.The3M14is
asubsonicvariantofthe3M54E;itisequippedwithaseeker,whichgivesitalandattackcapability.]
DouglasBarrie,"IndiaBeginstoReceiveRussianMissilesforSubstoEquipLatestKiloClassVessels,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),23October2000,p.60.
17September2000
AccordingtoDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,principalscientificadvisortothegovernmentofIndia,Indiaisonthe
thresholdofbecominganintercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)power.AccordingtoKalam,"todaywehavethe
capabilitytodesignanddevelopanytypeofmissileincludingtheICBM.Now,it'sforthecountrytodecide."He
alsodiscountsspeculationthattheICBMwillbeaderivativeoftheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)
GeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV).
VishalThapar,"ICBMsanyday,saysKalam,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),18September2000,
September2000
Indiangovernmentallegedlydecidestoproceedwiththeproductionof300Prithviballisticmissilesforallthree
branchesofIndia'sarmedforcesatacostofapproximately$200million.SeniorIndiandefenseministryofficials
saythatthe150missileswillbeproducedfortheArmy,100fortheNavy,and50fortheAirForce.Allmissileswill
beproducedatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),whichwillinvest$100millionto
expandproduction.IndianscientistsclaimthattheNavalandAirForceversionsofthePrithviwillgointo
productioninAprilandJune2001,respectively.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaMovesPrithviMissileTowardSerialProduction,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),11
September2000,p.11.
29August2000
AccordingtoaseniorDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientist,theAgnimissileisreadyfor
serialproductionanddeployment.Althoughherefusestospecifythenumberofmissilesthatwillbe
manufactured,headmitsthattwovariantsofthemissileAgniI(1,500km)andAgniII(2,500km)arenowfully
operational.Bothversionscancarrynuclearwarheadsandaredesignedforrapiddeployment.Thescientistclaims
thatatpresent,Indiahas10AgniImissilesandtwoprototypesoftheAgniII,andthatDRDO'smissileresearchlabs
couldproduce18missilesannuallyincollaborationwithBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh).TheunitcostforAgniIandIIis$5and$8million,respectively.TheNDAgovernmenthasincreased
fundingforIndia'smissileprogramsfrom$500millionin1999to$800millionintheyear2000.
"Agnireadyforserialproductionanddeployment,"RediffontheNet,29August2000,www.rediff.com.
18August2000
India'sDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatIndiahasreachedthepointwheretheAgni
ballisticmissilecouldbemadeoperational.AccordingtoFernandes,"India'sIRBM[intermediaterangeballistic
missile]programisprogressingsatisfactorily."
"LongerrangeAgninowOperational:Fernandes,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),18August2000,
www.timesofindia.com.
11August2000
AccordingtoDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)DirectorDr.V.K.Aatre,theDhanushmissile
willbeflighttestedaftermodificationssometime"thisyearend."Indiandefensescientistsareworkingon
rectifyingtheproblemsDhanushfacedduringits11April2000flight.DRDOsourcessaythatthetestwillmost
probablyoccurinOctober2000andashipisbeingreadiedforit.
JosyJoseph,"Dhanushmaybetestfiredthisyearend,"RediffontheNet,11August2000,www.rediff.com.
19July2000
India'sChiefofNavalStaff,AdmiralSushilKumar,commissionstheINSSindhushastrainSt.Petersburg;theKilo
classsubmarineisarmedwiththesupersonicClubSantishipmissiles.
AtulAneja,"Newmissilefiringsubbeingcommissioned,"Hindu(Chennai),19July2000,www.thehindu.com.
16June2000
Indiaconducts17thtestofthePrithvifromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).
"PrithviTestFireSuccessful,"Hindu(Chennai),17June2000,www.thehindu.com.
26April2000
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)teststheNishantunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV),
whichisdesignedtoperformdiscreetaerialreconnaissanceofbattlefields,includingtargetacquisition.According
toDRDOsources,theNishantis"uniqueinitscategory."Itiscapableofaccuratenavigationtodesignatedtarget
pointsandcanflyonextendedmissionslastingforseveralhourswithanelectroopticalandphotographicpayload.
"Nishanttestflown,"Hindu(Chennai),27April2000,www.thehindu.com.
20April2000
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isreportedtobedevelopinga500kmrangeversionof
theDhanush.AccordingtoIndiangovernmentsources,theacquisitionofa500kmrangemissilewouldfitintothe
Navy'splanstoacquireashiporsubmarinebasedstandofflandattackcapability.The500kmrangeDhanushwill
usethesamepropulsionfuelasusedinthe250kmrangeversion.Indiannewsmediasourcesreportthatalthough
Dhanushisstillintheexperimentalstage,adebateoncruisevs.ballisticmissileshasrevivedwithinthetop
echelonsoftheIndianNavy.
"Dhanushvariantforlandtargetssought,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),20April2000,
11April2000
Indiaflightteststhe250kmrangeDhanushfromtheINSSubhadraofftheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur
(Orissa)at1:35p.m.;thetestisunsuccessful.Themissilebreaksupwithinfoursecondsoflaunch.
"Dhanushvariantforlandtargetssought,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),20April2000,
www.hindustantimes.com;RahulBedi,"MissileTestis'PartialSuccess',saysIndia,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly
(Coulsdon,Surrey),19April2000,p.14.
8March2000
AccordingtoIndianforeignministryspokespersonR.S.Jassal,ChineseassistancetoPakistan'snuclearandmissile
programisthreateningregionalstability.JassalsaysthatIndiaconveyeditsconcernstoChinaduringthetwoday
SinoIndiansecuritydialogueheldinBeijingon67March2000.
"IndiaconveysconcerntoChina,"Dawn(Karachi),9March2000,www.dawn.com.
March2000
TheIndiancabinetapprovesthepurchaseofsevenBarakshippointdefensemissilesystemsfromIsraelinadeal
valuedat5.8billionrupees.
SandeepUnnithan,"BarakMissiles:OfftheMark?"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),26March2001,www.india
today.com.
16February2000
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)testsanindigenouslydeveloped7.5tonthrustcryogenicengine
developedfortheupperstageoftheGeosynchronousSatelliteLaunchVehicle(GSLV).Thetestiscarriedoutatthe
LiquidPropulsionSystemsCentre(LPSC)inMahendragiri(TamilNadu).Althoughtheenginewastobefiredfor30
seconds,ahydrogenleakledtotheturningoffofignitionafter15seconds.AnISROofficialsays,"theexactreason
fortheleakcanbefoundoutonlyafteranalyzingthedatathatwasobtainedduringthefirst15seconds...whether
itisamajororminorproblemwillbeknownafteranalyzingthedatawhichwilltaketwodays."Althoughthe
enginewassupposedtohavebeenfiredfor30seconds,duringactualflight,itwillpowertheGSLVfor730
seconds.AccordingtoanIndianofficial,"we[ISRO]willhavetoqualifytheenginefortwicethatperiodor1,400
secondsbeforecertifyingitforactualflight."Despitethesetback,ISROsourcessaythatthetestfiringofthe
cryogenicenginehadseveralaccomplishments.Theyincludefabrication,assembly,andintegrationofthe
completecryogenicengine,validationandcommissioningoftheteststand,chilldowntrialsoftheengineand
associatedsystem,productionofcryogenicpropellantstorequiredspecifications,validationofappropriatesafety
procedures,andthecollectionofdataduringthe15secondsoftesting.
"CryogenicengineISROreachesamilestone,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),17February2000,
www.expressindia.com;"Rocketlaunchstoppedduetohydrogenleak,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),19February
2000,www.deccanherald.com.
5February2001
IsraeliradioannouncesthatIndiaandIsraelhavesigneda$270millioncontractforaninitialordertopurchase
Barakshippointdefensemissilesystem,whichisdesignedtodefeatantishipmissilethreatstonavalvessels.A
singleunitoftheBaraksystemcosts$21.5million.TheBarakwillinitiallyberetrofittedontheIndianNavy's
aircraftcarrierViraat.Atalaterstage,theBaraksystemswillbeincorporatedineachoftheType16Afrigates
currentlyunderconstruction.TheType16AclassfrigatesweresupposedtobefittedwiththeindigenousTrishul
surfacetoairmissile(SAM);however,delaysinthedevelopmentoftheTrishulhaveresultedintheIndianNavy
optingfortheBarak.Accordingtomediareports,theBarakwillalsoreplacetheSovietdesignedSAN1SAMson
IndianNavy'sRajputclassdestroyers(SovietKashinclassdesign).[Note:TheBarakisa10kmrangeinterceptor
missilearmedwitha"22kgblastfragmentationwarhead"andan"advancedproximityfuse";itisdesignedto
destroyincomingantishipmissiles.TheBarakisfittedontoan"eighttubeverticallaunchsystem."Themissile
usesan"EltaX/KabandfirecontrolradarandanElbitfirecontrolsystemcapableofautomaticoperationandable
toengagetwotargetssimultaneously."TheBarakmissileanditslauncherhavebeendevelopedbyIsrael'sRafael
industries.]
"IndiabuysBaraknavalSAM,"Jane'sMissiles&Rockets(Coulsdon,Surrey),April2001,p.11.
2February2000
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialssaythatIndiawilltestthenuclearcapable
DhanushinMarch2000.Oncethemissilehasbeentestedsuccessfully,itwillbedeployedonboardoffshorepatrol
vessels.MissilesonotherNavydestroyerssuchastheINSDelhiandINSMysorecouldalsobearmedwithnuclear
weapons.
"DhanushmissiletobetestfiredinMarch,"PTI(NewDelhi),2February2000,inBBCSummaryofWorld
Broadcasts,4February2000,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
February2000
DuetoUSPresidentBillClinton'svisittoNewDelhiinMarch2000,theDhanushtestisdelayeduntilApril2000.
"ANewSurfacetoSurfaceMissiletobeTestFiredinMarch,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),2February2000,
www.expressindia.com.
22January2000
AccordingtoDr.A.SivathanuPillai,ChiefControllerR&D,DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),
"technologiesdevelopedundertheIntegratedGuidedMissileDevelopmentProgram(IGMDP)madeour[India's]
missilesgloballycompetitiveintheirperformanceandbuiltastrongfoundationforfuturetechnologiesand
systemsdevelopments...wehavetodayoperationalAgniIIandPrithvi.Wehavemasteredpropulsiontechnology,
guidanceandcontrolandintroducedinnovativesoftwarepackages,algorithms,andnewdevices."Inthecaseof
thePrithvi,Indiahas"masteredliquidpropulsiontechnology,supersonicmaneuverabletrajectory,multiplefield
interchangeablewarheads,andlaunchcapabilitiesfrommobileplatforms."Indiahasalsodeveloped
computationalfluiddynamics,supercomputers,carboncarbontechnology,advancedcomposites,special
guidancesystems,andsoftwarefortheAgniprogram.Indianscientistshavealsodevelopeda"fireandforget"
guidancesystembymountinganinfraredseekerontheNAGantitankmissile,makingitthefirstthirdgeneration
antitankmissileintheworld.Similarly,the"ramjettechnology"andguidancesystemdevelopedfortheAkash
surfacetoairmissile(SAM)willleadto"severalfuturisticsystemsincludinghypersonicreusablemissiles."
"Fireandforgetsystemfor'Nag'tested,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),22January2000,www.timesofindia.com.
20January2000
IndiadelaystestsoftheDhanushandAgniballisticmissiles.Themissileswereoriginallyscheduledtobetestedon
26January2000.AccordingtoIndiangovernmentsources,theDhanushtesthasbeenpostponedduetoa
technicalsnaginthe"controlsystem."ThenewversionoftheAgniwilltestanewmidairguidancesystem,which
involvesasatellitebasedglobalpositioningsystem(GPS).AccordingtoIndiandefensesources,theGPSwillreceive
satellitebasedfeedsofitsgeographicpositioninmidair.Anonboardcomputerwillcarryoutthenecessary
correctionstosteertheweapontoitstarget.However,thesesourceshavealsowarnedagainstrelyingontheUS
GPSsystemduring"criticaloccasions."[Note:Intheory,theUSGPSsystemcouldbeshutofftodenyacountry
accesstopositionalinformation.Inpractice,however,suchanoptionisbecomingincreasinglydubiousgiventhe
growingcommercialdependenceonGPS.]
"TestfiringofAgni,Dhanushmissilesputonhold,"Hindu(Chennai),20January2000,www.thehindu.com.
January2000
TheIndianNavymodifiestheOffshorePatrolVessel,INSSubhadra,atthenavaldockyardinMumbaitotransport
andflighttesttheDhanushballisticmissile.Thehelicopterdeckisstrengthenedandahydraulicallystabilizedrail
mountedplatformanderectorareinstalled.Theship'shelicopterhangarismodifiedtohousetwomissiles.A
portableconsoletofeedthemissileprelaunchguidanceparametersisalsoinstalledontheship.
SandeepUnnithan,"NavytoAcquireItsOwnNuclearMissileDhanush,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),10January
2000,www.expressindia.com.
4January2000
Inanaddresstothe87thIndianScienceCongressinPune(Maharashtra),theprincipalscientificadvisortothe
governmentofIndia,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,saysthatIndiaistryingtodesignanantiballisticmissilesystemon
thelinesoftheUSprogram.KalamsaysthatIndiacan"alsopursueanintercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)
programifadequatefundsaremadeavailablefortheproject."HedisclosesthattheIndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)isdevelopingasupersonicaircraftthatwillcombinethecriticaltechnologiesusedinmissiles
andaircraft.IntheeventofanuclearattackonIndia,thisaircraftwillbeactivatedautomaticallytocarryout
retaliatoryattacks.
"IndiatryingtodesignABMsystemonUSlines:Kalam,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),4January2000,
Early2000
India'snationalsecuritycouncilapprovesa$3billionplantocreateanuclearcommandandcontrolsystem.The
planproposestoallocate$1billionfor"modernizingandintegratingthecommand,control,communications,and
intelligencesystemsoftheArmy,Navy,andAirForcethrough2002."Fundswillalsobeusedtobuildcommand
centerstolinkthepoliticalleadership,themilitaryservicechiefs,nuclearforces,andvariousintelligenceand
surveillanceassets.OnesuchcenterwillbebuiltinDelhi;asecondcenterwillbebuiltoutsidetherangeof
Pakistan'spresentballisticmissileforce.Anadditionaleightcommandcenterswillbebuilt;someofthesewillbe
regionalcommands,otherswillfocusonbombercommand,ballisticmissileforces,andsurveillance.Theplanalso
proposestoinvestinsatellitecommunicationsandintelligencegatheringsystems,airdefense,andairtoground
communicationsfacilities,airbornereconnaissancesystems,andelectroniccountermeasures.[Note:Accordingto
mediareports,thesatellitecommunicationsequipmentwillbeprocuredfromIsraelandFrance.]
VivekRaghuvanshi,"TopIndianDefenseOfficialUrgesBetterNuclearWeaponControlsforMilitary,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),28July2001,p.19;VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaChats15Year,$95BillionPath,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),1117June2001,p.46.
2000
TheIndiandefenseministry'sannualreportexpressesconcernovercontinuing"SinoPakistanandPakistanNorth
Korea"defensecooperation,whichencompasstransferof"nucleartechnology,assistanceinthemissile
developmentprogram,andthetransferofconventionalmilitaryequipmenttoPakistan..."Pointingtoadvancesin
China'snucleardeterrentthereportsaysthat"ChinahasfurtherimprovedherICBM[intercontinentalballistic
missile]capabilitybytestfiringDF31andlaboratorytestingDF41missiles.ThepresenceofChineseSSBNs
[nuclearballisticmissilesubmarines]intheIndianOceanmaysoonbeareality."
MinistryofDefence,AnnualReport:19992000,http://mod.nic.in,pp.3,4,5,9.
1999
15November1999
TheINSSindhuvirreturnsfromRussiaafteratwoyearmidliferefitinvolvingtheinstallationofnewweaponand
sensorsystems.ThisisthefirstIndianKiloclasssubmarinetobearmedwiththetubelaunchedClubSsupersonic
antishipmissile.India'sremainingeightKiloclasssubmarinesareexpectedtoundergorefitsby2002/03.The
threeKrivakIIIclassdestroyers,whicharebeingbuiltfortheIndianNavyattheBaltiyskyZavodshipyardinSt.
Petersburg,willalsobearmedwithNversionoftheClubmissile.SpeculationpersiststhatIndiamaytryandobtain
alandattackversionoftheClubfamilyofmissiles.[Note:TheClubisoneofafamilyofmissilesdevelopedbythe
Russianfirm,Novator,inEkaterinburg.Thesemissilesareevolutionsoftheearlier3K14GranatM(SSN21)
submarinelaunchedcruisemissiles(SLCM).TwodifferentmissileshaveevolvedfromtheGranat3M54E1subsonic
antishipmissile,andthe3M54EClubsupersonicantishipmissile.Testingofthe3M54Ewascompletedin1999;
developmentofthe3M54E1washaltedduetolackofdevelopmentfunds.The3M54Ehasalengthanddiameter
of8.22and0.5333meters,respectively.Ithasalaunchweightof1,920kgandcandelivera200kgpayloadovera
220kmrange.Themissilehasacruisespeedof650865km/handterminalspeedof1,000m/s.Itfliestowardits
targetatahighsubsonicspeedlikeaconventionalantishipmissile.Butinsteadoftheentireairframeflyinginto
thetarget,theClubwarheadseparatesfromtheairframeabout60kmfromthetarget.Duringthisstage,the
warheadispoweredbyasecondaryrocketengine,whichallowsittoacceleratefromaspeedinthehighsubsonic
rangetoMach3(3,600km/h;2,235mph).]
RahulBedi,"IndiaFortifyingNavalStrength,"AsianAge(NewDelhi),15November1999,pp.1,2,inFBIS
DocumentFTS19991116000120,15November1999;SteveZaloga,"IndiajoinstheRussiannavalmissilesystem
club,"Jane'sIntelligenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),December2000,pp.4345.
8November1999
TheIndiandefenseministrydeniesBachchiSinghRawat's7November2000(1999,Iassume)statementonthe
Surya.Aministryspokespersonsays,"thegovernmentdoesnothaveanyplanstodeveloportestanymissileof
thereportedrange,norhasprojectscalledSuryaorSagarika."
"Reporton'Surya'Denied,"Hindu(Chennai),9November1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
7November1999
IndianMinisterofStateforDefenseBachchiSinghRawatsaysthata5,000kmrangeSuryaballisticmissilewillbe
testedsoon.
"LongRangeBallisticMissileTestSoon:India,"Nation(Lahore),7November2000,www.syberwurx.com.
4November1999
ARussiandefenseteamledbyDeputyPrimeMinisterIlyaKlebenovarrivesinNewDelhi.Russiareiteratesitsoffer
toselladvancedS300antiaircraft/antimissilesystemstoIndia.KlebenovsaysthatIndiaandRussiaareworking
onjointlydevelopinganewgenerationofantimissilesystems.
"Russiandefenceteamarrives,"Hindu(Chennai),5November1999,www.hinduonnet.com;AtulAneja,"Russia
toleaseoutAWACStoIndia,"Hindu(Chennai),6November1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
12October1999
AhighofficialinIndia'sdefenseministrysaysthatIndiahasbegunworkonbuildingalandattackcruisemissile
capableofdeliveringa500kgpayloadoverarangeof700nauticalmiles.The$500millionprojectwasapprovedin
December1998andthefirstmissileislikelytobetestedin2003.Althoughthemissilewillbedesignedtocarry
conventionalwarheads,longerrangeversionscouldbenuclearcapable.Themissile'sinitialtestversionwillbe
landbased,andwillbefollowedbyashipbasedversion.TheIndianInstituteofSciences(IISc)inBangalore
(Karnataka)recentlyacquiredasupercomputerParam10,000fromtheCentreforDevelopmentofAdvanced
Computing(CDAC)andhasbegunconductingwindtunneltestsofscalemodelsforthemissile.AnotherBangalore
basedDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)laboratoryisworkingonterraincontourmatching
(TERCOM)anddigitalscenematchingareacorrelation(DSMAC)missileguidancesystemsforthemissile.The
IndiancruisemissilewillincorporatemostofthefeaturesoftheUSBlockIIITomahawkcruisemissilesuchas
TERCOM,DSMAC,andglobalpositioningsystem(GPS)andnavigationcapabilities.Itwillalsoincludesomeofthe
featuresoftheBlockIVTomahawksuchasinflightretargeting,andmissionplanningfromthelaunchplatform.
Althoughallfeaturesmightnotbereadybythetentativelaunchdate,aworkingprototypeofthecruisemissile
withasolidfuelbooster,turbofanengine,andprecisionguidancesystemarelikelytobedeveloped.Indiahas
competenceinstealthdesign,ballisticmissile,andprecisionguidancetechnologiesthatcouldbeusedfor
developingcruisemissiles;butitdoesnothaveanappropriateturbofanengineand"switchovermechanism"
whichenablesamissiletosettleintocruisephaseaftertakeoffwithasolidfuelbooster.Indianmissilescientists
andengineershopetoretoolthegasturbineenginedevelopedbytheBangalorebasedGasTurbineResearch
Establishmentforthelightcombataircraft(LCA)forthecruisemissileproject.Whenaskedtocommentonthe
project,anIndiandefenseministryspokesmansaid,"wedonotcommentondefenseprojects."
MohammedAhmedullah,DefenseWeek(Washington,DC),12October1999,p.1.
October1999
TheIndiangovernmentapprovesthedevelopmentofan800900kmrangeroadmobile,solidpropellantvariantof
theAgniballisticmissile.ThedevelopmentandfirstflighttestoftheshorterrangevariantoftheAgniisexpected
within15months.
www.timesofindia.cominFBISDocumentSAP20020127000025,27January2002.
21August1999
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatdespitetechnologydenialsandsanctions,"DRDO[DefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization],withitsindustrypartners,haveestablishedgalliumarsenideandsiliconfoundriesfor
makingspecialgradedevices,supercomputers,andvitaltechnologiesrequiredformissilesandothersystems
usingindigenousfacilities."Healsorevealsthat"twotypesofmissiles...UAV[unmannedaerialvehicle]willreach
productionafterusertrials[1999]."[Note:Galliumarsenideisa"semiconductorcompoundusedinsomediode,
fieldeffecttransistors,andintegratedcircuits...galliumarsenidecomponentsareusefulatultrahighradio
frequencies,andinfastelectronicswitchingapplications.Galliumarsenidedevicesgeneratelessnoisethanmost
othertypesofsemiconductorcomponents.Thisisimportantinweaksignalamplification.Galliumarsenideisused
inthemanufactureoflightemittingdiodeswhicharefoundinopticalcommunicationsandcontrolsystems...and
canreplacesiliconinthemanufactureoflinearintegratedcircuitsanddigitalintegratedcircuits.Lineardevices
includeoscillatorsandamplifiers.Digitaldevicesareusedforelectronicswitching,andalsoincomputersystems."]
A.P.J.AbdulKalam,"Podium:Empowermentthroughpartnership,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),21August
1999,www.hindustantimes.com;"galliumarsenide,"Whatis?.com,http://whatis.techtarget.com.
17August1999
India'sNationalSecurityAdvisorBrajeshMishrareleasesthedraftReportoftheNationalSecurityAdvisoryBoard
onIndia'snucleardoctrinetothepublicfordebate.Thedocumentoutlinesthe"broadprinciplesforthe
development,deployment,andemploymentofIndia'snuclearforces."Thedraftsays,"Indiashallpursuea
doctrineofcredibleminimumnucleardeterrence...India'snuclearforceswillbeeffective,enduring,diverse,
flexible,andresponsivetotherequirementsinaccordancewiththeconceptofcredibleminimumdeterrence.
Theseforceswillbebasedonatriadofaircraft,mobilelandbasedmissiles,andseabasedassets..."
"DraftReportofNationalSecurityAdvisoryBoardonIndianNuclearDoctrine,"EmbassyofIndia,Washington,
DC,17August1999,www.indianembassy.org.
15August1999
InanaddresstothenationkickingoffIndia'sindependencedaycelebrations,PrimeMinisterVajpayeeannounces
thattheAgniIIwillbe"integratedintoour[India's]armedforces."
"PrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayee'sAddresstotheNation,"PrimeMinister'sOffice,15August1999,
http://pmindia.nic.in.
4August1999
TheIndiangovernmentannouncesthe"AgniSelfRelianceAward"fortheyear1999.Ateamoffourscientistsis
selectedforitscontributiontotheAgniIImissileprogram.Theteamdesignedanddevelopedalltheground
systemsforthemissile.Theseincludedtherailmobilelauncher,mobileshelterforcarryingoutprelaunch
operations,mechanizedbargefortransportationofthesystems,andthejetdeflector.Theawardeesare:Project
DirectorV.B.Ghorpade;scientist"F"VasantaRamaswamy;ColonelKamalaSingh;andscientist"D"P.K.Mehta.
"R&D(E)teamhonouredforworkonAgni,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),5August1999,www.expressindia.com.
MayJuly1999
IndianscientistsarmoneAgnimissilewithanuclearwarheadduringtheKargilconflictwithPakistan.Themissileis
allegedlydeployedsomewhereinWesternIndia.
RajChengappa,"TheEarthBrokeUnderOurFeet,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobea
NuclearPower,HarperCollinsPublishers,India,NewDelhi,p.437.
June1999
India'sexternalaffairsanddefenseministers,JaswantSinghandGeorgeFernandes,discusstheneedforaballistic
missiletocoverthegapbetweentheshortrangePrithviandthelongerrangevariantsoftheAgniballisticmissile.
www.timesofindia.com,inFBISDocumentSAP20020127000025,27January2002.
MayJuly1999
IndianscientistsallegedlyreadyfourPrithviandatleastoneAgnimissileforpossiblenuclearcounterstrikes
againstPakistanduringtheKargilborderconflict.Themissilesareactivatedtoastateknownas"ReadinessState
3."Inthisstage,warheadsarekeptreadytobematedwithmissilesatshortnotice.
RajChengappa,"TheEarthBrokeUnderOurFeet,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobea
NuclearPower,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.437.
26May1999
SecondoperationallaunchofthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLVC2).ThreesatellitesIRSP4(India),KITSAT
(SouthKorea),andDLRTUBSAT(Germany)successfullyplacedinorbit.
"Multiplepayloadlaunchbecomesreality,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),27May1999,www.timesofindia.com.
16May1999
India'sChiefofAirStaff,AirChiefMarshallAshokYashwantTipnis,saysthattheAirForcewouldliketotake
possessionoftheAgniintermediaterangeballisticmissile(IRBM).
"Let'sbestrongerandsmarter,saysIAFchief,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),16May1999,www.timesofindia.com.
May1999
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcessaythatprogramtodevelopSuryaislikelytocost
$50millionandthemissilewillbereadyforlaunchbymid2001.AnadvancedversionoftheSuryawillalsobe
developedafterthefirstmissileistested.About90scientificandprivateinstitutionsareparticipatinginthe
developmentoftheSurya.DRDOscientistsdisclosethattheyarealsoworkingonaprojecttoextendtherangeof
theArmyversionofthePrithvi(SSM150)from150kmto350km;a250kmrangenavalversionofthemissilewill
betestedlaterduring1999.Inaddition,202,000kmrangeAgniballisticmissileswillbebuiltatacostof$150
millionbytheendof2001.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaToDevelopExtensiveNuclearMissileArsenal,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),24
May1999,p.14.
May1999
IndianMinisterofDefenseGeorgeFernandesdeniesreportsthatIndiaisdevelopinganintercontinentalballistic
missile(ICBM)namedSurya.
"IndiaNotPlanningtoCreateAgni3IRBMorSuryaICBM,"RIANovosti(Moscow),11May1999.
May1999
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialssaythata250kmrangeDhanushwillbetestedin
late1999.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiatoDevelopExtensiveNuclearMissileArsenal,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),24May
1999,p.14.
24April1999
IndiandefenseofficialssaythattheyarepreparingtocarryoutusertrialsoftheAirForceversion(250kmrange)of
thePrithvi.DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialshavealreadyconductedthreeuser
trialsoftheAirForceversion,whichisalsoknownasthePrithviII.
DineshKumar,"NavalversionofthePrithviwillbetestfiredshortly,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),24April1999,
24April1999
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialssaythattheyarepreparingtotesta350kmrange
navalversionofthePrithviballisticmissile,namedDhanush.Themissilehasbeendesigned,fabricated,and
installed,andiscurrentlyundergoingtests.AccordingtoDRDOofficials,"effortstolaunchthemissilefromaship
havebeenunderway,"andalauncherstabilizationsystemiscrucialsinceshipsareunstablemissilelaunch
platformonsea.
DineshKumar,"NavalversionofthePrithviwillbetestfiredshortly,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),24April1999,
April1999
TheprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,saysthattheAgniIIisdesignedto
carryanuclearwarhead;healsosaysthattheMay1998nucleartestsincludedatestofanAgniclasspayload.
RahulBedi,"AgniIIIRBM:BuilttoCarryNuclearWarhead,"Jane'sDefenceWeeklyVol.31,No.17(Coulsdon,
Surrey),28April1999,p.7.
April1999
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistssaythata3,500kmrangeAgniIIIisinthe
advancedstagesofdevelopment.
RahulBedi,"India:NoArmsRace,NoDanger,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),21April1999,p.3.
14April1999
TheprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,tellsIndiandefenseanalyst
BrahmaChellaneyintelevisioninterviewthattheAgniis"operationallyready."Referringtonuclearwarheads,he
saysthattheAgnicancarry"specialwarheads."Kalamaddsthatthescientistshavecompletedtheirjoband"itis
forthegovernment"toproceedwiththedeploymentoftheAgniII.
"AgniII'ready'tocarryNwarhead,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),15April1999,www.hindustantimes.com.
12April1999
PakistanreactsangrilytoIndia'stestoftheAgniII.APakistaniforeignministryspokespersonsaysthat"the
developmentofAgniIIaddstoourconcernsandisathreattooursecurity."Pakistan'sForeignMinisterSartajAziz
commentsthat"sincethey[India]havegoneahead,wewillprobablyhavetogiveabefittingresponse."
"Indiatriggersmissilerow,"DailyMail(London),12April1999,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,12April1999,
11April1999
TheUnitedStatesexpressesregretatIndia'sdecisiontotesttheAgniII.WhiteHousespokespersonNandaChitre
says,"weregretthedecisiontogoaheadwiththistest...[theAgnitest]appearstobeoutofstepwithrecent
politicaldevelopmentsintheregion."
"US'regrets'Indianballisticmissiletest,"AFP,11April1999,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11April1999,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Indiatriggersmissilerow,"DailyMail(London),12April1999,inLexisNexisAcademic
April1999
TheprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,revealsthatcontrarytopopular
perceptions,theAgniprojectwasneverstopped;allgovernmentssupportedit.HealsosaystheAgni'simport
contentislessthan10%andIndianowhastheindigenouscapabilitytodesign,develop,andproduceanytypeof
missile.WhenaskedifitwasfeasibletodeclaretheAgniIIoperationalafterasingletest,KalamsaysthatIndiahas
datafromthreeprevioustestsoftheAgniIand16flighttestsofthePrithvi.Inaddition,thesimultaneous
monitoringofover600testparametersandgroundsimulationtechnologiesobviatetheneedformultipleflight
tests.KalamalsosaysthattheAgniwas"neverconceivedonlyasanuclearweaponsystem.Whatitdidwasto
affordus[India]theoptionofdevelopingtheabilitytodeliverynonnuclearweaponswithprecisionatlongranges.
Thatitprovideduswithaviablenonnuclearoptionwasofthegreatestrelevancetocontemporarystrategic
doctrines."
"Interview:A.P.J.AbdulKalam,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),26April1999,www.indiatoday.com;A.P.J.Abdul
KalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography,(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress(India)
Limited,1999),p.153.
11April1999
FollowingthesuccessfultestoftheAgniII,PrimeMinisterVajpayee,inapublicaddresstothenationsays,"[the
test]isavindicationofoursteadfastcommitmenttoselfreliance.Inarapidlychangingsecurityenvironment,India
cannotdependonotherstodefendher.Wehavetodevelopourownindigenouscapabilities.Agniisasymbolofa
resurgentIndiawhichisabletosay:'Yes,wewillstandonourownfeet'...aswasthecasewithnucleartestsat
PokhraninMaylastyear[1998],thetestfiringoftheAgnimissileisalsoapurelydefensivestep...Agniisproofof
ourdeterminationtostrengthenournationalsecuritysocomprehensivelythatwecandefendourselves.Ihave
saidearlier,andIreiterate,thatIndiaremainscommittedtominimumdeterrence,tonofirstuseofnuclear
weapons,andnevertousethemagainstnonnuclearweaponstates.
AddresstotheNationbyPrimeMinisterAtalBehariVajpayee,"DiscoverIndia:MinistryofExternalAffairs,11
April1999,www.meadev.gov.in.
11April1999
IndiateststheAgniIImissilefromanewlaunchfacilityattheIC4onWheeler'sIsland.Thenewfacilityhasbeen
builttobypasstheproblemofevacuatingvillagersfromtheInterimTestRange's(ITR)surroundingareasevery
timeamissileistested.ThisisthefourthtestintheAgniprogram.The20meterhighmissileislaunchedfroma
railmobileplatformat9:47a.m.andreachesthepointofimpactin11minutes.DefenseMinisterGeorge
Fernandessaysthat,"we[India]havereachedthepointofoperationalizationofAgniIIasaweaponsystem."The
salientfeaturesofthistestaredemonstrationofmobilelaunchcapability;anallsolidsolidpropulsionsystem;
rangeofover2,000km;improvedguidanceandnavigationsystem;andanadvancedcommunicationinterface.
AccordingtoDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcestheAgniIIisequippedwithaglobal
positioningsystem(GPS);satelliteinputsduringthemissile'sflighttimehelpanonboardcomputertocorrectfor
navigationalerrorsandimproveaccuracy.Unliketheearliermodels,whichusedaliquidconfigurationinthe
secondstage,theAgniIIhasanallsolidfuelconfiguration.TheAgni'sdesignersandengineerssaythatthemissile
ishighlymobileandcanbetransportedbyrailorroadanywherewithinIndia.WhencomparedtotheAgniI,which
requiredhalfadayofpreparationforlaunch,theAgniIIcanbelaunchedwithin15minutes.TheAgniIIalso
incorporatesaterminalnavigationandguidancesystem;themissileusesgroundbasedbeaconstocorrectfor
deviationsinthemissile'spathevenasittravelsathypersonicspeedsofoverMach14.AccordingtoDRDO'schief
controllerofR&D(missiles),theAgni'saccuracyhasbeen"improvedbyafactorofthree."Indiannuclearand
missilescientistsalsotestanactualnuclearwarheadassemblywithoutitsplutoniumcoreduringthetest.Inan
earlierstatictestinvolvingadummywarhead,severevibrationshadcausedittotriggerprematurelyduetoahigh
archingvoltageproblem.FlighttelemetrydatafromtheAgni'stestshowsthatthedummywarhead'ssafetylocks
unlockedinapredeterminedmanner.
"Over2,000kmRangeAgniIISuccessfullyTestFired,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),12April1999,
www.timesofindia.com;ManvendraSingh,"AgniIIAddsFirePowertoNDeterrence,"IndianExpress(Bombay),12
April1999,www.expressindia.com;DuncanLennox,ed.,Jane'sStrategicWeaponsSystems,Issue32,(Coulsdon,
Surrey),2000,p.73;"AgniIIjoinsnation'smissileshowcase,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),11April1999,
www.hindustantimes.com;RajChengappa,"BoomforBoom,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),26April1999,www.india
today.com.
9March1999
AplannedtestoftheDhanushisabortedduetotechnicalproblems.However,Pakistaninewssourcessaythatthe
testfailedandtheIndiannavyistryingtokeepitasecret.
AtulAneja,"TechnicalSnagAborts'Dhanush'Launch,"Hindu(Chennai),15March1999,www.hinduonline.com;
ZafarMehmoodMalik,"PakistaniPaperReportsFailureofIndianMissileTest,"Jang(Rawalpindi),15March1999,
pp.1,7,inFBISDocumentFTS19990315001032,15March1999.
7March1999
RespondingtomediaqueriesontheAgnitest,IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthat,"theAgni
projectisingoodshapeanditwillbetestfiredatanappropriatetime."
"Agnitestatappropriatetime,"Hindu(Chennai),8March1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
5March1999
IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesandthegovernment'sprincipalscientificadvisorDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam
visitInnerWheeler'sIsland.Afterconferringwithseniorscientists,theydecidetopostponetheAgnitest.
Fernandessaysthatthegovernmenthasnotmadeanydecisiononthetest.However,governmentsourcesadmit
thatcurrentpreparationsontheislandarelinkedtothemissiletest.TheIndiangovernmentextendsthe
navigationalareawarningtoaviatorsandshipstokeepoutofthedesignatedmissiletestingzoneuntil9March
1998.
"AgniIItestputofftillfurtherorders,"RediffontheNet,5March1999,www.rediff.com;"Nodecisionyeton
Agni2testfiring,"Hindu(Chennai),5March1999,www.hinduonnet.com;AtulAneja,"Technicalsnagaborts
'Dhanush'launch,"Hindu(Chennai),15March1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
4March1999
AgniIItestisabortedduetotechnicalproblems.
AtulAneja,"TechnicalSnagAborts'Dhanush'Launch,"Hindu(Chennai),15March1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
3March1999
PreparationstotesttheAgniIIfromtheIC4InnerWheeler'sIslandofftheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur
(Orissa)arecompleted.Thetestislikelytooccursometimebetween57March.India'sdefenseministrydeclines
toconfirmordenyreportsabouttheimpendingtest.
Agni2tobetestfiredfromOrissacoastthisweek,"RediffontheNet,3March1999,www.rediff.com.
18February1999
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)clarifiesthatallIndianmissilesare"explicitlyY2K
proofandcannotbeaccidentallytriggeredorguidedtothewrongtarget,becauseofapossibleeffectoftheYear
2000computerglitch."TheChiefController,Research&DevelopmentatDRDO.Dr.SivathanuPillaistatesthat
Indianmissilescientistshaveconductedsimulationexperimentstoensurethatallcomputersusedinindigenously
developedmissiles,aswellasthoseincorporatedingroundsupportsystemsareY2Kcompliant.
"IndianmissilesY2Kproof,"Hindu(Chennai),18February1999,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18February
8February1999
TheAsianAgereportsthatIndiaisdevelopingan8,000kmrangeintercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)by
marryingtheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)AgnitechnologywiththeTheIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization's(ISRO)PolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV).TheIndiangovernmentdeniesthereport.An
Indiandefenseministryspokespersonsays,"thereportisincorrect,fabricated,andhasnobasis."
"GovernmentdeniesdevelopingICBMthroughAgnimissile,"RediffontheNet,8February1999,
www.rediff.com;"Indiadeniesreportondevelopinglongrangemissile,"DPA,8February1999,inLexisNexis
26January1999
IndiadisplaystheAgnimissilepubliclyforthefirsttimeduringtheRepublicDayparade.
"AgniHogsLimelightatRDayParade,"Hindu(Chennai),27January1999,www.hinduonnet.com.
22January1999
IndiangovernmentsourcesclarifythattheAgniandDhanushmissileswillbetestedduringthesummerof1999.
Thetestshavebeenpostponedduetotechnicalsnags,whichhavenotbeenrectified.Theydismissas"highly
speculativeandunwarranted"areport,whichsaidthatplanstotestthemissileshadbeengivenupindefinitely.A
governmentsourceasserts,"thereisnodiplomaticorpoliticalangletothedelay...ifIndiacouldcarryoutnuclear
testslastyear[May1998],testfiringofmissiles,whichispartofanongoingprogram,neednotbeinfluencedby
extraneousfactors."
"Govt.refutesspeculativereporton'Agni',"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),22January1999,
January1999
IndiapostponesascheduledtestoftheAgniII.
TaraShankarSahay,"Agniputtobed'indefinitely,'confirmsMOD,"RediffontheNet,21January1999,
www.rediff.com.
January1999
Dhanushtestisdelayedduetotechnicalproblems.
ShishirGupta,"IndiaBuckles,TestFiringofAgniPutOffIndefinitely,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),21January
1999,www.hindustantimes.com.
21January1999
ThedistrictcollectorofBalasore(Orissa)andfederaldefenseofficialsmeettoarrangeforthetemporary
evacuationoffourvillageson2324January2001fortheproposedmissiletestsattheInterimTestRange(ITR).
ThedefenseministryinNewDelhideclinestocommentonthereportedmeeting,butdoesnotdenyit.
"Missiletestsnotputoffunderinternationalpressure:govt.,"Statesman(Calcutta),21January1999,inLexis
20January1999
DuringavisittoJapan,India'sForeignSecretaryK.RaghunathsaysthatIndiaislikelytotestanewmissilein
January.
"Indiatotestfirenewmissilethismonth:Raghunath,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),20January1999,
1999
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saysthatPrithvi'srangewillbeextendedto350km.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiatoDevelopExtensiveNuclearMissileArsenal,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),24May
1999,p.14.
1998
December1998
IndiaandRussiasignanew10yeardefensecooperationaccordon21December1998.Accordingtounnamed
Indiandefensesources,RussiawillassistIndiainthedevelopmentoftheSagarikamissile;anotherIndiandefense
sourcesaysthattheSagarikawillbearmedwithnuclearwarheads.
RahulBedi,"RussiaSignstoHelpIndia,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly,Vol.30,No.21(Coulsdon,Surrey),25November
1998,p.4;"India,Russiasign10YearDefenceCooperationAccord,"AFP,21December1998,inLexisNexis,21
December1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
13December1998
Adefenseministryreporttabledinparliamentsaysa250kmrangenavalversionofthePrithviisunder
development.Themissilewillbecapableofbeinglaunchedfromaship;themissilewillbedeployedonan
experimentalbasisoncertaincombatshipsbytheendofJanuary1999.
"DefenceMinistryoffiringrangeofPrithvisurfacetosurfacemissile,"PTI(NewDelhi),13December1998,in
10December1998
TheprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,announcesthat"by2000,allthe
strategicandtacticalmissileswillbemadeinthecountry[India].HealsodisclosesthattheNishantremotely
pilotedvehicle(RPV)willbereadyforinductionin1999."
"Indiawillbemissilepowerby2000Kalam,"Hindu(Chennai),10December1998,inLexisNexisAcademic
9December1998
PrincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,tellsreportersthatIndiaisreadyto
selltacticalmissileswithintwoyearstoits"politicalfriends."ThesemissilesincludetheTrishulandAkashsurface
toairmissiles(SAMs)andNAGantitankguidedmissile(ATGM).Kalamadmitsthatthegovernmentwillnotallow
himtosellPrithvi.Hesays,"wewanttocommunicatethatcertaintypesofmissilesaremarketableasour
aerospaceandmilitarytechnologyiscomparativelycheaper."
"India'sstrategicmissilestobebattlereadyby2000,"AFP,9December1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
9December1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
9December1998
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesreiteratesthatIndiaisgettingreadytotestitslongrangeAgnimissile.
Fernandestellsreporters,"youwillhearaboutitinthefuture."
"Longrange'Agni'missilegettingready:Fernandes,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),9December1998,
4December1998
IndiacancelsatestoftheAgniIIduetotechnicalproblems.
BhashyamKasturi,"IndiaTreadsCautiouslyonTestFiringofAgniII,"DeccanHeraldNewsService,Bangalore,16
March1999;in"DailyListsReasonsforIndianMissilePostponement,"FBISDocumentFBISFTS19990317000384,
17March1999.
3December1998
IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatIndia'stalkswiththeUnitedStatesandother
stateshavenotledtoanychangesintheplansfortheAgnimissileprogram.HesaysthatIndiahasexplainedits
securityconcernstotheUnitedStatesandthatthegovernmenthasapprovedthedevelopmentofalongerrange
stateoftheartAgnitoaddressthosethreatperceptions.
"NochangeinAgniprogramme:George,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),3December1998,www.timesofindia.com.
December1998
IndialaunchesajointArmyAirForcemilitaryexerciseExerciseShivaShaktialongtheIndoPakistanborderin
theRajasthandeserttosimulateIndia'sabilitytosurviveandwinina"nuclearandchemicalwar."TheArmy
deploysPrithvimissilesduringtheexercise.
PrakashNanda,"Biggestmilitaryexercisebeginsnearborder,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),3December1998,
30November1998
Addressingapressconferenceontheeveof"NavyWeek,"IndianChiefofNavalStaff,AdmiralVishnuBhagwat
saysthatworkonthenavalversionofthePrithviisprogressingwell,andmissileswillbedeployedonboardaship
by26January1999onan"experimentalbasis."Bhagwatsaysthat"launchingPrithvifromashipisademanding
taskbecauseoftherollandpitchofthevesselandotherfactors."Hesaid,"wealreadyhavePrithvi,butcertain
modificationshavetobecarriedout.Wehavetoensurethatallsystemsofamissileshouldbesufficientlyreliable
tofunctioneffectivelyatseaundertoughweatherconditions."BhagwatdismissesreportsabouttheSagarika
missileas"fiction"andsays,"wehavenoprojectcalledSagarika."
"PrithvinavalversiontobedeployedbyJan.26,"Hindu(Chennai),1December1998,www.hinduonnet.com.
13November1998
IndianDefenseSecretaryAjitKumarandRussianDeputyDefenseMinisterNikolaiMikhailovfinalizethedetailsfor
anew10yearIndoRussiandefenseagreement,whichwillbesignedduringPresidentBorisYeltsinvisittoNew
DelhiinDecember1998.KommersantDailysaysthatIndiaisplanningtopurchasesixRussianS300Vairdefense
systems,whicharecapableofdestroyingbothaircraftandballisticmissiles.AccordingtotheS300V'schief
designer,AlexanderLemansky,IndiahasindicateditspreferencetotaketheS300complexesfromtheRussian
defenseministry'sstocks,ratherthanwait18monthsuntilnewonesarebuilt.ReportssaythattheRussiansystem
willbeintegratedwiththeindigenouslydevelopedRajendraradarandAkashsurfacetoairmissile(SAM).
VladimirRadyuhin,"India,Russiatoexpanddefencecooperation,"Hindu(Chennai),14November1998
www.hinduonnet.com.
October1998
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)conductsstatictestsof"specialized"warheadsforthe
Prithvi,whichincludestheprefragmentedvariablemasswarhead.
DineshKumar,"NavalversionofPrithviwillbetestfiredshortly,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),24April1999,
4September1998
IndianDefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesadmitsthatIndiaisdevelopingtheSagarikasubmarinelaunchedcruise
missile.HealsoreiteratesthatthedevelopmentoftheAgniIIisoncourseandthemissilewillbetestedsoon.
"AgniIItobeTestFiredSoon,"Hindu(Chennai),4September1998,www.hinduonnet.com;"AgniIIrangetobe
enhanced:Fernandes,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),5September1998,www.timesofindia.com.
4September1998
Indiandefenseministrysourcessaythatthe2,500kmrangeAgniIIisalmostreadyandwillbetestedinthe"very
nearfuture."Thedevelopmentofthe"superiorAgniIIhasreachedadefinitivestage,"thesourcessaid.
"2,500kmplusAgniIIalmostready,"RediffontheNet,4September1998,www.rediff.com.
2September1998
FirsttestflightoftheNishantunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV).
"Nishantfinallyintheair,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),2February2001,www.timesofindia.com.
September1998
TheIndiangovernmentclearsaDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)projecttointegratea
numberofhighendRussianantiaircraft/antiballisticmissilesystemssuchastheS300VandS300PwithIsraeli
firecontrolradarandbattlemanagementsystemstocreatealimitedantiballisticmissilesystem.Theproposed
IndianantiballisticmissilesystemwillbedesignedtointerceptPakistaniM11typemissiles;butitwillnothave
thecapabilitytointerceptlongerrangemissilessuchastheGhauri,whichhaveapeakvelocityof4km/second.The
projectisexpectedtocost20billionrupees.
ManojJoshi,"DubiousShield,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),19October1998,www.indiatoday.com.
17August1998
ThedefenseministryannouncesthattheBalasoreInterimTestRange(ITR),wheremostofIndia'smissileshave
beentested,isbeingupgradedtothelevelofaworldclassrangefacility.Therangeisbeingupgradedtomeetthe
urgentrequirementsoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO).Accordingtodefenseministry
sources,inhousefacilitiesforrepairandmaintenancehavebeenupgradedcontinuously.Effortsareunderwayto
developasystemforaidingsafetydecisionsduringlaunch.
"InterimTestRangetobeupgraded,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),18August1998,www.expressindia.com.
12August1998
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesholdsameetingwiththeparliament'sdefenseconsultativecommitteeto
discusstheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).Amongothers,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,principalscientific
advisortotheIndiangovernment,andDefenseSecretaryAjitKumaralsoattendthemeeting.Fernandesreiterates
thatthegovernmenthasapprovedthedevelopmentofthesecondphaseoftheAgniintermediaterangeballistic
missile(IRBM)withanenhancedrange.Hesaysthateffortsareontoensurethattherewasnoadverseimpactof
sanctionsonthemissileprogram,whichisina"veryadvancedstageofdevelopment."Fernandesalsosaysthat
the150kmrangePrithviIhasalreadybeeninductedintotheArmyanddevelopmentworkonthe250kmrangeAir
Forceversion,thePrithviII,hasbeencompleted.
"Govt.approvessecondphaseofAgnimissileprogramme,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),12August1998,
16July1998
AccordingtoAsianAge,IndiaplanstotesttwoAgniIImissilesinAugust1999.Thenewversionwillhavearangeof
2,000kmwithaonetonpayload.Preparationstoproducethesolidfueledstagesofthemissilehavebeenhurried
up,suggestinganurgencyinnotonlydevelopinganimprovedversionofthemissile,butalsoinbeginningitsseries
production.TheIndiangovernmentdeniesthesereports.Adefenseministryspokespersonsays,"thereisnotruth
inreportsthattestfiringoftheupgradedversionoftheintermediaterangeballisticmissile[Agni]istotakeplace
inAugust."
"Indiatotestnuclearweaponcompatiblemissile,"DPA,16July1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16July
1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"MinistrydeniesreportsofAgni,"RediffontheNet,16July1998,
www.rediff.com.
16July1998
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatstepshavebeeninitiatedtomeetthenew
requirementsofthearmedforcesinthewakeofIndiabecominganuclearpower.
"StepstakentomeetforcesrequirementsafterNTests:Fernandes,"RediffontheNet,16July1998,
www.rediff.com.
13July1998
AnIndiannavaldefenseanalystsaysthatSagarikaisnotaballisticmissile;itisanairbreathingcruisemissilewitha
standofflandattackcapability.SagarikawasalateentrantinIndia'sguidedmissileprogram.Designand
developmentofthemissilebeganin1990andsince1992theSagarikahasbeenunderdevelopmentatthe
AeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka).Thedesignanddevelopmentphasewill
becompletedby2000,anddeploymentwillcommencesoonafterwards.
RahulRoyChaudhury,"EquippingtheNavyforWaronLand,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),13July1998,
8July1998
TheIndianparliament'sstandingcommitteeondefenseurgesthegovernmenttopressaheadwiththe
developmentoflongrangemissiles.ItsreportondefensesaysthatbothChinaandPakistanhavemissilesthatcan
reachanypartofIndiaandthatIndiahasnocredibledeterrentagainstChina.Toredressthisimbalance,"the
governmentshouldgoaheadfullsteaminatimeboundmannertodevelopafullrangeofmissiles,inadditionto
variantsoftheAgnicurrentlyunderdevelopment,asadeterrenttopotentialenemiesfromusingtheirballistic
missilecapabilitiesagainstanyofourassets."
"Indianpanelurgesbigpushonmissiles,"WashingtonTimes,11July1998,p.A7.
29June1998
AccordingtoIndiandefenseministrysources,theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willtest
anew220mileversionofthePrithvitheDhanushsoon.WhenqueriedonthesubjectofIndoRussianmissile
cooperation,theofficialexplains,"ofcoursetherehasbeenlongstandingscientificcooperationwithRussiain
generaltechnologyareas...wearetryingtogettechnologyfromIsrael,too."
"IndiaToTestNewPrithvi,"AviationWeek&SpaceTechnology(NewYork),Vol.148,No.26,p.31,29June
1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29June1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
16June1998
RadioPakistanallegesthatIndia'sBJPgovernmenthasgivenclearanceforthedeploymentofthePrithvialongthe
IndoPakistaniborder;theIndianarmedforces"areselectingsitesinabelt2030kmfromPakistan'sbordersfor
thispurpose."
"PakistanRadioReportsIndia'sDeploymentofPrithviMissilesNearBorder,"RadioPakistan(Islamabad),16June
3June1998
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandesinformsparliamentthatthegovernmentplanstoincreasetherangeofthe
Agnisurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM).
"Indiaclearsplanforimprovedballisticmissile,"AFXNews,3June1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,3
June1998
ThedefenseministrysaysthatIndiawillstarttestinganewversionofthePrithvi,namedDhanush,inDecember
1998.
"IndiatoTestNewPrithvi,"AviationWeekandSpaceTechnology,Vol.148,No.26(NewYork),29June1998,p.
26May1998
DefenseMinisterGeorgeFernandessaysthatIndiawill"inevitablyarm"itsmissileswithnuclearwarheads.
AccordingtoFernandes,"withoutweaponization,thisquestionofbeinganuclearweaponsstatedoesnotmake
sense...nuclearweaponizationisnecessary,andintheultimateanalysisinevitable."
"Indiawill'inevitably'armmissileswithnuclearwarheads,"AFP,26May1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
26May1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17May1998
IndiandefensesourcessaythattheAgniprogramhasbeenrevived.Thescientificadvisortothedefenseminister
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamtellsapressconferencethattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)is
working"onthenextversionoftheAgni."Kalamsays,"the[present]projecthasbeencompleted,andifneeded,
theAgnicanbemadeinlargenumbers."
NeeleshMisra,"IndiaPerfectingDeliverySystemForNuclearWeapons,"AAPInformationServicesPvt.Ltd.,18
May1998,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18May1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17May1998
IndiandefensescientistsannounceatapressconferencethatIndiahasbecomeanuclearweaponstateandthe
fivenuclearweapontestsatPokhranwerea"culmination"ofa"weaponizationprogram"jointlyundertakenby
thedefenseandatomicenergyestablishments.ThescientificadvisortoIndia'sdefenseministerDr.A.P.J.Abdul
Kalamsays"theDefenceResearch&DevelopmentOrganization[DRDO]andtheDepartmentofAtomicEnergy
haveeffectivelyandefficientlycoordinatedandintegratedtheirrespectivetechnologicalstrengthsinanational
missiontoconferthecountrywithacapabilitytovacatenuclearthreats."Dr.Kalamclarifiesthatthe"command
andcontrol"structure,whichhadbeenpreviouslyexistedinvariousformswasnowbeing"consolidated."Kalam
alsoconfirmsthat"our[Indian]missilesaredesignedtotakeanytypeofwarhead...wehavetestedthesize,
weight,performance,andvibrations(ofwarheads)."ProvidingfurtherdetailsontheAgni,Kalamsaysthatthe
governmenthasauthorizedtheDRDOtodevelopalongerrangevariantofAgni.DRDOisdevelopinganallsolid
fuelandatwostageliquidfuelvariantoftheAgni.
"Weaponisationisnowcomplete,sayscientists,"Hindu(Chennai),18May1998,www.hinduonnet.com.
13May1998
Indiaconductstwoundergroundnucleartests.Thetestsarecarriedoutto"generateadditionaldataforimproved
computersimulationofdesignsandforattainingthecapabilitytocarryoutsubcriticalexperiments,ifconsidered
necessary."
PressRelease,EmbassyofIndia(Washington,DC),13May1998,www.indianembassy.org.
11May1998
IndiaconductsthreeundergroundnucleartestsatitsPokhrantestsiteintheRajasthandesert.Thetestsincludea
fissiondevice,alowyielddevice,andathermonucleardevice.AccordingtoanIndiangovernmentpressrelease,
"themeasuredyields[fromthetests]areinlinewithexpectedvalues...thesetestshaveestablishedthatIndiahas
aprovencapabilityforaweaponizednuclearprogram."
PressRelease,EmbassyofIndia(Washington,DC),11May1998,www.indianembassy.org.
11May1998
AnIndiandefenseofficialrevealsthatcontrarytopopularperceptionsthatIndiahadputitsIntegratedGuided
MissileProgram(IGMDP)onholdunderUSpressure,theprojectswerenevercapped"completely."Theofficial
explains,"howcanwestopworkingonit?Wecannottakeariskofreachinginastageoftechnologygap...capping
themissileprogramatthisstagemeanscreatingaconsiderabletechnologicalgap,andIndiacannotaffordtodo
thatkeepinginmindIndia'swarhistory."DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcessuggest
that"Pakistan'sGhaurihasgiventhecountry[India]agoldenopportunitytolegitimizeR&Donthesophisticated
missileprojects."
"Agniprojectwasnevercapped,"Hindu(Chennai),11May1998,www.hinduonnet.com.
4May1998
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sourcessaythatthegovernmenthasapprovedthesecond
phaseoftheAgniprogramtoincreasethemissile'srange.Inthisphase,theAgni'sdesignwillbemodifiedand
additionaltestswillbeconductedtoverifythemodifications.Indiandefensesourcesdisclosethatafterthe
missile'slasttestinFebruary1994,the"Agniprojectteamwasneverdisbandedandworkedonfinetuningthe
knowhowacquiredfromtheAgni'sthreetestscontinuedquietly..."
"Govt.okaysAgni'supgradation,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),4May1998,www.expressindia.com;AtulAneja,
"Agnilikelytobemadebattleready,"Hindu(Chennai),5May1998,www.hinduonnet.com.
28April1998
RussianforeignministryspokespersondeniesthatRussiaishelpingIndiatobuildsealaunchedmissilescapableof
carryinganuclearwarhead.Similarly,YevgenyAnanyev,directorofRussia'sstaterunexportcompany,
Rosvooruzheniye,says"wehavenoaccesstoIndia'smissileprogram;itisclosedforus...insomewayortheother,
RosvooruzheniyeisinvolvedinallprojectsofmilitarytechnicalcooperationwithIndia,andIhavenotcomeacross
anysuchfact."
"RussiaDeniesHelpingIndiaCreateMissile,"RussiaToday,28April1998,www.russiatoday.com;"RussiaDenies
ReportonSagarikaMissile,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),29April1998,www.expressindia.com.
28April1998
WhiteHousespokespersonMichaelMcCurrycommentsontheSagarikacontroversy.McCurrysays,"allthatwe
haveestablished,sincewewatchthesemattersextraordinarilycarefully,isthatwehavemadenodetermination
atthispointthatanycooperationwehavedetected[betweenRussiaandIndia]isaviolationofMissileTechnology
ControlRegime(MTCR)guidelines...therearesanctionsthatarisewhenweseeanytypeofexportactivitythatisin
contraventionofMTCRguidelines,andwehavenomadethatdeterminationorfindingnorhaveweimposedany
sanctions."
SridharKrishnaswami,"USseesnoviolationofMTCRsofar,"Hindu(Chennai),29April1998,
www.hinduonnet.com.
28April1998
AUSStateDepartmentofficialsaysthat"we[UnitedStates]knowthatIndiaisworkingonamissilecalledSagarika
andweunderstandthisisalongtermprojectwhichisstillintheearlystagesofdevelopment...wealsounderstand
thattheprojectisbeingdevelopedinconjunctionwitheffortstobuildanddesignanuclearpoweredballistic
submarine."ExplainingtheUSconcernabouttheSagarikaprogram,aseniorPentagonofficialsays,"thekey
sensitivityisthattheIndianswilllearnhowtolaunchsomethingfromunderwatergetitaboveandignitean
engine...andthenthey'llgotothenextstepafterthatontheirown,somethingwithalongerrange."
"RussiaDeniesHelpingIndiaDevelopSubmarineLaunchedMissiles,"RediffontheNet,28April1998,
www.rediff.com.
27April1998
ReactingtoreportsontheSagarika,anIndiandefenseministryspokesmansaysthat"Indiadoesnothaveanysuch
project."
"IndiadeniesUSnewspaperreportofmissiledevelopment,"PTI(NewDelhi),27April1998,inBBCSummaryof
WorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29April1998,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
27April1998
USintelligencesourcesallegethatRussiaishelpingIndiatobuildasealaunchedballisticmissile.Thesealaunched
missile,Sagarika,isbelievedtohavearangeof200miles.However,thesourcesadmitthattheprecisenatureof
Russianassistanceisunclear.TheClintonadministrationfirstconfrontedRussiawithevidenceaboutthemissile
cooperationin1995.AtthattimeRussianofficialsadmittedthatscientistsfromquasipublicresearchinstitutes
wereprovidingtechnicalcooperationtoIndia;butcooperationwaslimitedtotechnologyneededtolaunchthe
missilefromunderwateranddidnotinvolveassistancewiththemissile'sdesign.RussianalsoassuredtheUnited
StatesthatmissilecooperationwithIndiawould"continuetobecircumscribed."However,USintelligencesources
contendthatRussianresearchinstitutesandscientistshaveprovidedIndiawith"significantengineeringservices"
aswellaspartsandequipmentnecessarytobuildandlaunchthemissile.ButtheUSStateDepartment,Pentagon,
andCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA)arenotinagreementaboutwhetherthemissilecooperationisaviolationof
theMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).SomeUSofficialsbelievethatincooperatingontheSagarika
program,RussiahasclearlyviolatedMTCRrules;otherscontendthatit"slipsunderthelimitsoftheagreement."
TherearealsoconflictingintelligenceestimatesaboutwhethertheSagarikaisacruiseoraballisticmissile.A
spokespersonfromtheRussianembassy,whilerefusingtodiscussthemissileissue,saysthatRussiafullycomplies
withitscommitmentsundertheMTCR.
StevenLeeMyers,"RussiaisHelpingIndiaExtendRangeofMissile,USAidesSay,"NewYorkTimes,27April
1998,www.nytimes.com;RahulRoyChaudhury,"EquippingtheNavyforWaronLand,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),
13July1998,www.timesofindia.com;"RussiaDeniesHelpingIndiaCreateMissile,"RussiaToday,28April1998,
www.russiatoday.com;"RussiaDeniesHelpingIndiaDevelopSubmarineLaunchedMissiles,"RediffontheNet,28
April1998,www.rediff.com.
January1998
TheconvenoroftheBJP'sforeignpolicycell,BrajeshMishra,declaresthatthecornerstoneoftheBJP'sforeignand
defensepolicywillbetheexerciseofIndia'snuclearoption.AccordingtoMishra,thepartyhascalculatedthat
althoughinitiallytherecouldbeseriousconsequences,"[the]hullabaloowoulddiedownandtheIndiawouldbe
acceptedasafullfledgednuclearpower,evenbytheUnitedStates."TheBJPwouldliketoprovidemore
budgetarysupporttotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andensurethatthe
developmentandtestingoftheAgniIIaregiventoppriority.
NeenaVyas,"BJPinGovt.toExerciseNOption,"Hindu(Chennai),14January1998,www.hinduonnet.com.
1998
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)reportsthatitmaybeginproducing"drytunedgyros"
formissilesbytheendof1998.Thedrytunedgyroafter"detailedtestevaluation,modeling,andS/W
compensation"isexpectedtogive"0/1deg/hr,200ppmclassperformance."Thedesignofa"fiberopticgyro...of
openloopdesignisunderprogress,"anda"closeloopintegratedopticsversionislikelytocometothelaboratory
modelstagebytheyear2000.Aringlasergyroof0.1deg/hr(1)classisplannedtobeproducedby2000...with
theparticipationofanacademicinstitutionwherethefirstpreproductionmodelhasbeendevelopedand
tested..."
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"InertialGuidanceandSensors,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems,
(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December1998),pp.157158.
1998
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)reportsthatprojectstodevelop"largediameter
rocketmotors,thrustvectorcontrolsystemslikeflexandswivelnozzle,"arecurrentlyunderdevelopment.In
addition,Indianmissilelaboratoriesaredeveloping"nitrogengasgenerators"toreplace"airbottles"inmissiles.
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"PropulsionSystems,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems,(DRDO,
MinistryofDefence,December1998),p.92.
1998
Commentingondualusetechnologies,theprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.Abdul
Kalam,saysthatIndiamustfocusonthedevelopmentoftechnologiesinthe"aviationandpropulsionsector,high
endelectronics,sensors,spacecommunications,andremotesensing,criticalmaterialsandprocessing,robotics
andartificialintelligence."HefurtherclaimsthatIndiaisalmost"atparwiththedevelopedcountriesintheareaof
solidpropellantpowerplants."TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)hasalsodeveloped"technologiesof
storableliquidpropellantsandrelatedpropulsion."
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithY.S.Rajan,"StrategicIndustries,"India2020:AVisionfortheNewMillennium,(New
Delhi:PenguinBooksIndia(P)Ltd:1998),pp.195,213.
1998
AccordingtotheprincipalscientificadvisortotheIndiangovernment,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,thevisionfor"DRDO
[DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization]istopromotethecorporatestrengthoftheorganization,andto
makethenationindependentofforeigntechnologyincriticalspheres.Technologyinnovationisexpectedtolead
theDRDOanditsindustrialpartnerstoglobalcompetitivenessinsystemsdesignandrealization."Commentingon
thegoalsoftheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP),Kalamsays,"thetechnologicalgoaloftheprogramis
toensurethatthesystemswillbecontemporaryatthetimeoftheirinductionintothearmedforces."Thesystems
havebeendesignedtobemultipurpose,multiuser,andmultiroleinnature.Theprogramhasadoptedthe
philosophyofconcurrentdevelopmentandproductiontoreducethetimecyclefromdevelopmenttoinduction."
ExplaininghowthePrithviwillprobablybeusedinaconventionalwar,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsays,"possession
anddeploymentofalargenumberofPrithvimissilescanactasadeterrentandpreventamissileattackfromour
adversaries.Incaseofwar,thepowerfulexplosiveandhighaccuracyofthePrithvimissilehasenormouspotential
tobringlifetoastandstillincitiesandurbanareas,toaffectthemoraleoftheenemy.Also,asizeableportionof
theenemyAirForcewouldbeengagedinneutralizingthemobilemissilelaunchers...thedeeppenetration
capabilityofthePrithvimissile,upto250kmrange,willenhancethefirepoweroftheAirForceagainstheavily
defendedtargetsinadverseweatherconditions.Inaddition,thenightattackcapabilityofthismissilewillbeuseful
forattackingtargetslikefactories,petroleumdumps,marshallingyards,andotherstaticinstallations."Kalam
divulgesthat"theaccuracyofthesystemat250kmwillbefurtherimproveduponinphaseII,whenterminal
homingguidanceandantiradiationsystemswillbeintegratedintothePrithvisystem.Aschemeforretrofitis
beingcontemplatedanddesigned.Thiscapabilitywillbeanassetinattackinghardtargetslikearmoured
concentrationsintheirparkingsites."
OnIndia'splanstobuildhyperplanesinthefuture,Kalamdivulgesthat"DRDOhasenteredintoramrocketsystems
wheremuchhigherenergylevels(above500secondswithsolidpropellantsandupto1000secondswithliquid
propellants)willberealized.Thescramjetenginewillgiveenergylevelof3000seconds...thisisnotonlyformilitary
application.Thesesupersoniccombustionengineshaveapplicationforcruisemissiles,launchvehicles,and
hyperplanesinthefuture.India'sproposedscramjetisdesignedforoperatinguptoMach12.Inthelongterm,it
couldbecomepartandparcelofourjetaircrafttoo...Indiashouldatleasttakeinitiativeintheelementsofthe
hyperplaneprogramsothatIndia'shyperplaneandfutureaerospacevehiclescanbebuiltaroundthispowerplant.
Thehyperplanecandeliverapayloadofabove30tonsforatakeoffweightof250tons,givingaquantumjumpfor
theexistingpayload/takeoffratiosofmax3%to15%throughmassaddition.Afuturehyperplanemissioncan
haveanintegratedpowerplantcomplexworkinginthreemodes:fanramjetenginemodeinlowaltitude,low
speedflightregimes;scramjetenginemodeinMachnumberrange3to12alongwithinflightairliquificationand
massaddition;rocketenginemodetillpayloadlaunching...ouraerospacescientistsstartwiththedesign,
developmentandintegrationoffixedgeometryairintakesforawideMachnumberrangesupportedextensively
byanalyticaltoolslikeComputationalFluidDynamicsandexperimentalsetuplikehypersonicwindtunnels.The
combustordevelopmentincludingthematerial,fabricationtechnology,andcombustionkineticshasjustbegun.
Testandevaluationfacilitiesaretobeplannedforprototypeandfullscaleenginetesting."
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithYSRajan,"StrategicIndustries,"India2020:AVisionfortheNewMillennium,(New
Delhi:PenguinBooksIndia(P)Ltd:1998),pp.198199,200201,213214.
1998
ReportssuggestthattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isdevelopinga150350kmrange
navalvariantofthePrithvishortrangeballisticmissile.Initialtrialsareplannedfor1999andatargetdateof2005
issetfordeployment.
DuncanLennox,ed.,Jane'sStrategicWeaponsSystems,Issue32,(Coulsdon,Surrey),2000,p.6.
1997
November1997
IndiandefensescientistssaythattheAgnimissile'srangecanbeextendedbyboostingthepropellantinthe
secondstage.Theyalsoproposebuildinganintercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)byusinga"highenergy
storableliquidpropellant."Anotherplanunderconsiderationistodispensewiththetwostagepropulsionsystem
intheAgniandreplaceitwithanallsolidpropulsionsystem.Underthisplan,thefirstvariantoftheallsolid
propellantmissilewouldhavearangeof2,000km;subsequentimprovedversionswouldbeabletostriketargets
3,000kmaway.IndianscientistsbelievethatadditionaltestsoftheAgniwillhavetobeconductedtoattaina95%
assurancelevel,verifyitsperformanceparametersatthefullrangeof2,500km,andvalidateamoreadvanced
stageseparationprocess.
"IndiaeagerforfurtherdevelopmentofAgnimissileprogram,"Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,
Surrey),November1997,Vol.30,No.11,p.5.
7November1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavassurestheparliament'sconsultativecommitteeondefensethattheAgni
missileprogramwillnotbehaltedandfundconstraintswillnotbeallowedtocomeinthewayofdefense
preparedness.
"Agniprogrammewillgoon,saysMulayam,"Hindu(Chennai),7November1997,www.hinduonnet.com.
October1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavpledgestodefendthegovernment'sninthdefenseplan(19982002),
whichwasapprovedinAugust1997.The1.5trillionrupeesdefensespendingplanwillbedebatedbyparliamentin
November.Theplanallocates254.13billionrupeesfornewequipmentandupgradesincluding40.85billionrupees
forindigenouslyproducedmissiles.Undertheplan,the30Prithvisurfacetosurfacemissiles(SSMs)willbe
procuredfor1.5billionrupees;asimilarsumwillbespentonupgradinganddevelopingtheAgniintermediate
rangeballisticmissile(IRBM).Inaddition,700millionrupeeshavebeenearmarkedforthepurchaseoftheLakshya
andNishantremotelypilotedvehicles(RPVs).
VivekRaghuvanshi,"Indian5YearDefenseProcurementPlanGainsSupport,"DefenseNews(Springfield,
Virginia),1319October1997,p.72.
29September1997
FirstoperationallaunchofthepolarsatellitelaunchvehiclePSLVC1at10:17a.m.ISTfromTheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).The44.4mhigh,294tonrocketsuccessfullyplacesa
1,200kgremotesensingsatelliteIRS1Dinasunsynchronousorbit817kmabovetheearth.Thesatellitehasan
apogeeof817kmandperigeeof300km.IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanK.Kasturirangan
explainsthattheweightoftherocketwasreducedtoenableittocarryalargersatelliteweighingabout1,200kg
unliketheearlierD3version,whichcouldonlyacarrya950kgsatellite.Theweightreductionbecamepossible
throughtheuseofcarbonfibertechnologyforsatellitematingandrealignmentoftheequipmentbay.Healso
divulgesthattheentireprojecthascost1.3billionrupees,ofwhichthesatellitecomponentisestimatedat600
millionrupees.Followingthelaunch,PrimeMinisterInderKumarGujralclaimsthatnoonecanstopIndiafrom
developingit'smissileprogram,includingtheAgnimissile.
"PSLVC1liftsoffsuccessfully,"Statesman(Calcutta),29September1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29
September1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India:Plantolaunchastronomicalsatellite,"Hindu(Chennai),19
September1997,p.15,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20September1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"No
OneCouldStopIndiaFromDevelopingMissileProgramme:Gujral,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),30September1997,
29September1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavurgesPrimeMinisterInderKumarGujraltomakemorefundsavailablefor
continuingtheAgniintermediaterangeballisticmissile(IRBM)program.InanaddresstothedirectorsofDefense
Research&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)laboratories,Yadavsaysthatlackoffundscannotbeanexcusefor
puttingimportantprojectsliketheAgnionabackburner.
"DefenceMinisterSeeksMoreFundsForAgniMissile,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),29September1997,inFBIS
DocumentFBISTAC97272,13October1997.
28September1997
InanaddresstothedirectorsoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)laboratoriesduringa
twodaybiennialconference,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatserialproductionofthePrithvihasbegun.
"FurtheronOfficial'sRemarksonMissileDevelopment,"EconomicTimes,(NewDelhi),29September1997,in
FBISDocumentFBISTAC97272,29September1997.
4September1997
IndianArmytransportssixPrithvisurfacetosurfacemissiles(SSMs)fromHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)to
Jalandhar(Punjab)onboardtwoIL76transportaircraft.Soonthereafter,themissilesaremovedtotheirforward
bases.
RajChengappa,"WhyPlayPahalwan?"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.407.
27August1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavtellsreportersthattheAgniprogramisontrackandwillreceive"topmost
priority."However,YadavdeniesthatAgniwillenterintoproductionsoon.Heclarifies,"Ihaveneversaidthat
productionofAgniwouldstartsoon.AllIhavesaidisthattheprogramwillbegiventopmostpriority."
AtulAneja,"Mulayamparriesqueryonnonuseofhotline,"Hindu(Chennai),27August1997,inLexisNexis
21August1997
TheMDNimportsa1,000kgconsignmentof"aluminumvanadiummasteralloy"fromtheGermanfirmEsselsehaft
foruseinbuildingrocketsandmissiles.Theconsignment,whichwasoriginallyorderedin1994,isstolenfroma
storagesiteinMumbai(Maharashtra).
"1,000kgsofspecialalloyimportedfromGermanystoleninIndia,"DPA,21August1997,inLexisNexis
August1997
PrimeMinisterInderKumarGujral'scabinetapprovesanewfiveyearmilitaryprocurementprogramandallocates
1.5billionrupeesfortheacquisitionof30Prithvimissiles.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"Indian5YearDefenseProcurementPlanGainsSupport,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),
1319October1997,p.72.
August1997
BharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)completestheassemblyof40Prithviballistic
missiles.TheArmyisforcedtotakedeliveryofthemissilesduetolackofstoragespaceatBDL.All75missilesare
expectedtobedeliveredbytheendof1998.
August1997
India'snuclearbombteamledbytheBhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC)completesmodificationsand
conductstwoteststocheckthefunctioningofthesafetylockandmountingandtriggeringmechanismsonnuclear
warheadsdesignedforthePrithviballisticmissile.
Power,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.406418.
7August1997
HindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)suspendsproductionofenginesforthePrithvisurfacetosurfacemissile
(SSM)asoneitskeysuppliers,AscentTechnologiesPvt.Ltd.,haltsthesupplyof"coolingrings"usedintheengines.
HALofficialssaythattheyhavenotreceivedcoolingringsforalmostoneyear.AscentTechnologiesproprietorM.
M.SampathKumarIyengardeclaresthathewillnotdobusinesswithgovernmentcompaniesincludingHAL,
pendingsettlementsofpreviousbills.HALofficialssaythattheyaretryingtopersuadeIyengartoresumesupplies.
"Indianmissileproductionstopsovermoneyrow:daily,"AFP,7August1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
7August1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
30July1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavmakesastatementinparliamentontheAgniprogramanddeclaresthat
"withthethreeflighttests,thereentrytechnologydemonstrationundertheprojectAgnihasbeensuccessfully
completed.IthasbeendecidedtoaccordhighprioritytothenextphaseoftheAgniprogram."
"Indiatorevive'Agni'project,"Hindu(Chennai),30July1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31July1997,
30July1997
MinisterofStateforDefenceN.V.N.Somudeclaresinparliamentthatthegovernmentisexaminingaproposalfor
anintegratedantimissiledefenseprogram.Hesays,"thegovernmenthasreceivedaproposalfordevelopmentof
thissystem.Itisnotinnationalsecurityinteresttogivefurtherdetailsatthisjuncture."
"Indiatorevive'Agni'project,"Hindu(Chennai),30July1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31July1997,
July1997
IndianArmyreportedlyplanstoraisefourPrithvimissilegroupsbytheendoftheyear2000.Eachgroupwillhave
eightmissilesplusanunspecifiednumberofreserveholdings.Thefirst333rdMissileGroupisbeingraised,anda
second444thMissileGroupisexpectedtofollow.The333rdMissileGroupwillbeintegratedintothenew30th
ArtilleryDivision,whichafterbeingraised,willbetaskedtothe2ndCorpsunderHQWesternCommand;initially
however,the30thArtilleryDivisionwillberaisedasanArmyHQreservewiththe11thCorps,Jalandhar(Punjab).
TheoverallcommandofthePrithvimissilebatterieswillrestwiththecommanderofIndia'sWesternCommand;
controlwillrestwiththecommanderofthe30thArtilleryDivision,whointurnwillserveasthetopadvisortothe
2ndCorpscommander.Commandandcontrolofthemissileswillbedecentralizedwhenadditionalmissileunits
areraisedaftertheyear2000.
PravinSawhney,"Prithvi'sposition:Indiadefendsitsmissile:ThedebatesurroundingIndia'sindigenousTBM,"
Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),1July1997,pp.4344.
July1997
Jane'sInternationalDefenseReviewreportsthattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)is
developingathirdvariantofthePrithvi,whichwillbecapableofdeliveringa7501,000kgpayloadoverarangeof
350km.Theincreasedrangeandpayloadcapacitywillbeachievedbyusinga"boostedliquidpropellantto
generatemorethrusttoweightratio."RevealingmoretechnicaldetailsabouttheArmyandAirForceversionsof
thePrithvi,thereportclaimsthatthePrithvifollowsa"tailoredtrajectory"ratherthanaballisticone.Prithvi's
semiballistictrajectoryrises30kmduringtheinitialpoweredphased,followedbyanonboostedcruisephase,and
endsinasteepdescentatnearly80.Missileoperatorscanchoosefromsixdifferentpathvariations,whichcanbe
preselected.AccordingtoDRDOsources,thisfeaturehasbeendesignedtopreventthePrithvifrombeingtracked
bytheaterantiballisticmissilesystems.ThereportclaimsthatthereiscontroversyamongIndianArmyartillery
officersovertheaccuracyofthemissile.SofarthePrithvihasneverbeenfiredtoits"meanfightingrange"ona
landtarget.Theaccuracyofthemissilehasonlybeenassessedfrom"prepared"and"presurveyed"sites.Asa
result,despiteDRDO'sclaimsthatthePrithvihasacircleofequalprobability(CEP)of0.01percent,someArmy
officersbelievethatunderactual"fieldconditions,"theCEPislikelytobe0.02percent,whichwillmakethePrithvi
inaccurateinaconventionalrole.
PravinSawhney,"Prithvi'sposition:Indiadefendsitsmissile:ThedebatesurroundingIndia'sindigenousTBM,"
Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),1July1997,pp.4344.
12July1997
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavsaysthattheUnitedFrontgovernmenthasnotabandonedtheAgni
program.Headds,"furtherdevelopmentorflighttrialprogramwillbedecidedbythegovernmentbasedonthe
threatperceptionandatanappropriatetime."
"Indiahasnotabandonedlongrangemissileprogramme:defenceminister,"AFP,12July1997,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,12July1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
30June1997
CommentingonthePrithvideploymentcontroversy,India'sformerChiefofArmyStaff,GeneralK.Sundarjisays,
"thePrithviisprimarilydesignedfordeliveringsophisticatedconventionalmunitions.Yet,ifnecessary,itcanbe
modifiedtocarryanuclearwarhead...thenuclear'pits'thataretogointo...themissilewarheadcompartment
havetobesuccessfullyminiaturizedandkeptready...IexpectIndiaisinthatstatenow."
K.Sundarji,"PrithviintheHaystack,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),30June1997,p.73.
24June1997
AnearthquakestrikescentralIndiaanddamagesfacilitiesinseveralordnancefactoriesincludingthoseengagedin
thePrithviprogram.
"Indianquakedamagedsevenmunitionsfactories;daily,"AFP,24June1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
24June1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17June1997
AddressinganewsconferenceinBhopal(MadhyaPradesh),PrimeMinisterInderKumarGujralsaysthatthePrithvi
willbedeployedasandwhenanemergencyarises.
PremiersaysPrithvimissiletobedeployed"whenemergencyarises,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),17June1997,
inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19June1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
14June1997
India'sforeignministrydeniesWashingtonPostreportsandinawrittenstatementsays,"we...categorically
reject...aspectsoftheWashingtonPostreportsregardingdetailsofdiplomaticexchangeswiththeUnitedStatesas
false,mischievous,andmotivated...itisthegovernment'spolicythatdecisionsregardingthePrithviorsuch
matterswillbetakeninthelightofourindependentforeignpolicyandonthebasisofoursecurityperception...it
hasbeenpointedoutthatthereisnoimminentthreatandthusnoreasonfordeployment."
NelsonGraves,"IndiaHotlyDeniesUSDaily'sMissileReports,"Reuters,14June1997.
13June1997
FormerprimeministerandBJPleaderAtalBehariVajpayeeurgestheUnitedFrontgovernmenttodeploythe
Prithvisurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM).HedescribesPrimeMinisterGujral'sstatementthatIndiahasnot
deployedthemissilesas"unfortunate."Vajpayeesays,"thepeopleofthiscountrywouldliketoknowwhyit
[Prithvi]hasnotbeendeployed....[Indiahasnotbuiltthemissiles]tokeeptheminwarehouses...thereisnoneed
forustogiveclarification[toothercountriesregardingtheirdeployment].
"HinduleaderwantsIndiatodeploysurfacemissiles,"AFP,13June1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,13
12June1997
IndianPrimeMinisterInderKumarGujraltellsreportersinPune(Maharashtra)thatIndiahasnotdeployedPrithvi
missilesanywhereinthecountry.Gujralemphasizes,"itisnosecret...thatwehaveacquiredmissiletechnology,
butitiswrongtosayandadeliberatemisrepresentationthatwehavedeployedthem."However,Gujraldoesnot
specificallyaddresstheissuewhetherthePrithvimissileshavebeenmoved.
KennethJ.Cooper,"IndiaDeniesIthasDeployedMissiles;GujralCondemnsUSReportofArmsShifttoPakistani
Border,"WashingtonPost,11June1997,p.A26.
11June1997
USofficialsgiveamoredetailedaccountoftheallegedPrithvitransfertoJalandhar(Punjab).Theyclaimthatwhen
USintelligencedetectedthetransfer,ClintonadministrationofficialsprotestedthedecisiontoIndianPrime
MinisterInderKumarGujral.However,GujralrespondedbysayingthatthemissileshadbeenmovedbytheArmy
withouthisexplicitknowledgeorapproval.HealsopromisedUSofficialsthathisgovernmentwouldkeepthe
missilesfrombeingdeployed.
KennethJ.Cooper,"IndiaDeniesIthasDeployedMissiles;GujralCondemnsUSReportofArmsShifttoPakistani
Border,"WashingtonPost,11June1997,p.A26.
10June1997
IndiainformsUSdiplomatsthatithasmovedafewPrithvimissilestoJalandharbecauseof"insufficientstorage
spacebackattheproductionsite[Hyderabad]andthemissilescarriedneitherawarheadnorfuel."USAssistant
SecretaryofStateforSouthAsiaRobinRaphaelacknowledgesthatIndiahasnot"openly"deployeditsmissiles.
"Indiahasnotopenlydeployedmissiles:Raphael,"Hindu(Chennai),21June1997,p.4.
9June1997
HighlyplacedIndianofficialstellHinduthatPrithvimissileshavebeenstoredandnotdeployedatJalandhar
(Punjab).
"PrithvimissilemerelystoredatJalandhar,"Hindu(Chennai),9June1997,www.hinduonnet.com.
4June1997
India'sdefenseministryofficialssaythatthedevelopmentofthePrithviisnosecret;atleast30missileshavebeen
producedandstoredinordnancedepots.
DineshKumar,"OfficialsQuestionTimingofPostPrithviReport,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),4June1997,p.1.
4June1997
India'sdefenseministryspokespersondeniestheWashingtonPoststoryandsays,"Ihavenoknowledgeof
deploymentofPrithvimissilesalongtheIndoPakborder."
"DefenceMinistrydeniesknowledgeofmissiledeployment,"PressTrustofIndia(NewDelhi),4June1997,in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4June1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
3June1997
USintelligencesourcestellWashingtonPostthatIndiahasmovedfewerthan12PrithviImissilesfromtheir
productionplantinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)toamilitaryfacilityoutsidethecityofJalandhar(Punjab),close
totheborderwithPakistan.ButotherUSofficialscautionthatthe"bestjudgment"isthatIndiahasnotdeployed
therequisitegearandpersonneltomakethemissilesoperational.USintelligenceagenciesalsobelievethat
althoughIndiadoesnotnowhavethecapabilitytoarmthePrithviwithanuclearwarhead,Indianscientistsare
workingonacquiringsuchacapability.However,Indianofficialsclaimthatthe"missilesweremovedtoJalandhar
morethanthreemonthsago...theUnitedStateswasnotifiedthattheywereinstorage."
R.JeffreySmith,"IndiaMovesMissilesNearPakistaniBorder,"WashingtonPost,3June1997,p.A15;Nelson
Graves,"MissilereportsstrikeatIndoUSties,"Reuters,17June1997.
May1997
TheJane'sDefenceWeeklysaysthataccordingtoIndiannavalsources,the"Sagarikawillbeahullmounted,low
flying,airbreathingmissilewithalowtrajectory,capableofachievinghighsubsonicspeedsandcruisingatan
altitudeof15,000m."
RahulBedi,"IndiabolsterslinkswithIsraelinattackcraftbuy,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.
27,No.19,14May1997,p.16,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,14May1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
7May1997
MinisterofStateforDefenseN.V.N.Somustatesinparliamentthat,"developmentofthe150kmversionofthe
Prithvihasbeencompletedsuccessfullyandsubsequentactivitiesareinprogress...nofurthertestswillberequired
beforeitsinductionintheArmy."
"India'smostcontroversialmissilereadyforuse,"AFP,9May1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,9May
1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"PrithvimissilestobeintroducedintoArmyfollowingsuccessfultests,"AllIndia
Radio(NewDelhi),7May1997,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8May1997,
May1997
Aseniorgovernmentrevealsthatthegovernmentplanstodoubleexpendituresonthemissileprogramfrom$64
millioninthe19921997periodto$144millionbetween19972002.
"IndiatomorethandoublemissilebudgetdespiteUSopposition,"AFP,18May1997,inLexisNexisAcademic
30April1997
TheIndianparliament's42memberconsultativecommitteeondefenseurgesthegovernmentto"reviewtheAgni
missile"projectand"takeittoitslogicalconclusion."Inareportsubmittedtoparliament,thecommitteesays,
"Indiahasnooptionbuttocontinuetoupgradeitsmissilecapabilitiesagainstanyadventuristintentionsofa
hostilecountry.ReferringtoPakistanandChina,thecommitteereportpointsout,"withboththesecountrieswe
haveunsettledboundarydisputesandtheneedforgreaterattentiontothisaspectofourdefencepreparedness."
"Indiaurgedtodeploycontroversialmissile,"AFP,30April1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,30April
17March1997
InareferencetoIndia'sAgnimissileprogram,DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavtellsreporters,"financial
constraintshavesloweddowntheprogressoftheAgniprojectbutthereisabsolutelynoquestionofcapping
it...pressuretacticsbysomecountriesonthecappingoftheprojectwillnotyieldanyresultasthesecurityofthe
countryisnotgoingtobecompromised,comewhatcomemay."
"DefenceministerrulesoutcappingofAgnimissileproject,"PTI,17March1997,inBBCSummaryofWorld
Broadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18March1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
4March1997
PrimeMinisterDeveGowdadeclaresinparliamentthathisgovernmentwillgive"fullsupport"totheAgnimissile
program.
"Premiersaysgovernmenttogive'fullsupport'toAgnimissileprogramme,"PTI(NewDelhi),4March1997,in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,BBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,5March1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
March1997
PrimeMinisterDeveGowdaordersdeploymentofPrithvisurfacetosurfacemissiles(SSMs)closetotheIndo
PakistanborderinJalandhar.[Note:TheArmychoosesJalandharfordeploymentbecauseofthepresenceofan
ordnancefactorywherethemissilescanbestoredandmaintained.Afterspendingseveralmilliondollarstobuilda
storagefacility,theArmylaterrealizedthefollyofdeployingmissilesclosetotheIndoPakistaniborder.
RajChengappa,"WhyPlayPahalwan?,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
19March1997
India'sMinisterofStateforDefense,N.V.N.Somuinformsparliamentthatthegovernmenthasspent2.27billion
rupeesontheIGMDPbetween19921997.Hesaysthatthegovernmentproposestospend5.04billionrupeeson
themissileprogramduringtheNinthFiveYearPlan(19982002).
BhashyamKastur,"StateMinisterSays504CroreEarmarkedforMissileProgram,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),22
March1997,inFBISDocumentFBISTAC97081,22March1997.
March1997
AccordingtoV.K.Saraswat,projectdirectorofPrithvi,thedevelopmentprogramofthePrithvi(SSM150&SSM
250)hasbeensuccessfulandtheArmyandAirForcearesatisfiedwithit.DefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO)officialssaythatserialproductionofthemissilehasbegun.BharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)in
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh),whichstartedassemblingthemissilein1996,hasproduced60missilessofar.
However,ColonelBhat,anArmyspokesmansaidon27February1997,thatthePrithvihasnotyetenteredservice.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiatoDeployPrithviDespitePakistaniConcerns,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),1016
March1997,p.34.
4March1997
PrimeMinisterDeveGowdapromises"technicalsupport"fortheAgniprogram.AccordingtoIndiandefense
sources,thegovernmenthasapproveda595.4millionrupeesDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization
(DRDO)proposalforanadditionalfiveAgnitestflights.
"India'sPMBacksTroubledAgniMissileProject,"ExecutiveNewsService(Jacksonville,Florida)4March1997;
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaForeseesGapinDefenseFunding,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),1016March1997,p.
24.
1March1997
ThescientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatthe23February1997testofthe
PrithvimissileprovedthatIndianowhadthetechnologyto"divertamissile'spathafterlaunchtopinpointa
desiredtarget."Hefurtheraddsthat"softwareforPrithvihasboostedIndia'scapabilitiestobeontopofthisrange
ofmissiles."
"Indiahasworldclassmissiletechnology:projectchief,"AFP,1March1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1
March1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
24February1997
PrimeMinisterDeveGowdahailsthePrithvilaunchasa"milestone."Inastatementbeforeparliamenthesays,
"wehaveplacedspecialemphasisonselfrelianceinthisfieldandthesuccessofyesterday's[23February1997]
launchisonemoremilestoneinourprogram...itwillsignificantlyaddtoourdefensivecapability."
"IndianPMhailsmissilelaunchasamilestone,"AFP,24February1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24
23February1997
IndiaconductsthethirdusertrialofthePrithviII,markingthesixteenthtestofthesystem.Theballisticmissileis
launchedfromInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa)at11:52a.m.MissionDirectorS.C.Narakstatesthat
alltestobjectiveshavebeenmet.Thisincludesatestoftheperformanceofadvancedrealtimesoftwarefor
trajectorymaneuvers.Thetestalsovalidatesthemodificationsintroducedinthegroundsupportsystematthe
suggestionoftheAirForce.NaraksaysthatthedevelopmentphaseofthePrithviIIiscomplete.
"ReportDetails'Successful'TestofPrithvi250Missile,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),25February1997;inFBIS
NES97037,25February1997;"TVDetailsLaunchingofPrithviMissile,"DoordarshanTelevisionNetwork(New
Delhi),23February1997,inFBISNES97037,25February1997;DineshKumar,"NavalversionofthePrithviwillbe
testedshortly,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),24April1999,www.timesofindia.com;"PrithviTest,"Flight
International(Sutton,Surrey),814January1997,p.6.
914February1997
AnhighlevelIndiandefenseteamledbyDefenseSecretaryTaposhBanerjivisitsIsraeltoexploretheprospectsof
defensecooperation.Banerjiinitialsanagreementforthepurchaseof12Searcherunmannedaerialvehicles
(UAVs)fortheIndianArmy.TheSearcherismanufacturedbytheIsraelAircraftIndustries.Eachaircraftcosts$1.5
millionandtheentiredealisestimatedat$18million.BanerjiisaccompaniedbyseniorAirForceandother
defenseofficials.DuringhismeetingwithIsraeliofficialsandindustrialists,Banerjiexploresthepossibilityof
purchasingmissilesandmissilerelatedtechnologiesfromIsrael.Inthepast,Indiahasexpressedinterestin
purchasingtheArrowantimissilesystemandrelatedtechnologiesfromIsrael.SeveralIsraelifirmsoffertosell
Indiacommand,control,andcommunicationsystems,andglobalpositioningsystem(GPS)satellitenavigation
equipment.IndiasignsanagreementtopurchasetheBarakpointairdefensesystemdesignedtodefeatantiship
missilesfromIsrael.
VivekRaghuvanshiandSteveRodan,"IndiaBeginsBuyingSpreeinIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,Virginia),
Vol.12No.7,1723February1997,pp.1,40;AtulAneja,"FernandeshadnoroleinBarakdeal:Navychief,"Hindu
(Chennai),22March2001,www.hinduonnet.com.
26January1997
ScientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamannouncesthatthe"finalphaseofflighttrials"of
the250kmrangeAirForceversionofthePrithviPrithviIIwillbe"scheduledshortly."Kalamsays,"thisisthe
testingseasonandtherewillbenodelayintheschedules."
"Missileprogrammedevelopmentsupdated,"PTI(NewDelhi),26January1997;inBBCSummaryofWorld
Broadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,28January1997,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Indiaonfinalstagesof
missiledevelopment:official,"AFP,26January1997,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26January1997,
January1997
IndiaisareportedlydevelopingamissilenamedKoral;KoralisallegedlytheIndianversionoftheRussianSSN22
Sunburnmissile.
StrategicComments,Vol.3.No.1,InternationalInstituteofStrategicStudies(London),January1997,p.2.
1997
TheIntegratedRailCoachFactory,Kapurthala(Punjab)istaskedwithfabricatingmodifiedrailcoachestohouse
andtransporttheAgni.[Note:Thetimingofthisdecisionisstillunclear.Literatureavailableinthepublicdomain
suggeststhatthedecisionwasmadesometimein1997.]
RajChengappa,"BoomforBoom,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),26April1999,www.indiatoday.com.
1996
29December1996
AnIndiandefenseofficialdivulgesthatIndiaisplanningtoresumetestsoftheAgnisurfacetosurfacemissile
(SSM)with"addedattributes."Hesays,"Agnineedsfinetuningbeforewecommenceproduction...wearegoingin
foranenhancedrangefrom800kmto1,400km...thedatefortestfiringhasnotbeendecided,butwearecertain
thatAgniwillbetestedsoon.Wearemonitoringtheweatherasthingsgetintoplaceatthetestrange."
"Indiatotestlaunchballisticmissile:defencesources,"AFP,29December1996,inLexisNexisAcademic
22December1996
ThePioneerreportsthatIndianscientistsareworkingoncuttingdownthedeploymenttimeofthePrithvi'sArmy
variantfrom45minutesto30minutes.Atpresent,thetotal"commandtocommand"operationofthePrithviis
abouttwohours.
"Indiatotestsurfacetosurfacemissileintwoweeks,"AFP,22December1996,inLexisNexisAcademic
22December1996
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialsannouncethatIndiawilltestatestofthe250km
rangeAirForceversionofthePrithviwithinafortnight.ThiswillbethesecondtestofthePrithviIIandthemissile
willcarrya450kgwarhead.
"SecondtestonPrithvimissiletobecarriedout"withinafortnight,"Doordarshan(NewDelhi),22December
1996,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23December1996,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
14December1996
DefenceministerMulayamSinghYadavdeniesreportsthattheAgnimissileprogramhasbeensuspended.
"DefenceministeronAgnimissile,Russianweaponry,Armybudget,militants,"PTI(NewDelhi),14December
1996,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16December1996http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
10December1996
Oppositionmembersofparliamentexpressconcernoverthegovernment'sdecisiontoshelvetheAgnimissile
program.Theleaderoftheopposition,SikandarBakht,whobelongstotheBJP,saysthatthegovernmentis
playingwiththecountry'ssecuritybynotproducingtheAgni.
"DeputiesexpressconcernoverIndia'smovetoshelveAgnimissile,"DPA,10December1996,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,10December1996,http://web.lexis.nexis.com.
December1996
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saysthatitisplanningtoincorporateglobal
positioningsystem(GPS)technologyintothePrithvimissiletoenhanceitsaccuracy.Indianscientistsclaimthatat
presentPrithvihasacircleofequalprobability(CEP)of0.1%;withtheGPS,theCEPwillbereducedto.05%.
DineshKumar,TimesofIndia(Bombay),25December1996,p.6,in"India:DRDOPlanstoEnhancePrithvi's
Accuracy,"FBISNES96249,25December1996.
December1996
IndiadecidesnottoproducetheAgniintermediaterangeballisticmissile(IRBM),unlessitssecurityisthreatened.
Adefenseministryreportstates,"Agniisareentrytechnologydemonstrationprojectwhichhasbeensuccessfully
completedandalltheobjectiveshavebeenmet...Agniprojectdidnotenvisagedevelopmentofamissile
system...thedecisiontodevelopandproduceamissilesystembasedonAgnitechnology,however,canbetakenat
anappropriatetimeconsistentwiththeprevailingthreatperceptionandglobalorregionalsecurityenvironment."
Citedin,"IndiaPutsAgniProgrammeBackonHold,"CurrentMissileNews,CenterforDefenceandInternational
SecurityStudies(LancasterUniversity,UnitedKingdom),5December1996,www.cdiss.org.
17November1996
DefenseMinisterMulayamSinghYadavassertsthatIndia'sguidedmissileprogramwillcontinueinviewofthe
volatilesecuritysituationinSouthAsia.YadavtellsnewsmeninMumbai(Maharashtra)thatthereisnoquestionof
bowingtoforeignpressureontheissueofdefensepreparednessandthetrialsoftheAgni,Prithvi,andNag
missileswillcontinue.
"Defenceministersaysindigenousmissileprogrammewillcontinue,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),17November
1996,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19November1996,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
12September1996
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamstatesthatIndiawillconductoneortwomoretestsofthe250kmrangePrithviIIballistic
missilebeforetheendof1996.
DineshKumar,TimesofIndia(Bombay),13September1996,p.1,in"India:TwoMorePrithviMissileTests
Plannedin1996,"FBISNES96180,13September1996.
September1996
TheHindustanTimesreportsthatIndiahassuccessfullycompletedthetestflightoftheNishantunmannedaerial
vehicle(UAV).TheNishantshouldbedeployedoperationallyaftera"coupleofyears."
Cited"SuccessforIndianUAV,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),11September1996,p.21.
20August1996
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatthefirstphaseofdevelopmenttestingfortheAgniisfinished.Operationaltesting
canbeginassoonasthegovernmentsanctionsit.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"India'sDRDOAwaitsApprovalforAgniFlightTests,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),26
August1996,p.14.
8August1996
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)sendsaproposaltotheDeveGowdaledUnitedFront
governmenttoresumetestingoftheAgni.Accordingtothescientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.A.P.J.
AbdulKalam,theobjectiveistotestthemissile'soptimum2,500kmrange.Duringthethirdandlastteston19
February1994,theAgniwastestedtoarangeof1,400km.
RahulBedi,"CountdownstartsforIndia'sballisticmissile,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),11
September1996,p.21;"IndiamaygoaheadwithtrialsflightsoflocallymadeIRBMs,"DPA,8August1996,in
15July1996
MinisterofStateforDefenseN.V.N.SomuinformsparliamentthatIndia'sindigenousmissileprogramhasnot
beenpostponed.HeexplainsthatusertrialsofthePrithvisurfacetosurface(SSM)havebeencompleted
successfullyandsubsequentactivitiesareinprogress.Somusays,"theAgniprojecthasalsobeensuccessfully
completedwiththreeflighttestsofthereentrytechnologydemonstrators,"and"therehasbeennochangeinthe
government'sdecisionsontheseprograms."
"Governmentinformslowerhousenopostponementofmissileprogramme,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),15July
1996,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16July1996,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
June1996
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)DirectorDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalammakesasecretvisitto
Israel.Duringhisvisit,heexpressesaninterestinpurchasingmissilelaunchersforIndia'sPrithviandAgnisurface
tosurfacemissile(SSM)programs.KalamalsostudiesIsrael'sArrowantimissileprogram.
VivekRaghuvanshiandSteveRodan,"IndiaBeginsBuyingSpreeinIsrael,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),Vol.
12No.7,1723February1997,p.40.
1June1996
Anexplosioninjures16peopleattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh).Agrassfirethatspreadapparentlycausedtheexplosionatthechemicalgasprocessingunitinthe
complex.
"Indiamissileplantshutbyexplosion:residentsfleeas16hurtinblastlikenedtoquake,"TorontoStar(Toronto),
1June1996,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1June1996,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21March1996
ThirdandfinaldevelopmentallaunchofthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)at0454GMTfromtheSriharikota
HighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).The44meterhigh,283tonrocketsuccessfullyplaces
a930kgremotesensingsatellite,theIRSP3,intoasunsynchronousorbit807/816kmabovetheearth.Allaying
apprehensionsthatIndia'ssatellitelaunchvehiclescouldbeusedformilitaryapplications,IndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)ChairmanK.Kasturirangansaysthat"weneedfordefenceadifferenttypeofconfiguration
withquickburnoutoffuel,whichisnotpossiblewiththesolidandliquidpropellantbackedPSLV."Kasturirangan
alsodeniesthatISROisplanningtolaunchadefensesurveillancesatellite.
"Indiasettoentergloballaunchmarket,"XinhuaNewsAgency,(Beijing),21March1996,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,21March1996,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Indialaunchessatellite,deniesPSLVhasdefence
implications,"DPA,21March1996,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21March1996,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
"PolarSatelliteLaunchVehicleLaunched;voyage'smooth',"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),21March1996,BBC
SummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21March1996,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"News
Breaks,"AviationWeek&SpaceTechnology(NewYork),Vol.144,No.13,25March1996,p.17,inLexisNexis
March1996
IndianenvironmentalistsdemandtheclosureofthemissiletestingrangeonIndia'seasternseaboardinOrissa
state.TheyclaimthatthetestrangeisthreateningthesurvivaloftheOliveRidleyturtles;approximately400,000
500,000turtlesmigratetoWheeler'sIslandsbetweenJanuaryandMarchannually.Theenvironmentalistsclaim
thatexhaustfumes,oilandhydrocarbon,andnoisepollutionfromboatsplyinginandoutofthetestingrangeand
missilelaunchesarethreateningthesurvivaloftheworld'slargestrookeryoftheOliveRidleyturtles.Thepollution
thinstheshellsofthehatchlingsleadingtotheirdeathsoonafterbirth.TheWorldWildlifeFundisalso
investigatingreportsthatartificiallightsadjoiningtherookeryupsetstheturtles'nestingandhatchinghabits.
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialsdeclinetocommentontheissue.TheIndian
governmentsaysthatithasnoplanstoshiftthetestingrange.
RahulBedi,"Indiahidesinitsshellovertestrangecharge,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),27March
1996,Vol.25,No.13,p.5,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27March1996,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
5February1996
ADefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialsaysthatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)in
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh)ishavingdifficultieswiththePrithviI'sguidancesystemandthehandlingofthe
missile'sfuel.Accordingtotheofficial,15PrithviIballisticmissilesareintheprocessofproduction,butwillnotbe
deliveredforatleastoneyear.IndiansourcesalsosaythattheArmylackstrainedpersonneltohandlethevolatile
50:50mixofxylideneandtriethylamineliquidfuelusedinthemissiles.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaDelaysPrithviDeployment,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),12February1996,p.32;
MissileSystemsoftheWorld,AMIInternational(Bremerton,Washington),1999,p.494.
4February1996
ForeignAffairsMinisterPranabMukherjeerejectsUScallstohaltIndia'sballisticmissileprogram.Mukherjeesays,
"thereisnoquestionofabandoningthePrithviprogram."RespondingtoUSStateDepartmentspokesperson
NicholasBurns'sstatementthatthePrithvithreatenedtodestabilizeSouthAsia,Mukherjeesays,"wedonot
consideritamistake.Wehavenointentionofdestabilizinginanywaythesituationalreadyprevailinginthe
region."
ScottNeuman,"India:notoUSonmissiletests,"UPI(Washington,DC),4February1996,inLexisNexis
2February1996
TheTimesofIndia,quotingdefensesources,reportsthatbetween1530[Prithvi]missileshavealreadybeen
preparedforinductionintotheArmy;inaddition,aprogramtotestthelongerrangeAirForcevariantofthe
Prithvihasbeenputintomotion[Note:ThelongerrangevariantwastestedinlateJanuary1996.]
"IndiatodeploycontroversialmissiledespiteUSopposition,"AFP,2February1996,inLexisNexisAcademic
January1996
V.K.Saraswat,seniorscientistattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)anddirectorofthe
Prithviprojectstatesthat;"Prithviisnowamongtheworld'smostaccuratemissilesofitsclass."TheIndianArmy,
whichhadoriginallyplannedthepurchaseof75PrithviImissiles,nowreportedlyplanstopurchaseonly30.Other
reportsstatethattheIndianArmyhasordered90missilesandreceived30sofar.
"IndiaPutsAgniIRBMPrograminIce,"Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),1January1996,
p.5;RajChengappa,"BoostingtheArsenal,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),29February1996,pp.9899.
29January1996
USStateDepartmentspokespersonNicholasBurnstermsIndia'slatestPrithvitesta"mistake"andaddsthatit
"willnotleadtowhatIndiaandPakistanwantwhichisstabilityinSouthAsia."
"IndiatodeploycontroversialmissiledespiteUSopposition,"AFP,2February1996,inLexisNexisAcademic
27January1996
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)testsanextendedrangeversionofthePrithvi(250km
range)fromInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa)at0852GMT.Themissilehitsatargetlocated
approximately250kmfromthelaunchsiteintheBayofBengal.TheextendedrangeversionofthePrithvi(Prithvi
II)isbeingdevelopedfortheAirForce.ThisisthefifteenthtestofthePrithviballisticmissilesystemandanIndian
defenseministryofficialsaysthatallmainobjectivesoftheflightweremet.
"ExtendedVersionofIndia'sPrithvi'Successfully'TestFired,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),27January1996;in
FBISDocumentFBISNES96019,27January1996;FarhanBokhariandVivekRaghuvanshi,"PakistanVows
ResponsetoNewIndiaMissileThreat,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),5February1996,p.18.
16January1996
AplannedtestofthePrithviiscancelledforundisclosedreasons.APTIreportspeculatesthatthetestmighthave
beenpostponedduetoinclementweather.DefenseofficialsinNewDelhisaythatIndiaintendstodeploythe
PrithviIandthatserialproductionisalreadyinprogressatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh).Reportedly,1820PrithviIballisticmissileshavebeenproducedandarearmedwithfivedifferenttypes
ofconventionalwarheads.
RajChengappa,"BoostingtheArsenal,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),29February1996,pp.9899;"Indiapostpones
launchofsurfacetosurfacemissile,"DPA,16January1996,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16January1996,
14January1996
ThePrithviisincludedinacatalogueofdefenseitemsavailableforexport.Thedefenseministry'sDepartmentof
DefenseProduction&SuppliesfirstpublishedthecatalogueinSeptember1994.AccordingtotheMinisterofState
forDefense,M.Malikarjun,thecataloguewaspublishedtoshow"Indiandefenseproductsavailableforexportas
asteptowardsprojectingthedefenseexportpotentialofourcountry."
DineshKumar,"Prithvi,OtherMissiles'AvailableForExport',"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),14January1996,p.1;
"Indiatoexportcontroversialmissile:daily,"AFP,14January1996,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,14January
1996
VedPrakashSandlasisappointedDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)ChiefControllerof
Research&Development.
GopalRaj,"SLV3:India'sFirstLaunchVehicle,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme,
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.72.
1996
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)introducesdesignmodificationsonthePrithvito
enableittocarryanuclearwarhead.Twotestsareconductedtoverifymountingofthenuclearwarheadand
unlockingofthesafetyandtriggeringsystemsduringflight.[Note:Theprecisedatesofthesetestsarenot
availableinpublicliterature.]
RajChengappa,"TheEyesofYama,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower,
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.418.
1996
AccordingtoIndiannewsmediasources,theSagarikamissileisinthefinalstagesofscalemodeltestingandits
propulsionsystemisunderdevelopment.TheprojectedcompletiondateoftheSagarikaprogramisdelayedfrom
2000to2005.
M.Ahmed,BusinessStandard(NewDelhi),1April1996,p.5;in"India:ReportDetailsNavy'sNewLongRange
MissileProject,"FBISdocumentFBISNES96065,1April1996.
1995
November1995
TheBJP,India'slargestoppositionparty,adoptsaresolutionsayingthatitwillinitiateanuclearweaponsprogram
andsignificantlystrengthenthecountry'smilitary.Theresolutionalsopromisestoexpeditetheproductionofthe
Prithvisurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)andoperationalizethelongerrangeAgni.CriticizingtherulingCongress
party'snationalsecuritypolicy,JaswantSingh,theBJP'sdeputyleaderinparliament,tellshisparty'sdelegates,
"thenationalwillhasneverbeenasdilutedasitistodayunder[thecurrentprimeminister]NarasimhaRao,and
neverbeforehasIndiabeenruledbysuchasupinegovernment."
RahulBedi,"Party'stoughlineonsecurity,"SouthChinaMorningPost(HongKong),13November1995,p.11,in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,13November1995,http://web.lexisnexis.com;RahulBedi,"Pollpledgeofnuclear
weaponsforIndia,"DailyTelegraph(London),11November1995,p.15,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11
November1995,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
October1995
ADefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialsaysthatserialproductionofthePrithvihas
resumedatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)butdeclinestocommentonthe
numberofmissilesproducedsofar.Indiandefensesourcesdivulgethat1820missileshavebeendeliveredtothe
Army;theAirForcewillreceiveitsversionaftertheArmy'sordersaremet.
RahulBedi,"Prithviputbackinproduction,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),7October1995,p.17.
August1995
Theparliament'sStandingCommitteeonDefense,initsreporttothe10thLokSabha(India'slowerhouseof
parliament)states,"....AgniSystemisknownasthetechnologicaldemonstrationdueitstechnologicalstatus.
'Agni'isatechnologyprojecttodevelopreentrytestvehicle.Thefirstlaunchof'Agni'wassuccessfullyconducted
on22May1989fromITR[InterimTestRange],Balasore.TheAgni03vehiclewasconfiguredforlongerrangeand
wastestedsuccessfullyon19February1994fromITR,Balasoreachievingallthemissionobjectivessetforitlike
reentry,maneuverlongerrange,control,guidance,twostagepropulsionandstageseparation.Withthe
successfullaunchoftheAGNI03reentryvehicle,'Agni'projectcomestoanend.Thetotalexpenditureincurred
sofarisoftheorderofRs.55.00crores[550millionrupees].Thegovernmentisexaminingthesituation
consequenttothesuccessfulflightsofAgniwithrespecttoitsfutureplans."Ithasbeenstatedthattheobjective
ofthetestflightofAgni,carriedouton19February1994,wastoprovethereentryandrelatedtechnologies.
Whenaskedaboutthepurposeofthedemonstration,theDefenceSecretarystatedthatitwasatechnology
demonstrationanddependingonthestrategicenvironmenttheGovernmentmayormaynotdecidetoproduceit.
ThemissileprogrammeisnotadverselyaffectedbyMTCR(MissileTechnologyControlRegime.)Restrictionswere
anticipatedatthetimeofsanctionoftheprogrammein1983itselfandstepstakentooffsettheeffects.Action
wastakentodesignsubsystemsbasedonmaximumindigenousitems.MTCRwasfoundedin1987imposing
furthercontrols.MultipleTaskTeamsareindigenouslydeveloping/fabricatingcriticalcomponentsandrequired
facilitieswerebeingsetup,whereessential.Ontheoverall,thechallengeofMTCRhasprovidedagood
opportunityforpromotingselfrelianceandquality.
5threportoftheStandingCommitteeonDefence,TenthLokSabha,MinistryofDefenceonDefenceResearch
andDevelopmentMajorProjects,LokSabhaSecretariat,NewDelhi,August1995.
August1995
IndianDefenseSecretaryA.NambiarannouncesthattheAgnimaybedeployedwiththeIndianmilitary.
FarhanBokhariandVivekRaghuvanshi,"Pakistan,IndiaTradeBarbsOverNuclearMissiles,"DefenseNews
(Springfield,VA),28August1995,pp.1,20.
1995
AccordingtotheFifthParliamentaryStandingCommitteereportondefense,theDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)hasspent550millionrupeesontheAgniprogram.
"StateMinisterSays504CroreEarmarkedforMissileProgram,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),22March1997,in
FBISDocumentFBISTAC97081,22March1997.
August1995
IndiandefensescientistsclaimthattheimportcontentofthePrithvihasbeenreducedfrom15%whenthe
programstarted(1983)to5%.
HarbirK.Mannshaiya,"India'sPrithvi,"InternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),August1995,p.24.
August1995
MoreoperationaldetailsofthePrithviemerge.AlongwitheachfourTEL(transportererectorlauncher)battery,
eachunitemployssixsupportvehiclesforresupply/loading,transport,fuelstorage,andcommunications.Each
launcherrequires10soldiersledbyanofficerorjuniorcommissionedofficer.ThePrithvi'slaunchcyclehasthree
stages.Inthefirststage,thetargetandappropriatelaunchsiteareidentifiedbytheartillerycommand;this
informationispassedtothemissileunit.Inthesecondstage,themissileisfueledforlaunch.Inthethirdstage,the
TELmovestothelaunchsiteandfiresthemissile.Prithvi'slaunchpreparationtime,fromtimeofarrivaltoactual
launch,isestimatedtobeaboutthreehours.Someanalystsbelievethatwithoutaproperorganizationorawar
establishmenttable,thepreparationtimecouldbelonger.However,launchpreparationtimecouldbereducedif
thePrithviwerelaunchedfrompresurveyedsitesatpredeterminedtargets.SincetheIndianArmydoesnot
operateunmannedaerialvehicles(UAVs)forrealtimereconnaissanceanddamageassessment,itwillhaveto
dependontheAirForce'sfleetofhighaltitudeMig25reconnaissanceaircraft.
HarbirK.Mannshaiya,"India'sPrithvi,"InternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),August1995,p.24;
GregJ.Gerardi,"India's333rdPrithviMissileGroup,"Jane'sIntelligenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.7No.8,
August1995,p.363;DineshKumar,"India:DRDOPlanstoEnhancePrithvi'sAccuracy,"TimesofIndia(NewDelhi),
25December1996,p.6;inFBISDocumentFBISNES96249,25December1996.
July1995
Indeferencetolocalprotests,theIndiangovernmentdecidestorelocateIndia'smissiletestsitefromChandipurto
Wheeler'sIslands,agroupofuninhabitedislandsintheBayofBengal.OrissastateChiefMinisterJ.B.Patnaiksays
thatthedecisionhasbeenmadetoavoidpermanentlyevacuatingvillagesfromaroundtheChandipursite.
"Indiarelocatesmissilelaunchsite,"DeutschePresseAgentur,26July1995;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
26July1995,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
28May1995
MinisterofExternalAffairsPranabMukherjeedeniesreportsthatthereisanypressurefromtheUnitedStateson
IndiatoabandondeploymentofthePrithviballisticmissiles.DuringavisittoWashington,DC,MukherjeetellsUS
officialsthatdeploymentofthesurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)willdependontheoverallsecurityenvironmentin
theregion.
"ExternalAffairsMinisterReturnsfromU.S.Visit:ClaimsTripVeryUseful,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),28May
1995,inFBISDocumentFBISNES95103,30May1995;RahulBedi,"India'willnothesitatetodeployPrithvi',"
Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),3June1995,p.8.
4May1995
TheIndianparliament'sconsultativecommitteeondefenseurgesthegovernmenttoinductanddeploythePrithvi
surfacetosurfacemissile(SSM).
"IndianMPswantnuclearcapablemissiledeployed,"AFP,4May1995,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,4May
29April1995
TheNewDelhibasedAsianAgereportsthattheformationoftheIndianArmy'sfirstgrouparmedwithPrithvi
ballisticmissiles,the333rdMissileGroup,iscomplete.SomeoftheArmy'sbestofficershavebeeninductedinto
thisgroup.RaisedinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),the333rdMissileGrouphas12missilelaunchersdistributedin
threesubunitsoffourlauncherseach.ThereportsaysthatthemissileswereacceptedaftertheDefenseResearch
&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)carriedouttwomodificationsontheArmy'srequest.The333rdMissile
Groupisawaitingorderstomovetotheelevencorpsareaunderthewesterncommand.Thedelayinthe
movementofthegrouptoanoperationallocationalongIndia'swesternbordersisbeingattributedtoUSpressure
ontheIndiangovernmentnottodeploythePrithvimissile.OtherreportssuggestthattheIndianArmyinitiallyhad
planstoequipfourregimentswith16Prithvimissileseach;theseregimentsweretobestationedinthenorthern
statesofPunjab,Jammu,andKashmir.DuetoUSpressure,however,theIndiangovernmenthasonly
commissionedonemissileregiment,whichisundergoingtrainingwithdummymissilesatHyderabad.
PravinSawhney,"ArmyOrganizesFirstPrithviMissileUnit,"AsianAge(NewDelhi),29April1995,p.1,inFBIS
DocumentFBISNES95083,1May1995,pp.4546;RahulBedi,"IndiapressuredtohaltPrithviproduction,"Jane's
DefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),15April1995,p.5.
28April1995
PrimeMinisterNarasimhaRaorefutesallegationsthatIndiahascappeditsmissileprogramunderUSpressure.
Replyingtoadebateinparliament,RaoassertsthatIndiawillnotbuckleunder"anybody'spressure,"asfarasit's
defensepreparednessisconcerned.HealsoclaimsthattheprogramtodeveloptheAgniisproceedingsmoothly,
althoughnodatehasbeensetforthedeploymentofthemissile.On27April1995,India'sMinisterofStatefor
DefenseM.MalikarjuntellsparliamentthatusertrialsforthePrithvihavebeencompletedandtheprogramis
progressingsatisfactorily.
PravinSawhney,"ArmyOrganizesFirstPrithviMissileUnit,"AsianAge(NewDelhi),29April1995,p.1,inFBIS
DocumentFBISNES95083,1May1995,pp.4546.
April1995
USUndersecretaryofDefenseJosephNyetellsaSenatepanelcommitteethatIndia'sPrithvimissileprogramisina
stateof"hibernation,"whiletheAgniprojectisinastateof"suspendedanimation."Thisisindirectlyconfirmedby
India'sMinisterofStateforDefenseMMalikarjun,whosaysthat"thoughthemissile(Prithvi)hassuccessfully
achieveditsobjectiveandusertrialsarecomplete,wehaveyettomakeadecisiononserialproduction."
RahulBedi,"IndiapressuredtohaltPrithviproduction,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),15April1995,
p.5.
13April1995
AfteravisittotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),Prime
MinisterNarasimhaRaosanctionsapproximately6billionrupeesforthedevelopmentoftheAgniprogram.He
alsoorderstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)tospeedupeffortstobuildnuclear
weaponsandsetupanuclearcommandandcontrolsystemforthesafecustody,deployment,andemploymentof
suchweapons.DRDOChiefKalamsetsupaspecialcelltoensurethatnuclearcoresatBhabhaAtomicResearch
Center(BARC)inTrombayarescatteredtoseveralsitesinthecountrytoenhancetheirsurvivability;thatthe
mechanismtoensurethematingofthecorewiththebombassemblyisachievedintheshortesttimeframe;that
thecommandtotriggernuclearweaponsremainsunderciviliancontrol;andthatitisasystemthatwillwin
consentofatleast"threeagencies"toarmnuclearweapons.
RajChengappa,"TellYourPresident,IKeepMyWord,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobe
aNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),p.391.
8April1995
ThePrithvientersservicewithanArmyunitdeployednearHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).Nodetailsareavailable
ofthenumbersofmissilesinservice,butIndianArmyofficersclaimthattheIndiangovernmentisdelaying
productionduetoUSpressure.
"NuclearcapablemissileinductedintoIndianArmy:Newspaper,"AFP,8April1995,inLexisNexisAcademic
April1995
NotingprogressontheAgniprogram,theIndiandefenseministry'sannualreportsays,"theproject,whichisone
oftechnologyproving,hasbeencompleted."ObserversinterpretthisstatementtomeanthatIndiahas
temporarilystoppedthedevelopmentoflongrangeballisticmissiles.However,PrimeMinisterNarasimhaRao
secretlysanctionsthedevelopmentofanaugmentedversionoftheAgniI.
"AnnualReport,"MinistryofDefence,GovernmentofIndia,19941995,p.39;RajChengappa,"NuclearPolicy:
MakingCompromises,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),30April1995,p.36;RajChengappa,"BoomforBoom,"India
Today(NewDelhi),26April1999,www.indiatoday.com.
18March1995
USDeputyAssistantSecretaryofStateRobertEinhorntestifiesbeforeaUSSenatepanelsubcommitteethatthe
"twoversionsofthePrithvimissilemightbeintendedfordeploymentwithconventionalwarheads,butare
inherentlycapableofcarryingnuclearweapons."HeclaimsthatIndiahas"producedanumberofmissilesfor
testing,buttheprogramhasnot"passedthethresholdofserialproduction."
C.RajaMohan,"USWarnsAgainstProductionofPrithvi,"Hindu(Chennai),18March1995,p.8.
JanuaryFebruary1995
TheWisconsinProjectonNuclearArmsControl's"RiskReport"allegesthat,"...Indiahasconsistentlyusedforeign
helptoconvertitsspacerocketstonuclearcapablemissiles.Imports,someclandestine,someovert,have
nourishedIndia'snuclearandrocketeffortsfromthestart.IndiabuiltthemediumrangeAgnimissilebytakinga
firststagerocketfromasmallspacelauncherandcombiningitwithguidancetechnologydevelopedbythe
Germanspaceagency...oneofIndia'sableststudentswasA.P.J.AbdulKalam.WhiletrainingintheUnitedStates,
hevisitedthespacecenterswheretheUSScoutrocketwasconceivedandwasbeingflown.Kalamreturnedhome
tobuildIndia'sfirstspacerocket,theSatelliteLaunchVehicleSLV3acarboncopyoftheScout.NASAmade
Kalam'staskeasierbysupplyingunclassifiedtechnicalreportsontheScout'sdesign.ButaidfromAmerica...was
soondwarfedbyaidfromGermany.Inthelate1970sandthroughoutthe1980s,GermanyhelpedIndiawiththree
indispensablemissiletechnologies:guidance,rockettesting,andcompositematerials.Earmarkedforthespace
program,allwereequallyusefulforbuildingmissiles.In1978,GermanyinstalledaninterferometeronanIndian
rockettomeasure,fromtheground,arocket'sangleofflight.Fouryearslater,Indiatesteditsownversion.From
1982to1989,GermanyhelpedIndiabuildanavigationsystemforsatellitesbasedonaMotorolamicroprocessor.
Duringthesameperiod,andfollowingthesamesteps,Indiadevelopeditsownnavigationsystemformissilesand
rocketsbasedonthesamemicroprocessor.Germanyalso...helpedIndiabuilditsownrockettestfacility;andit
trainedIndiansinglassandcarbonfibercompositesatStuttgartandBraunschweig.Theselightweight,heat
resistantfibersareidealformissilenozzlesandnosecones.TohelpIndiausethefibers,Germanyprovidedthe
documentationforaprecisionfilamentwindingmachine...anitem...nowcontrolledforexportbyothercountries,
includingtheUnitedStates....In1993,...aMassachusettscompanywaschargedwithviolatingUSexportlawsby
sellingIndiacomponentsforahotisostaticpress.Thepress,whichIndiaobtainedthroughthecompany'sScottish
subsidiary,canbeusedtoshapeadvancedcompositesformissilenosecones...ButIndiastillneedscrucialhelp.A
recentPentagonstudycitescomposites,electronics,computers,sensorsandnavigationequipmentassomeofthe
technologiesinwhichIndiaisstillweak."
[Note:Indianscientistshaverefutedsomeoftheseallegations.AccordingtoMadhavanNair,whoheadedIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)electronicgroupinthe1970sandwaspartoftheteamwhichcollaborated
withtheWestGermanaerospacecompany,DFVLR,ISRO'sinvolvementwaslimitedtolowlevelexperiments.One
oftheexperimentsinvolvedastudyoftheeffectsoftheionosphereonthealtitudeofrockets.AccordingtoNair,
"itwasaverylimitedexperimentandtosaythat[it]helpedustodevelopourguidancesystemsorthatofDRDL
[DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory]isaveryfunnystory."Similarly,S.C.Gupta,formerdirectorof
VikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)andheadofISRO'sguidanceandcontrol
team,pointsoutthatorganizationalrivalrybetweenDRDLandISROmadecooperationbetweenthetwoagencies
duringthe1970simpossible.WhereasDRDLswitchedtodeveloping"strapdown"technology,ISROstuckwiththe
"platformtype"guidancesystem.ItwasonlyafterKalamtookoverasdirectorofDRDLthatISRObegan
cooperatingwithDRDLinaverylimitedway.ThatcooperationinvolvedindependentreviewsofDRDL'swork.
AccordingtoGupta,"therewasintellectualinvolvementbyus.Buttodeducetoomuchfromthatwouldbe
absurd."Similarly,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamhasdismissedallegationsthatanaerodynamicmodeloftheAgniwas
testedinaDFVLRwindtunnelorthatDFVLRdevelopedtheAgni'sguidancesystem,firststagerocket,and
compositenosecone.ReferringtoallegationsthathepickedupthebasicdesignfortheAgniduringhisfour
monthtrainingstintatWallop'sIslandintheUnitedStatesin1962,Kalamsays,"thefactthatIwasinWallop's25
yearsago,andatthattimethetechnologyusedintheAgnididnotexistevenintheUnitedStates,wasnot
mentioned."]
"TheRiskReport,"WisconsinProjectonNuclearArmsControl,Vol.1,No.1,January/February1995,pp.3,5,
www.wisconsinproject.org;RajChengappa,,"CaughtintheCrosshairs,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryof
India'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.376378;A.P.J.
AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress
(India)Limited,1999),p.153.
1995
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)subcontractsthedevelopmentofthesolidfuelsecond
stagefortheaugmentedversionoftheAgniItotheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO).
RajChengappa,"BoomforBoom,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),26April1999,www.indiatoday.com.
1995
AccordingtoHaridwarSinghoftheExplosivesResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(ERDL),Pune(Maharashtra),
Indiahas"achievedworldstandards"inthefieldofsolidpropellants(conventionalandadvanced).Researchinthe
areaofdoublebasepropellants(DBP)iscenteredaround"formulation,processing,andevaluationofboth
extrudeddoublebase(EDB)andcastdoublebase(CDB)propellantscontainingnitrocellulose,nitroglycerine,
stabilizer,plasticizer,andadditives(coolant,ballisticmodifiers)fordifferentapplications...alargenumberof
EDB/CDBpropellantsindifferentdimensions(60200mm)andconfigurations(tubular,slotted,tube,internalstar)
havebeendevelopedtomeetvariousrequirements.Aconsiderableamountofworkhasbeendoneonthe
catalysisandplatonizationofDBPtoobtainpressureandtemperatureinsensitivelowandhighcalorimetricvalue
compositions."Intheareaofcompositepropellants(CP),researchinIndiahasfollowedtherequirementsof
"higherballisticperformancecoupledwithbettermechanicalintegrityunderextremeoperatingconditions."
Between19651995,thesizeofthe"rocketpropellantgrainhasgrown...from75mmdiameter,weighing4.5kg
to...morethan128tons.Correspondingly,thepropellantgraintechnologyhasmovedfromfreestandingtocase
bondedpropellantgrainsforimprovingtheperformance.Keepingpacewiththisgrowth,thepolymericbinders
usedinpropellantshaveundergonechangesfromtheconventionalpolyvinylchloride(PVC),topolybutadiene
acrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN),tocarboxylterminatedpolybutadiene(CTPB),andhydroxylterminated
polybutadiene(HTPB).BoththeDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andtheIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO)areworkingonHTPBbasedpropellantsystemsfordifferentapplications."
ISROhasdevelopedthreemorenewpolymericbinders,inadditiontotheabovebinders,foruseinsolidcomposite
propellants:HEF20,whichisusedasa"substituteforCTPB,"ISROPolyolbasedpropellantsusedinsounding
rockets,andhyroxylterminatednaturalrubber(HTNR).HTNR"basedpropellantsare...underdevelopment."DRDO
has"developedaseriesofHTPBandpolyoxypropyleneglycolbasedpolyurethanecompositionstomeetwideand
variedrequirementsofrockets/missiles.Mostofthechargesarecartridgeloadedandinhibitedwitheitherfilled
HTPBorfilledflexibleepoxyresin.Gasgeneratorcompositionshavinghighburnratesatlowpressureshavealso
beendevelopedusingHTPBasbinder,fineammoniumperchlorate(AP)asoxidizer,andbutylferrocenederivatives
asballisticmodifier.Thebroadspectrum...includeburnratesof240mm/s,Ispof230245s,densityof1.8g/cc,
pressureexponentof0.10.3,andtensilestrengthof25kg/cm2...burnratedataofpropellantsbasedonAP/NN
bondedepoxybinderatvariouspressuresshowsignificantenhancement,someoftheorderof400%over
conventionalAP/CTPBsystemswiththesameamountofAPloading."Significantdevelopmentsincomposite
modifieddoublebasepropellant(CMDB)propellantsincludesresearchin"CMDBpropellantscontainingbothAP,
aluminum,andnitramines...usedfortheboostphaseofasurfacetoairmissile,usingtheIRR(integratedrocket
ramjet)propulsionsystem.OneofthemajorcontributionsofIndianscientistsinthisareahasbeenthe
developmentofcrosslinkedCMDBpropellantsofhighmechanicalproperties(tensileandcompressivestrength)
andhighenergy(Isp246s)."ERDLhasalsoconductedresearchon"glycidylazidepolymer(GAP)based
propellants...as[GAP]offersauniqueenergeticbinderandplasticizersystemforadvancedpropellantstoachieve
higherperformance,superiormechanicalproperties,andlowvulnerability.Itschiefadvantagesarehigherdensity
andpositiveheatofformationascomparedtothewidelyusedHTPB.ResearchworkatERDLhasindicatedthat
GAPactsasahighenergydesensitizerandiscapableofenhancingtheenergyandburnrates."
DRDOhasalsoresearched"pressedandcasttypeoffuelrichpropellants(FRP)forIRRapplications,basedonMg
[magnesium]powder,andhydrocarbons...studiesarebeingconductedatERDLwithTi[titanium],Ni[nickel],Zr
[Zirconium],MgAlpowderswithHTPB,andGAPplasticizeddoublebasematrix."Overall,thecurrentCPinuseby
DRDOandISROare"basedonHTPBwithAPasoxidizer...majoreffortsatpresentareinincreasingthesolid
contentfrom86%to90%bytheuseofamultimodaldistributionofoxidizer,improvingthemechanicalproperties
ofthepropellantbytheuseofbondingagents,andincreasingtheburnratewithoutincreasingthepressure
exponent.Useofothermetallicfuels(Ti,Zr,B)arebeingstudiedwithaviewtousethesefuelrichpropellantsin
airbreathingpropulsionsystems."Futureresearchwillmostlikelyfocuson"newenergetic
binders/plasticizers/additives/oxidizersinsolidpropellants,...hybridpropulsionsystems,....highenergysolidfuels
andliquidoxidizers,...andapplicationsofNNbondedepoxidesashypergolicfuelsforhybridpropulsion."In
addition,the"newemphasisonperformancewillrequirethedevelopmentoflowcostcompositecasestoreduce
theweightofthemotor."
HaridwarSingh,"HighEnergyMaterialResearchandDevelopmentinIndia,"JournalofPropulsionandPower,
Vol.11,No.4,JulyAugust1995,pp.848851,854.
1995
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)begins"systematicandexhaustive"workon
developing"thermallystable"explosivesforoilwellshootingchargesandspaceprograms.TheDRDOandthe
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)alsodevelop"flexiblelinearshapedchargeshavingexplosiveloadingof
1100g/m"formilitaryandcivilianapplicationsincluding"stageseparationofspacevehicles,cuttingofoutercases
ofwarheads,andcanopyseverancesystem..."Onesuchcomposition"recentlytested"gavea"cleancutofa7mm
thickacrylicsheetwithoutanyadverseeffect(shock,vibration)onothersubsystems."
HaridwarSingh,"HighEnergyMaterialResearchandDevelopmentinIndia,"JournalofPropulsionandPower,
Vol.11,No.4,JulyAugust1995,p.853.
1994
November1994
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)contractsGodrej&BoyceManufacturingCompany
Limited,Bombay(Maharashtra),tomanufacturecriticalsubsystemsfortheAgniandPrithviballisticmissiles.
TheseincludeoxidizerandfueltanksfortheAgniandPrithvi,andengine,noseconeassembly,andriveted
aluminumstructuresfortheAgni.
"FurtherAgniTestsLikelytoBeCarriedOutSoon,"FinancialExpress(NewDelhi),27November1994,p.5.
15October1994
AsuccessfuldevelopmentallaunchofthesecondpolarsatellitelaunchvehiclePSLVD2fromtheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)occurredinSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)at0508GMT.The44metertall,283tonrocket
placesan870kgremotesensingsatelliteIRSP2intoasunsynchronousorbit825kmabovetheearth.IndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanK.Kasturirangansays,"whatwehaveachievedtodayistheculminationof
12yearsofwork."[Note:AccordingtoISROsources,thefirststagePS1coreconsistsofa2.8mdiameter,five
segmentsolidmotorloadedwith129metrictonsofpropellantgeneratingabout1.01millionpoundsofthrustat
liftoff.Thefirststagemotoris20mlong.Thecorevehicleisequippedwithsixsolidstraponboostersthat
generatedabout148,500poundsofthrust.Thecoreandtwoofthestraponrocketswereignitedatliftoff,while
theotherfourstraponboosterswereignited30.5secondsintothelaunch.Eachstraponfiredfor74seconds.
Firststageburnoutandignitionofthesecondstageoccurredat111secondsintothemission.Thesecondstage
liquidrocketenginehasathrustofabout161,000poundsandburns37metrictonsofnitrogentetroxideand
unsymmetricaldimethylhydrazine.Itfiredfor150secondsbeforeignitionofthethirdstagesolidrocketmotor,
261secondsintotheflight.Thethirdstagesolidrocketmotor,with7.2metrictonsofpropellant,generatedabout
76,500poundsofthrustandburnedfor76seconds.Thethirdstagecutoffoccurred380secondsfollowingliftoffat
analtitudeof421km.Thevehiclethencoastedfor3.5minutesbeforeignitionofthesmallfourthstageliquid
propulsionsystemthatusestwoenginesgeneratingabout3,300poundsofthrust.Theyburnedtwometrictonsof
propellantduringa405secondfiringsequence.]
"Indialaunchesmostpowerfulspacerocket,deployssatellite,"AFP,15October1994,inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,15October1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com;CraigCovault,"IndiaLaunchesNewBooster,Aviation
Week&SpaceTechnology(NewYork),Vol.141,No.17,24October1994,p.24,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
24October1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
12October1994
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanDr.KasturirangantellsthepressthatIndiawillnotlaunchits
firstgeostationarysatellitelaunchvehicles(GSLV)before1997.Russiawillprovidethecryogenicengineforthe
firstvehiclebytheendof1996.KasturirangansaysthatISROisaugmentingitsfacilitiesattheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)tohandlecryogenicengines.Thefirsttwostagesofthe
PolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)willbeusedintheGSLV.ReferringtotheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle
(ASLV)programhesaysthatISROhasnoplanstogoinforadditionallaunchesoftheASLVseriesfollowingthe
successofthefourthdevelopmentalflightinMay1994.
"India'sGSLVnottobelaunchedbefore1997,"XinhuaNewsAgency(Beijing),12October1994,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,12October1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
21September1994
AfournationteamofrepresentativesfromtheUnitedStates,Britain,Australia,andSwitzerlandvisitNewDelhi
andbeginadialogueontheMissileTechnologyControlRegime(MTCR).ThedelegationurgesIndiatogiveupits
nuclearandballisticmissileprogram.
"MTCRTeamVisitsIndia/Pakistan,"FlightInternational(Sutton,Surrey),21September1994,p.18.
20September1994
GeneralRomeshKhoslaoftheIndianArmystates,"weareinthefinalstagesoftheusertrialsandthemissile
system[Prithvi]shouldbereadyforinductionverysoon.Weareworkingonestablishingacompleteinfrastructure
beforethesemissileareeventuallyinductedintotheArmy."
CitedinGregJ.Gerardi,"India's333rdPrithviMissileGroup,"Jane'sIntelligenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.
7No.8,August1995,p.361.
12September1994
ThescientificadvisortoIndia'sdefenseminister,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,saysthatIndiawillconductanothertestof
theAgniImissileinOctober1994andthenproceedwithitsmissileprogramasplanned.
VivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaPlansTestofBallisticMissile,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),12September1994,p.
36.
September1994
Jane'sInternationalDefenceReviewreportsthattheIndianArmycompletedusertrialsofitsPrithvitactical
ballisticmissileinlateJuly1994,enablingtheweapontoenterproduction.OtherreportssuggestthatIndiahas
begunproducingthreePrithvimissilespermonth.
"IndiatodeployPrithviTBM,"InternationalDefenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),September1994,p.14;"India,"
AsiaPacificDefenceReporter(Herndon,VA),AugustSeptember1994,p.21.
AugustSeptember1994
AsiaPacificDefenceReporterreportsthattheIndiangovernmenthasdecidedtobuildeightornineprototypesof
theAgniIRBMtocapitalizeonthesuccessoftheprogram.Inaddition,theAirForcehasestablishedastationat
ITR,Chandipur(Orissa)to"establishthecrucialcoordinationbetweenscientists,technicians,andtheusers."
"India,"AsiaPacificDefenceReporter(Herndon,VA),AugustSeptember1994,p.21.
August1994
AspecialreportonthePrithviintheTimesofIndiastatesthatwhile"atapubliclevelIndiaisbattlingpressureto
preventthePrithvi'sinductionintotheIndianArmy,thereareindicationsthatthemissilemaybealreadyavailable
forlaunchfromselectedsitesinthewesternborders."SincetheArmy"intendstointegratethePrithvimissileona
Tatratruckasabattlefieldsupportweaponsystemintoitscorpsartilleryformations,"specialsurveyequipment
mountedontruckswillbeusedtodeterminethepointoflaunch.Butintheinterim,"...the[launch]siteshave
beenpresurveyedandtheirtargetsalreadydetermined."ThereportfurtherclaimsthatPrithviwillbeusedfor
accuratestrikesonairfields,fuelandammunitiondumps,railwaymarshallingyards,andbridges.
AliAbbasRizvi,"ReportsAboutNuclear'Prithvi'IncreasePakWorries,"AsianDefenceJournal(KualaLumpur),
August1994,p.94.
August1994
FormerIndianViceChiefofArmyStaffGeneralHarwantSinghsaysthatthePrithviI,whichcostsbetween3050
millionrupeesperunit,maynotbecosteffectiveunlessarmedwithanuclearwarhead.
AliAbbasRizvi,"ReportsAboutNuclear'Prithvi'IncreasePakWorries,"AsianDefenceJournal(KualaLumpur),
August1994,p.94.
July1994
IndianmagazineProbeIndiareportsthatIndianscientistshavebegunworkondevelopinganintercontinental
ballisticmissile(ICBM).TheICBM,namedSurya,willbeanupgradedversionoftheAgni,whichwaslasttestedin
February1994.DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistshopetofinalizethedesignby
1995andthemissileislikelytobetestedin1996.TheSuryaisrumoredtobeabout3540minlengthandweighing
approximately40tons.Itwilleithercompriseofasinglestageenginebasedoncryogenictechnologyor
alternativelycomprisedoffourstages,withtwoSLV3sinthefirsttwostagesandtwomodifiedPrithvimissilesin
thethirdandfourthstages.
"DevelopmentofIndianICBMToBeCloselyWatched,"AsianDefenceJournal(KualaLumpur),July1994,p.94.
27July1994
FlightInternationalreportsthattheAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka)is
developinga300kmrangeramjetpoweredsubmarinelaunchedmissilesknownasSagarika.Designand
developmentoftheSagarikabeganin1992.TheSagarikaismodeledonthePrithviballisticmissile,butitwillbe
muchsmallerinsizebecausetheramjetengineeliminatestheneedtocarryanoxidizeralongwithfuel.The
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)istestingscalemodelsoftheSagarikaatthetesting
establishmentinBangalore.Onedesignisalreadybeingtestedinawindtunnel.AccordingtoADEofficials,a
budgetof$33.3millionhasbeenallocatedtodeveloptheSagarika.OfficialssaythatcostsarelowbecauseDRDO
alreadyhasexperienceinthedesignofmissiles,propulsion,andmaterials.Onlythesubmarinelaunchtechnology
willhavetobedevelopedseparately.Otherorganizationsinvolvedintheresearchanddesignofthemissile
includetheIndianInstituteofSciences(IISc)inBangalore(Karnataka)andtheIndianInstitutesofTechnology(IIT)
inNewDelhi.SpeculationpersiststhatADEisalsoseekinghelpinthedevelopmentoftheramjetengine
technologyfromsomeRussianmissileandramjetdesignbureaus.
"Indiatestsmissile,"FlightInternational,(Sutton,Surrey),27July2August1994,p.6;VivekRaghuvanshi,"India
ModelsSLBMAfterPrithviMissile,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),2531July1994,p.15.
17June1994
IndianofficialsdismissUSconcernsthatIndiaisbuildingballisticmissilestodelivernuclearwarheads.Theyclaim
thattheIndianAirForce'sJaguarandMirage2000attackaircraftnotmissilesanditwouldbetheobviouschoice
fornucleardeliveryvehicles.
PaulMann,"WashingtonOutlook,"AviationWeek&SpaceTechnology(NewYork),13June1994,p.21.
June1994
ItisestimatedthatIndiahassixPrithvimissilesatthistime;theIndianArmyplanstoorder75whiletheIndianAir
Forcemayorder25,althoughthelatterhasyettoconductusertrials.TheArmybeginsraisinganindependent
missileunit,the333rdMissileGroup,tobebasedinSecunderabad(AndhraPradesh).Thisunitwillfacilitate
command,control,logistics,andtheintelligencesupportnecessaryformakingthemissilesoperational.[Note:
SecunderabadisthetwinsistercityofHyderabad.]
SunilDasgupta,"AQuietLaunch,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),30June1994;RajChengappa,"Boostingthe
Arsenal,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),29February1996,pp.9899.
June1994
Duringusertrials,theArmyfindsthechangingofthePrithvi'swarheadsinthefielddifficult.Itrequeststhe
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)tointroducedesignmodificationsbeforeplacingordersfor
themissile.
GregJ.Gerardi,"India's333rdPrithviMissileGroup,"Jane'sIntelligenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.7No.8,
August1995,p.361.
6June1994
The14thtestofthePrithvimissileoccurs.Themissilehitsthedesignatedtargetlocated145kmfromtheInterim
TestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).ThetestisanArmyusertrialconductedbyartilleryofficerswhowillbe
assignedtotheArmy'smissileforce.ThisisexpectedtobethefinaltestbeforetheArmyplacesordersforthe
Prithvi.AccordingtoArmyofficials,allusertrialsshouldbecompletedbytheendofJuly1994.
NavbharatTimes(Bombay),7June1994,p.9,in"EditorialViewsAdventofMissiles,"FBISDocumentJPRSTND
94017,13July1994,p.32;LaxmiShankarYadav,DainikJagran(Delhi),19June1994,p.6,in"Importanceof
MissileProgramStressed,"FBISDocumentJPRSTND94014,13July1994,pp.3437.
4June1994
APrithviIistestedfromamobilelauncher.Thismarksthe13thtestofthePrithviandispartoftheIndianArmy's
preinductiontrialphasewithitsfirstusertrial.ThisisalsothefirsttimethataPrithviisarmedwithalivewarhead
duringatest.ThemissileisfiredatatargetonWheeler'sIsland,85kmfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)in
Chandipur(Orissa).TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andtheArmyarelikelytoconduct
sixmoretestsunderbattlefieldconditionsandusertrialsareexpectedtobecompletedbytheendofJuly1994.
NavbharatTimes(Bombay),7June1994,p.9,in"EditorialViewsAdventofMissiles,"FBISDocumentJPRSTND
94017,13July1994,p.32;"IndiatoDeployPrithviTBM,"Jane'sInternationalDefenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),
September1994,p.14;"PrithviMissileSaid'FarSuperior'toPatriot,Scud,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),7June
1994,inFBISDocumentFBISNES94109,7June1994,p.72.
May1994
The13thtestofthePrithviIiscancelledwhenafaultynozzleonthePrithvi'sliquidpropellantloadingsystem
allowspropellanttoleakintotheenginecasings.
TheresaHitchensandVivekRaghuvanshi,"FuelNozzleGroundsPrithvi,"DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),6June
1994,p.20.
31May1994
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officialsindicatethatthePrithviwillbetestedbetween4
6June.Thelocaldistrictadministrationissuesanotificationrequiringtheevacuationof87familiesfromfive
villageslocatedwithinaonekilometerradiusoftheInterimTestRange(ITR).Thevillagerswillbenotifiedto
evacuatetheirhomes48hourspriortothetestlaunch.
"Prithvimissiletestlaunchimminent;villagersevacuatedfromlaunchpadarea,"PressTrustofIndia(New
Delhi),31May1994,inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,2June1994,
May1994
PrimeMinisterNarasimhaRaostateson12May1994thatIndiawillcontinuewithPrithvitestsdespiteUS
pressuretohalttheprogram.The13thtestflightofthePrithviisscheduledfor23May1994,onlythreedaysafter
RaoreturnsfromatriptotheUnitedStates.
TheresaHitchensandVivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaPreparesforMissileTestDespiteU.S.Objections,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),2329May1994,p.38.
May1994
TheArmydecidestodelaydeploymentofthePrithvibecauseofproductionproblemsamongthethreeagencies
involvedinthedesign,manufacture,andintegrationofthemissilesystem.BharatDynamicsLimited,Hyderabad
(AndhraPradesh)wassupposedtohavesupplied260missilesby1993;butthistargetwaspostponedasmore
testsbecamenecessary.HindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)inBangalore(Karnataka),whichbuildstheliquidfuel
enginesforthemissile,wasalsoforcedtodelaytheprojectonceArmyofficialsdemandedadditionalmodifications
inthemissile.
TheresaHitchensandVivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaPreparesforMissileTestDespiteU.S.Objections,"Defense
News(Springfield,VA),2329May1994,p.38.
14May1994
Theprimeminister'soffice(PMO)orderstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)topostpone
aPrithvitestuntiltheprimeministerreturnsfromhisstatevisittotheUnitedStates.However,PrimeMinisterRao
clarifiesbeforeparliamentthatthetemporarypostponementwillnotresultinanydelayinthePrithvi'soriginal
trialprogramandthatthereisnopressureonhimtostopthemissiledevelopmentprogram.MinisterofStatefor
Defense,M.Malikarjunalsoconfirmsbeforeparliamentthatthemissiletesthasbeenpostponedbecause"major
missilelaunchingsareconductedwhentheprimeministerisinthecountry."Hefurtherexplainsthatthetesthas
beenpostponedtoavoidembarrassment,"incaseofaparticularresultwhentheprimeministerwasawayin
anothercountry...thereisnointentionofstoppingthetrials.SincethefinalphasetrialsareplannedforAprilJuly
1994,thedatesofthesubphaseswillbesuitablyadjustedsothattherewillnotbeanydelayinthecompletionof
thetrials."
"Prithvitrialsonschedule:PM,"HinduInternationalEdition(Chennai),21May1994,p.4.
4May1994
SuccessfullaunchoftheASLVD4fromtheSriharikotalaunchcenter(AndhraPradesh)occurred.The41ton,23
meterhighASLVD4successfullyplacesa113kgsatellite,theSROSSC2,inlowearthorbit.Orbitalparametersare
938kmapogeeand437kmperigee.IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanDr.Kasturirangancalls
theprograma"grandsuccess."
NeelamJain,"Indiasuccessfullylaunchessatellite,"UPI(Washington,DC),4May1994;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,4May1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India'sindigenoussatellitesuccessfullylaunched,"AllIndia
Radio(NewDelhi),4May1994;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Recentlylaunchedsatellite'functioningnormally',"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),5May
1994;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,18May1994,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
3May1994
PrimeMinisterNarasimhaRaoassuresparliamentthathisgovernmentwillnotcaptheAgniprogram.Replyingtoa
debateontheworkingofthedefenseministryinparliament,RaosaysthattheAgniisanexperimentandnota
missileprogram,andthatitisabsurdtosuggestthataprogramofnationalimportancewillbestoppedforthe
wantof500millionrupees.Raoexplainsthatdatafromtherecenttestisbeinganalyzedanditwillbeaboutayear
beforethestudyiscompleted.
"RaoCommentson'Capping',"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),3May1994,inFBISDocumentFBISNES94085,p.
69.
1May1994
CountdownbeginsforthefourthdevelopmentallaunchofIndia'sASLVD4attheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange
(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).
"Countdownforsatellitelaunch,"UPI(Washington,DC),1May1994,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1May
21April1994
AnIndiangovernmentspokespersondescribestheHindustanTimesreport"unfoundedandbaseless."Awritten
statementissuedbytheIndiangovernmentasserts,"aftertherecentsuccessfulflightoftheAgni,alltheobjectives
setforthismissionhavebeenachieved."WithoutdenyingthatthegovernmenthasdeniedaDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)requestforfundstoconductadditionalAgnitestlaunches,thenotesays,"fund
requirementsofdifferentdepartmentsaredecidedinrelationtoprogressofvariousprojects.Individualscheme
wiseallocationisnotundertakenatthegovernmentlevel."
"SpokesmanClarifiesReportonCappingMissilePlan,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),21April1994,p.22,inFBIS
DocumentFBISNES94085,3May1994,p.69.
20April1994
TheNewDelhibasedHindustanTimesreportsthatfurthertrialsoftheAgnihavebeenpostponedindefinitelydue
toUSpressure.ThegovernmenthasnotrespondedtoaDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)
fundingrequestof500millionrupeestoconductthreemoretestlaunchesinthefuture.
"PaperReportsTemporaryHalttoAgniMissileProgram,"AFP,20April1994,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND94
010,5May1994,p.23.
12April1994
TheIndianAirForceinvitesglobaltendersinspecializednationalandinternationalaviationjournalsforthesaleof
sensitivemissileequipmentwhichincludes,Russiansurfacetosurfacemissile(SAMII)guidancesystems,126
serviceablemissiles,35SAMIIlaunchers,andmissileliquidpropellants92litersof"O"fuel(NitricAcid),53,124
litersof"G"fueland20,785litersof"IPN."AnIndianAirForceofficerexpressesconcernthatthesalecouldbea
violationofIndia'spolicyofnotexportingmissiletechnologyandmaterials,"...addingtoproliferationofsuch
dangerousandsensitiveequipment."
DineshKumar,"AdvertisementSmacksofScam,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),12April1994,pp.1,9,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND94012,7June1994,p.22.
9April1994
IndianMinisterofStateforDefenseM.MalikarjuntellsreportersthatIndiawillnotsloworhaltitsmissileprogram
underpressurefromanycountry.HesaysthatthePrithvihasbeensuccessfullytestedandthetechnicalexperts
willdecidethescheduleofitsinductionintothearmedforces.
"MinisterSaysGovernmentNottoSlowDownMissileProgram,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),9April1994,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND94010,5May1994,p.21.
6April1994
TheUSDeputySecretaryofStateStrobeTalbottarrivesinNewDelhi.HeurgesIndianottodeploythePrithviand
AgnimissilesandparticipateinaregionalconferenceondenuclearizationwiththeUnitedStates,Russia,China,
andsomeothercountries.
"USseekspeaceonsubcontinent,"WashingtonTimes,16April1994,p.A8.
25March1994
USAssistantSecretaryofStateforSouthAsia,RobinRaphael,visitsNewDelhi.Sheproposesaregionalnuclear
armsfreezeinSouthAsia.IndianofficialsrejecttheUSproposal,sayingthatIndiaisopposedtoregional
arrangementsandprefersthenegotiationofaglobalagreementontheeliminationofnuclearweapons.
JohnF.Burns,"IndiaRebuffsUSEfforttoSlowNuclearArmsRaceWithPakistan,"NewYorkTimes,26March
1994,p.1.
12March1994
TheChennaibasedHindureportsthattheAgniprogramhasreceivedconsiderationinsomedetailatthe"highest
politicallevel."Afterreviewingtheprogram,thegovernmenthasdecidednottoinducttheAgniintothearmed
forces,butwantseffortsconcentratedonrefiningtheguidanceandpropulsionsystemsofthemissile.Ifthe
missile'scircularerrorprobable(CEP)isminimized,theAgnicouldbedeployedwithconventionalwarheads.The
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)alsohasplanstoconverttheAgni'scurrentsolidliquid
configurationtoasolelysolidsoliddesignforgreaterefficiency.
"Agninottobeinductedfornow,"Hindu(Chennai),12March1994,p.12.
March1994
India'sChiefofAirStaff,AirMarshalS.K.Kaul,saysthattheAirForcehasdecidedtoacquire25Prithvimissiles.The
AirForcehasasked"foraversionthatcantravelwithlesserweightoverlongerdistance...theactualnumber[of
missiles]willdependonbudgetaryallocations.Costsarecertainlyimportant,andwehavetolaydownour
priorities."
RajChengappa,"TheMissileMan,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),15April1994,p.41.
March1994
CommentingontheArmy'sdecisiontoacquire75Prithviballisticmissiles,India'sChiefofArmyStaff,GeneralB.C.
Joshisaysthat"Prithvi...isanextremelylethalweapon...ithasaheavierwarhead,increasedrange,andishighly
mobile...inthebattlefieldaforcemultiplierhasbeenintroduced...andbecauseitisindigenouslyproduced...weare
notbeholdentoanyforeignpower...togetmorebangforthebuck,wehavetodecidewhatnumberswewould
actuallyhavetodeploy.Buttheoverallpayoffsareintermsofmaintainingourindependence,gainingconfidence
incriticaltechnologiesandthespinoffbenefitsthatcomefromit.Thereisalsoarealization...thatofftheshelf
purchasesarenolongeraffordableaspriceshavegoneskyhigh."
EarlyMarch1994
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)missileteam,ledbyDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,Agni
ProgramDirectorR.N.Agarwal,andDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)DirectorS.Pillai,present
planstodevelopanaugmented(greaterthan2,000km),allsolidfuelversionoftheAgnimissiletoPrimeMinister
NarasimhaRao.Theyalsodiscussplanstobuildarailbasedtransportsystemforthemissile.Raoassuresthe
missileteamthatthegovernmentwillsanctionfundsfortheprojects.
March1994
Thescientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,disclosessignificantdetailsabouttheAgni
ballisticmissileprograminaninterviewwithIndiaToday.AccordingtoKalam,whentheIndiangovernment
visualizedtheAgniprogram(intheearly1980s),itwasmeanttobeatechnologydemonstrator.However,now
thatitisaprovensystem,Indiahastheoptiontomakeitoperationalwithintwoyears.TheAgniprogramhas
demonstratedthatIndiaiscapableofbuildinglongrangeballisticmissileswitharangebetween1,0002,500kmor
moreifnecessary.Indiahasmasteredreentrytechnology,including"maneuveringthemissilepath."Kalampoints
outthat"Agnicancarryanytypeofwarhead...wenowhaveacarrieronwhichbothconventionalandnon
conventionalweaponscanbedeliveredoveralongrange."HeemphasizesthattheAgnihasbeendeveloped
indigenouslyandnotwithcovertassistancefromfriendlyforeigncountries.WhentheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)begandevelopingtheAgni,itidentifiedthreecriticaltechnologies:reentry,
guidance,andpropulsionsystems.Indiadevelopedthereentrytechnologyentirelyonitsown.AlthoughIndiadid
purchasesomesensorsfortheAgni'sguidancesystemfromEurope,themissile'spropulsionsystemis"100%
Indian."AccordingtoKalam,eachlaunchoftheAgnicostslessthan100millionrupees;becausetheAgniisa
provensystem,Indiacanavoiddoingaseriesoftests,andoptforbatchtestsinstead.
RajChengappa,"TheMissileMan,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),15April1994,pp.4243.
19February1994
IndiaconductsthirdtestoftheAgniI.ThemissileislaunchedfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur
(Orissa)at5:45p.m.andimpactsatadesignatedtargetofftheCarNicobarislandswithin22minutesatadistance
of1,400km.The21meter,19tonmissileusesasolidpropellantinthefirststageandaliquidpropellantinthe
secondstage.AbriefissuedbytheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)saysthatthethirdtest
validatedtheinnovativedesignfeaturesaimedattestingthemissile'slongerrangeandadvancedmaneuverability
duringthereentryphase.Scientiststestedanewreentryvehiclewithfins,whichallowsittomaneuverfor
greateraccuracy.Thetestalsovalidatedamoreadvancedstageseparationprocess.AnIndiandefenseministry
pressreleasesaysthattheAgnipayloadperformedtothedesignspecificationswithgreataccuracy.
"ReportSaysAgniMissileTestMetAllObjectives,"DoordarshanTelevisionNetwork(NewDelhi),20February
1994,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND94006,16March1994,p.19;ManojJoshi,"Agni'sLaunchRaisesQuestions,"
TimesofIndia(Mumbai),22February1994,p.8,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND94010,5May1994,p.22;"Third
Agnitestlaunchfulfils'setobjectives',"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),5March1994,p.18;RahulBedi,
"CountdownstartsforIndia'sballisticmissile,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),11September1996,p.
21.
16February1994
IndiandefensesourcesindicatethatthenexttestoftheAgniIwilltakeplaceon19February.Thelocal
administrationispreparingtoevacuateapproximately11,000peoplefromthe15villageswithinthe3.5kmradius
ofthemissilelaunchingpad.
"ThirdLaunchoftheAgnisetfor19thFebruary,"PressTrustofIndia(NewDelhi),16February1994,inBBC
SummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,17February1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
February1994
IndianofficialsindicatethatmostofthecomponentsandequipmentforthePrithvisurfacetosurfacemissile
(SSM)andAkashsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)willbeproducedatvariousdivisionsoftheBangalorebased
HindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL),ordnancefactories,aswellassomeprivatesectorengineeringcompanies.
FinalassemblyofthecompletemissilesystemwilltakeplaceattheHyderabadbasedBharatDynamicsLimited
(BDL;AndhraPradesh).
HormuzMama,"India'snolumberingelephantwhenitcomestoaerospace,"BusinessTimes(Singapore),16
February1994,p.12,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16February1994,http://web.lexisnexis.com;HormuzP.
Mama,"HALArising;HindustanAeronauticsprojectsawaitgoahead,"Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview
(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.26,No.3,1March1993,p.252,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1March1993,
26January1994
IndiadisplaysthePrithviballisticmissilepubliclyforthefirsttimeduringtheRepublicDayparade.
JohnThorDahlburg,"IndiaDisplaysTacticalMissileinParade,"LosAngelesTimes(LosAngeles),27January
1994,p.A8.
7January1994
IndiaabortsaplannedtestoftheAgnibecauseoftechnicalproblems.Thepyromechanism,whichignitesthe
missile,failsasthecablesupplyingpowertothemissilebecomesunpluggedduringtheprocessofraisingthe
missilefromahorizontaltoaverticalpositionforlaunch.Duringaroutineprelaunchinspection,scientistsalso
discoverthatstrontiumperchlorate,thefluidusedforthrustvectoringorcontrollingthemissile'sdirectionduring
flight,hasleakedoutprematurely.ThefirststagesolidfueledmotorisdismantledandsenttoIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization's(ISRO)VikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)forrepairs.
"TechnicalSnagPostponesAgniMissileTest,"AllIndiaRadioNetwork(NewDelhi),7January1994,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND93003,31January1994,p.12;RajChengappa,"TellYourPresident,IKeepMyWord,"
WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers
IndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.384387.
1994
MediareportsallegethatIndiaisdevelopinga12,000kmrangeintercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)named
Surya.Thereareconflictingreportsabouttheconfigurationofthemissile.SomereportssuggestthattheSuryawill
beasinglestage,liquidfueledmissilebasedoncryogenictechnology.Accordingtootherreports,however,the
Suryawillbeafourstagesystem.ThefirsttwostageswillcomprisesolidfuelboostersderivedfromtheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)SLV3;thethirdandfourthstageswillconsistofmodifiedPrithvimissiles.
MissileSystemsoftheWorld,AMIInternational(Bremerton,Washington),1999,p.455;"DevelopmentofIndian
ICBMtobeCloselyWatched,"AsianDefenseJournal(KualaLumpur),July1994,p.94;"CommentarySaysIndiato
TestNewICBM,"RadioPakistanNetwork(Islamabad),31May1994,inFBISdocumentFBISNES94107,3June
1994,p.60.
1994
India'sinvestmentintheAgniprojectreaches300millionrupees.
LaxmiShankarYadav,DainikJagran(NewDelhi),19June1994,in"ImportanceofMissileProgramStressed,"
FBISDocumentJPRSTND94014,13July1994,pp.3437.
1993
17December1993
India'sChiefofAirStaff,AirMarshallS.K.KaultellsreportersatAviaIndia93aninternationalairshowattheAir
Force'sYelahankabaseinBangalore(Karnataka)thattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)
hasembarkedonaprojecttodevelopanantimissilesysteminthewakeofPakistan'sacquisitionofballistic
missiles.However,theantimissileprogramwilldependontheavailabilityoffinances.Referringtothe
government'sbudgetarycuts,Kaulsays,"wewillhavetodosomejugglingwiththeavailableresources."However,
Indiandefensescientistsclaimthatthegovernmenthasmadenofirmdecisionontheproject.Thefinaldecision
willbemadebytheunioncabinet,whichwillstudythefinancialimplicationsandpoliticalfallout,beforeapproving
theproject.
"AirChiefSaysCountryDevelopingAntimissileSystem,"IndianExpress(NewDelhi),17December1993,p.6,in
FBISDocumentJPRSTND93003,31January1994,pp.1112;"DevelopmentofAntiballisticMissileSystem
Studied,"SundayTimesofIndia(Mumbai),26December1993,p.7,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND94005,25
February1994,p.13.
16December1993
TheIndiangovernmentannouncesthatitwilltesttheAgniIballisticmissilefromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)in
Chandipur(Orissa)between414January1994.TheuniongovernmentrequeststheOrissastategovernmentto
evacuatenearly9,000peoplelivinginthe15villagesclosetothetestsite.TheUnitedStatescallstheAgnia
"destabilizingweapon"andmountsintensediplomaticpressureonIndiatosuspendfurtherAgnitests.
"IndiatoignoreUSpressureandtestAgnimissile,"UPI(Washington,DC),16December1993.
30November1993
Indiaconducts12thtestofthePrithviIballisticmissile.Themissileislaunchedfromamobilelauncherat0655
GMT.ThisisthefifthlaunchfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).Themissileislaunchedwitha
250kgpayloadandlandswithinthreeminutesontheislandofTentuliChadaintheBayofBengal.Kalamsaysthat
thisisthelasttechnologydemonstrationflightofthePrithvi.Fourvillagesaroundthetestsiteareevacuatedprior
tothetestasasafetyprecaution.
AllIndiaRadioNetwork(NewDelhi),30November1993,in"SurfacetoSurfaceMediumRangeMissileLaunched
30Nov.,"FBISDocumentJPRSTND93001,6January1994,p.13;"ScientistSaysPrithviFlight'Tremendous
Success',"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),6December1993,p.8,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND94005,25February1994,
p.13;"Detailson30NovemberPrithviLaunchingGiven,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),1December1993,p.17,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND93003,31January1994,p.12.
October1993
IndiabeginsintegratingthePrithviIintoanartilleryregimentintheArmy.
"Capabilities,AdvantageofPrithviMissileNoted,"Hindu(Chennai),27January1994,p.6;inFBISDocument
JPRSTND94006,16March1994,p.20.
22September1993
IndianspaceofficialstracethePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle's(PSLV)failuretoanunexpecteddisturbanceduring
therocket'ssecondstageseparation.Thedisturbancechangedthe"pitchattitudeoftherocket,resultinginthe
thirdstagenotprovidingupwardvelocitydespiteexcellentperformanceofthethirdstatemotor."AnIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsays,"thealtitudereachedatthirdstageseparationwasonly340kmas
againstapredicted414km.Althoughthefourthstageignitionoccurredanditperformednormally,butthepitch
disturbanceinthethirdstagepreventedtherocketfromclimbingfurther."However,despitethemissionfailure,
alltherocket'smotorsandcontrolsystemsfunctionednormallyanditsuccessfullymaneuveredthroughthemost
criticalstageofthepoweredflightintheatmosphere.
"ISROreleasesreportonPSLVmission,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),22September1993;in
20September1993
FirstdevelopmentallaunchofthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)withthe875kgIRS1Epayloadonboard
occurredat0513GMTfromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).A
malfunctionintherocket'sfourthstagepreventsthesatellitefrombeingorbitedsuccessfully.Despitethe
mission'sfailure,theIndianspacecommission'schairman,ProfessorU.R.Rao,describesitasa"mixedbagof
success....Themotorsworked,theinertialnavigationsystemworked,andthesequencingworked."Accordingto
Rao,"disturbancescroppedupatthebeginningofthethirdrocketstageandcontinuedintothefourthandfinal
stage.Wearestillstudyingwhathappened."
BrahmaChellaney,"India'sspaceprogramsuffersserioussetback,"UPI(Washington,D.C.),20September1993,
1September1993
ThemaidenflightofIndia'sPolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)isexpectedbetween5and12September1993.
The44mlong,280tonPSLVhas"onecore,andsixstraponsolidpropellantmotors;theVikasliquidpropellant
secondstage;asolidpropellantthirdstage;andaliquidpropellantfourthstagemotor.Itcanbeusedtoplacea
1,000kgpayloadintoa900kmsunsynchronousorbitora3,000kgpayloadintoanequatoriallowEarthorbit."The
maidenlaunchwillbeusedtoplaceIndia'sfourthremotesensingsatelliteIRS1E0intosunsynchronousorbit.
"PSLVscheduledforfirstliftoff,"FlightInternational(Sutton,Surrey),1September1993,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,1September1993,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
August1993
Thescientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,saysthatthatthePrithvihasenteredthefinal
phaseofflighttrials.
"RocketDevelopedtoCarryLargestPayload,"DeccanChronicle(Hyderabad),5August1993,p.9,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND93031,8October1993,p.12.
3August1993
InanaddresstoBhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC)graduates,thechiefscientificadvisortothedefense
minister,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,broachesthesubjectofIndia'smissileandsatellitelaunchvehicleprogramsand
says,"technologyhastobethevisionforIndia.Onlythatwillbringusoutofthedevelopingcountrysyndrome."
"Newrocketwilllaunchsatellite;defenceadvisor,"AFP,3August1993,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,3
August1993,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
12June1993
Indiaconducts11thflighttestofthePrithviI.Themissileistestedinitsbattlefieldconfigurationinconjunction
withallitsgroundcontrolsystems.AnIndiandefenseministryspokespersonsays,"thelaunchwasfromthe
productionbatchandusedamobilelauncherandthemobilecontrolcenter."Prithvientersusertrialsphasewith
theIndianArmy.
"PrithviGettingReadyforUserTrialPhase;TrishulGuidanceValidated,"Astra(Hyderabad),July1993,p.12;
"DefenceMinistrytestsPrithvimissile'successfully',"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),12June1993,inBBCSummaryof
WorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15June1993,http://web.lexisnexis.com;BrahmaChellaney,
"IndiacarriesoutsurprisetestofanextendedPrithvimissile,"UPI(Washington,DC),12June1993,inLexisNexis
22May1993
TheHindustanTimesreportsthatthePrithvihasbeeninductedintotheArmy's11thCorpsanddeployedalongthe
Pakistaniborder.Accordingtothereport,"themissileshavebeenkeptataforwardammunitiondepotinPunjab,
fromwherekeyPakistanitownsandmilitaryinstallationsalongthePunjabborderwillbewithinthereachofthe
missilesystem."
"IndiasaidtodeploynewballisticmissilealongPakistaniborder,"UPI(Washington,DC),22May1993,inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,22May1993,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2April1993
Thescientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,informstheparliament'sconsultative
committeeondefensethattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)willsoonbeginlimited
seriesproductionofapilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA).ReferringtoIndia'sintegratedmissileprogram,Kalamsays
thatIndiahasachievedtechnologicalbreakthroughsinseveralareasthathavecomeunderrestrictiveinternational
controlssuchascomputers,signalprocessing,metallurgy,andcompositematerials.
"DailyReviewsMissileProgramProgress,Spinoffs,"Patriot(NewDelhi),2April1993,p.6,inFBISDocument
FBISNES93070,14April1993,pp.4647.
15March1993
DefenseMinisterSharadPawarinformsparliamentthatthePrithvisurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)willbe
inductedinthearmedservicesin19931994.
"'Prithvi,''Trishul'ToBeInductedThisYear,"IndiaNews,15March1993.
March1993
PrimeMinisterNarasimhaRaosecretlyauthorizestheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)tobeginworkon
thedesignofanewsolidfueledotortoreplacetheAgni'sliquidfuelsecondstage.
1March1993
HindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)ChairmanR.N.SharmasaysthattheLakshyapilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA)
willenterservicesoon.ThePTA'sPTAE7350kgthrustturbojetengine,whichhasbeendevelopedbyAeronautical
DevelopmentEstablishment(ADE),isbeingdevelopedforhigherthrustaswellasforsomelonglifeapplications
suchasauxiliarypower.AccordingtoSharma,"typeapproval"ofthePTAE7isimminent.
HormuzP.Mama,"HALArising;HindustanAeronauticsprojectsawaitgoahead,"Jane'sInternationalDefense
Review(Coulsdon,Surrey),Vol.26,No.3,1March1993,p.252,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1March1993,
9February1993
TheIndiandefenseministryproposesspending2billionrupeestoestablishproductionfacilitiesforthePrithviat
Hyderabad.Whenproducedforoperationaluse,thePrithviisexpectedtocost18millionrupeesperunit.
GianSingh,"MTCR'Imposition'Decried,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),9February1993,inFBISDocumentJPRS
TND93006,5March1993,pp.1213.
7February1993
IndiaconductstenthtestlightofthePrithvifromamobilelauncherat0820GMT.Thisisthefourthtestofthe
missilefromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).
"MediumRangeSurfacetoSurfaceMissileTested,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),7February1993,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND93005,12February1993,p.11;"LatesttrialsforPrithvi,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,
Surrey),13February1993,p.5.
26January1993
IndianscientistManoranjanRaooftheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)
announcesthathisorganizationhassuccessfullytestedanairbreathingrocket,ABR200.Thetestwasconducted
byfiringtwosoundingrocketsfromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).
Duringthetest,therocketsreachedamaximumspeedofMach2.3.AccordingtoRaoandhiscolleagueRajaram
Nagappa,theABR200isbasedontheprincipleoftheejectorramjet.Raosaysthatadditionaldevelopmentis
neededin"thatfrontiertechnology"(airbreathingpropulsiontechnology)whichhasbeencitedbythePentagon
asoneofthe20"critical"technologiesrelatingtolongtermUSinterests.[Note:Anairbreathingrocketcancarry
amuchlargerpayloadbyusingoxygenfromtheatmospheretoachievetargetedthrustpower.Conventional
rocketsarebulkybecausetheyneedtocarrytheirownoxidizerstocktoburnpropellants,thuslimitingpayload
capacity.
BrahmaChellaney,"IndiaReportsBreakthroughinRocketTechnology,"UPI(Washington,DC),26January1993,
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26January1993,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
1993
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)purchasesasupercomputertohelpinthedesignof
aircraftandmissilesfromtheHyderabadbasedAdvancedNumericalResearch&AnalysisGroup(ANURAG).
SarithaRai,"Computers:SuperBreakthroughBut...,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115May1993,p.45.
1993
AccordingtoDefenseNews,thethreePrithvitestsin1993wereconductedtotesttheminimumandmaximum
rangesofthemissile.TheIndianArmyhasplacedanorderfor15missilesandhasplanstopurchaseanadditional
65missiles.
TheresaHitchensandVivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaPreparesforMissileTestDespiteUSObjections,"DefenseNews
(Springfield,VA),23May1994,p.38.
1992
7October1992
IndianExpressreportsthatthe250kmrangeAirForceversionofthePrithviPrithviII(SS250)isundergoing
technicaltrials;itsinductionwiththeAirForceisunlikelybefore1995.Withanexpectedrangeof250km,theAir
Forceislikelytousethemissilemorefordisruptionthandestructionofstrategictargets.Butmuchwilldependon
theaccuracyandterminaleffectofthemissilesystem.TheAirForceexpectsacircularerrorprobability(CEP)of
20m;buttheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL),whichisresponsiblefordevelopingthemissile,
isunlikelytogetaCEPlessthan100m.Fortherequiredmissileterminaleffect,theAirForcehasshownpreference
forclustermunitions,anotherindicationthatitislikelytousethemissileinadisruptionrole.TheAirForcehas
alsoinitiatedworkonbuildinganorganizationforthemissilesystem.UnliketheArmy,theAirForceandNavyare
organizedaroundspecificweaponsystems.Therefore,thecreationofadditionalinfrastructurewillrequirethe
government'ssanction.TheAirForceisalsodebatingwhethertoacceptthePrithvimissilesinaprepackedfueled
stateorwithoutthepropellant.AccordingtotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO),the
shelflifeofprepackedpropellantisfiveyearsasagainst25yearsforpropellantstoredinseparatecontainers.
PravinSawhney,"FutureDeploymentofPrithviSS250Viewed,"IndianExpress(NewDelhi),7October1992,pp.
1,10,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND92039,28October1992,p.9.
4October1992
ThePalghatbasedpublicsectorcompany,[Electronic]Instrumentation[India]Limited(Kerela),announcesthatit
"hasdevelopedprototypesofeightitemsforsupplytodefenseorganizations."Thesearemanufacturedaspartof
thecompany'sdiversificationplansandincludeaslowrelayvalvefortheAgni,Trishul,andAkashmissiles.
"FirmProducesItemsforCIS,Gulf,Missiles,Subs,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),4October1992;inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND92037,9October1992,p.10.
29August1992
IndiaconductsninthtestofthePrithviI.ThemissileissuccessfullylaunchedfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)in
Chandipur(Orissa)at10:43a.m.;thisisthethirdtestfromtheITR.
"NinthLaunchingon29Aug.,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),29August1992,p.7,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND92
036,7October1992,p.18.
18August1992
IsraelofferstosellpilotlessaircrafttechnologytoIndia.
BrahmaChellaney,"IndiaSettoProduceNuclearCapableMissile,"UPI,18August1992,inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,18August1992,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
18August1992
IndiaconductseighthflighttestofthePrithvi1.ThisisthesecondtestofthePrithvifromtheInterimTestRange
(ITR),andthefirsttestfromamobileplatform,aneightwheeledtransportererectorlaucher(TEL)developedand
manufacturedbyBEMLinBangalore(Karnataka).ThetestisconductedtotestthePrithvi'smaneuveringabilities
afterIndiandefensescientistsincorporatedesignchangestocorrectproblemsnotedduringanearliertest.
AccordingtoSivathanuPillai,aseniorofficialintheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL),India's
ballisticmissilesarenotonlyaimedatprovidingtheIndianmilitarywithweaponsystems,butalsotogenerate
exports.Indianscientistsplantoconduct11or12triallaunchesbeforethePrithviisdeployedinthefield.
BrahmaChellaney,"IndiaSettoProduceNuclearCapableMissile,"ExecutiveNewsService,18August1992;
"DetailsReleasedonPrithviLaunchings,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),19August1992,pp.1,14,inFBISDocument
JPRSTND92036,7October1992,pp.1718.
July1992
TheUnitedStatesanditsG7alliespresentalmostidenticaldmarchestoIndia'sforeignministryurgingIndiato
suspendtheAgniprogram.
"IndiatoIgnoreUSPressureandTestAgniMissile,"UPI(Washington,DC),16December1993,inLexisNexis
13June1992
DefenseMinisterSharadPawartellsPressTrustofIndia(PTI)thatIndiawilltestanAgnimissilewithahigher
payloadwithintwomonths.
"Indiatotestballisticmissileagain,"AFP,13June1992;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,13June1992,
June1992
Indiasellsonetonofammoniumperchlorate(AP)totheIndonesianspaceagency.
GopalRaj,"DevelopingCompetenceinSolidPropulsion,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocket
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.99.
June1992
AproposalisreportedlymadetoinductaPrithvibatteryintotheArmy's60thHeavyArtilleryRegiment.
GregJ.Gerardi,"India's333rdPrithviMissileGroup,"Jane'sIntelligenceReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),volume7,
number8,August1995,p.362.
29May1992
USStateDepartmentspokespersonRichardBoucherregretsIndiadecisiontoproceedwithfurthertestsofthe
Agnimissile.Bouchersays,"webelievethatballisticmissileprogramsinareaswheretheyarechronicregional
tensionsundermineratherthanenhanceregionalsecurity."RespondingtoBoucher'scomments,Indianembassy
spokespersoninWashington,DC,G.Jagannathansays,"[Agni]isnotformilitarypurposesatthisstage...thewhole
objectistodemonstratemissiletechnology...Indiadoesnotthinkthatitwilltriggeranescalationinregional
tensions."
SidBalmanJr.,"U.S.saysIndianmissiletestthreatensregionalstability,"UPI(Washington,DC),29May1992,in
29May1992
IndiaconductssecondtestoftheAgnifromtheInterimTestRange(ITR).Thetestisunsuccessful;themissile
beginstoveeroffcoursewithintwosecondsafterlaunchandbreaksupduetovibrationinducedstress.[Note:A
posttestanalysisrevealsthatthefailurewascausedbytheextensioninthemissile'slengthfrom19mto21mand
anincreaseinitsweightfrom14tonsto16tons.Theincreasedlengthandweightchangedthevehicle'svibration
characteristics.However,Indianscientistsandengineersfailedtoanticipatetheimpactofthesechangesonthe
sensors'calculations.Whenthemissileliftedoff,thesensorsmountedontheinnerskinofthemissilepickedup
thevibrationsonitsstructureanderroneouslystartedmakingcoursecorrections,whichcausedthemissileto
breakupunderstress.TheTimesofIndiareportsthattheproblemwasidentifiedandresolvedwiththehelpofa
Russianconsultantin1993.HoweverIndianscientistsT.K.Ghosal(JadavpurUniversity,WestBengal)andV.G.
Sekaran(Agni'svehicledirector)disputethisreport.ThelatterclaimthatIndianscientistsidentifiedtheproblem
bysubjectingafullscalemodeltovibrationtests.Forfuturetests,Indianscientistsdecidetoremovethesensors
fromthemissile'sinnercasingtoitsbulkheadtopreventthepossibilityofstructuralvibrationsaffectingthe
sensors'calculations.]
ManojJoshi,"Agni'sLaunchRaisesquestions,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),22February1994,p.8,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND94010,5May1994,p.22;RajChengappa,"CaughtInTheCrosshairs,"WeaponsofPeace:
TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi,HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.373374.
24May1992
IndiaannouncesthatitwilltestitsAgniballisticmissilebetween2730May1992.Themissilewillbelaunched
fromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa).
"ChinaPreviewsTest,"Xinhua(Beijing),24May1992;inFBISDocumentJPRSTND92017,3June1992,p.7.
20May1992
AsuccessfullaunchoftheASLVD3fromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(Andhra
Pradesh)occurredat06:00localtime.The24mlong,41.7ton,fourstagerocketsuccessfullyplacesa106kg
satelliteintoorbitatanaltitudeof450kmabovetheearth.Orbitparametersare410kmapogeeand290km
perigee.ThechairmanofIndia'sspacecommission,ProfessorU.R.Rao,saystheimportantthingaboutthelaunch
was"provingtherocketandorbitingthesatellite."
"Indiasuccessfullylaunchessatellite,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),20May1992,inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,20May1992,http://web.lexisnexis.com;T.S.K.Lingam,"Indialaunchesrocket,puts
satelliteintoorbit,"UPI(Washington,DC),20May1992,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20May1992,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;AviationWeek&SpaceTechnology(NewYork),vol.136,no.21,25May1992,p.17,in
12May1992
IndiaconductssuccessfultestofthethirdstagemotorforthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV)atthe
Sriharikotatestcenter.AccordingtoIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)sources,themotorwasignited
undersimulatedhighaltitudeconditions.
"ScienceandTechnology;Satellitelaunchvehiclemotorsuccessfullytested,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),13May
1992;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,27May1992,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
11May1992
India'sDepartmentofSpaceannouncesthattheASLVD3willbelaunchedwithinafewweeks.Thiswillbethe
thirdlaunchoftheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)aftertwosuccessivefailuresin1987and1988.
Indianscientistssaythatchangeshavebeenmadeinthenewvehiclebasedontheflightdataanalysisofthe
earlierunsuccessfulflights.Thesechangesincludemodificationsintheinternalstructuralelementsofthelaunch
vehicle,autopilot,eventbasedignitionsystemforthefirsttwocorestagesandstraponsolidmotorstoreduce
dynamicpressure.Inaddition,thecontrolmarginhasalsobeenenhanced.TheASLVD3willcarrya106kgStretch
RohiniSatelliteSeriesC(SROSSC).TheASLVD3usesnavigationalcomputersandaclosedloopcontrolguidance
system.Indianscientistshopethatthelaunchwillhelpvalidatecertainadvancedtechnologiesneededforfuture
launchvehicles.
"SatellitelaunchvehicletobelaunchedinIndia,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),11May1992,
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,11May1992,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"IndianASLVsatellitevehiclereadyfor
launch,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),17May1992,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,17May
1992,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Indiasuccessfullylaunchessatellite,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService,20
5May1992
IndiaconductsseventhflighttestofamodifiedversionofthePrithvi1fromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)in
Chandipur(Orissa).ThisisthefirsttestofthePrithvifromtheITR.Indianscientiststestmodificationsinthe
propulsionandcontrolsystemsaimedatraisingtheoverallperformanceofthemissile.ThePrithviislaunched
fromamobilelaunchercombinedwithalaunchcontrolcenter,harnessingthespeciallydevelopedapplication
software.Thetrialalsoestablishestheutilityofliquidpropulsionengineandinertialnavigationhardware
producedbyHindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL)andotherordnancefactories.
"SuccessfulLaunchForPrithviMissile,"Jane'sDefenceWeekly(Coulsdon,Surrey),23May1992,p.880;"Trishul,
PrithviMissilesReadyForUse,"Patriot(NewDelhi),3August1992,p.5,inFBISDocumentJPRSTND92036,7
October1992,pp.1819.
26March1992
DefenseMinisterSharadPawarinformsparliamentthatthearmedforceswillstartreceivingPrithvisurfaceto
surfacemissiles(SSMs)in1993.
"ParliamentBriefedonMissileSystemProduction,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),26March1992,inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND92010,8April1992,p.1.
13February1992
DuringsixthtestflightofthePrithvi1,themissilebreaksupinmidflightwhensubjectedto"torsionalstress"from
apreprogrammed15twistingmaneuver.
ZhanDexiong,"AnotherBigStepForwardinIndianMissileDevelopment,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNews
Service(Beijing),6May1992,inLexisNexis,7May1992,www.lexisnexis.com.
February1992
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthattwomoretriallaunchesoftheAgniIareplannedinthenearfuture.Thesewill
involvethetestingoflongerrangemissileswithanimprovedcontrolandguidancesystem,andamoreadvanced
heatshieldforthewarhead.AccordingtotheIndiangovernment,theAgniremainsa"technologydemonstrator"
andtherearenoplansasyetforitsseriesproduction.
"TestflightsofnewversionofAgniIRBMplanned,"Jane'sInternationalDefenseReview(Coulsdon,Surrey),
February1992,p.94.
1992
AccordingtotheheadoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)solidpropulsiondivision,A.
SubhanandaRao,theAgni'sfirststagesolidmotorcaseismadeofhighstrength15CDV6steelandisfabricatedby
conventionalrollingandweldingtechniques.Themotorismadein"threesegments...thepropellantusedisApAl
PBANcompositepropellantandlaterswitchedovertoHTPB[hydroxylterminatedpolybutadiene]...thepropellant
isofstarconfigurationwithaloadingdensityof78%.Itiscasebondedwithalinersystembetweenpropellantand
insulation."Themotor'snozzleisbuiltfrom15CDV6steel;acarbonphenolicthermalprotectionsystemisusedfor
theconvergent,highdensitygraphiteisusedforthethroat,andcarbonandsilicaphenolicliningisusedinthe
foreendandaftendofthedivergent.Themotorisonemeterindiameterandtenmetersinlength.Ithasa
"propellantmassof8.6tonsandamassfractionof0.85."Inaddition,twotypesof"UllageandRetromotors"have
beendevelopedfortheAgnitechnologydemonstrator.BothUllageandRetromotorsaremadeofHE15
aluminumalloyanduseadoublebasepropellant.Themotorsarelinedinsidewithhighsilicaglassphenolic
ablativeliners.RaoclaimsthatIndianowhastheinfrastructureforthedevelopmentandproductionofsolid
propellantmotors,fabricationofmotorcasingsandnozzles,fabricationandproductionofablativeliners.In
addition,theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)hasachievedselfsufficiencyinthedesign,
production,inspection,qualification,statictesting,andflighttestingofpropulsionsystems.Therawmaterials
requiredfor"propellant,motors,nozzles,igniters,areallindigenouslydeveloped."
A.SubhanandaRao,"DevelopmentofSolidPropulsionSystemsforGuidedMissiles,"inH.S.MukundaandA.V.
Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesinAerospaceSciencesandEngineering(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),
pp.184186.
1992
ThePrithviisscheduledfordeploymentwiththeIndianArmybytheendof1992.ChangesrequestedbytheArmy,
manufacturingproblemsatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)andHindustan
AeronauticsLimited(HAL)inBangalore(Karnataka),delaydeploymentuntiltheendof1993.
TheresaHitchensandVivekRaghuvanshi,"IndiaPreparesforMissileTestDespiteUSObjections,"DefenseNews
(Springfield,VA),23May1994,p.38.
1992
TheAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka)istaskedwithdevelopingthe
Sagarikamissile;theprojectisexpectedtobecompletedby2000andfollowedsoonafterbydeployment.
1991
9August1991
AccordingtotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)DirectorDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,34
institutionsandresearchanddevelopmentorganizationsareparticipatinginthedesignanddevelopmentphaseof
India'sguidedmissileprogram.Inthepostdevelopmentphase,theDefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO)planstotransferthetechnologiesinvolvedintheproductionofthemissilesto22public
sectorundertakings,10ordnancefactories,and9privatesectorindustries.
"Head'sRemarks,"TimesofIndia(Mumbai),10August1991;inFBISDocumentJPRSTND91015,27September
1991,p.18.
7August1991
IndiaconductsfifthtestflightofthePrithviIat10:58a.m.attheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)in
Sriharikota(AndhraPradesh).Severaltypesofwarheads,includingsubmunitionsdispensersandfuelair
explosivesareunderdevelopmentforuseagainstdifferenttypesoftargets.Indiandefensesourcesclaimthatthe
ratioofthemissile'swarheadweight(1,000kgovera150kmrange)tolaunchweightisthehighestforanyweapon
initsclass.AlthoughnomentionhasbeenmadeofthePrithvi'snuclearcapability,DefenseMinisterSharadPawar
hassaidthatIndiaiscapableofproducingnuclearweapons.Preparationsarealsobeingmadeforthesecondtest
oftheAgniItechnologydemonstrator.
"India,"Milavnews(Romford,Essex),September1991,p.15.
4July1991
IndiaconductsfourthtestflightofthePrithviIfromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota
(AndhraPradesh)at1:52p.m.AccordingtoIndiandefenseministerSharadPawar,despitebadweather,the
missileperformedwell.
"DevelopedbyDRDO,"AllIndiaRadio(NewDelhi),4July1991;inFBISDocumentJPRSTND91011,24July
1991,p.14;"PrithviMissile'sSurfacetoSurfaceTestFiredFromtheSriharikotaRange,"AFP(HongKong);inFBIS
DocumentJPRSTND91011,4July1991,p.14.
March1991
TheIndiangovernmentdecidestoproceedwiththeestablishmentoftheintegratedmissiletestrangeinthe
BalasoredistrictofOrissa.Thedecisionhasbeenhangingfirefornearlysixyearsduetooppositionfromnearly
400,000villagersthreatenedbydisplacement.
MaheshUniyal,"India:'Greens'SeekPoliticalVoice,"IPS,7May1991,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,7May
22February1991
InanaddresstotheChennaiInstituteofTechnology'sAlumniAssociation,DefenseResearch&Development
Laboratory(DRDL)DirectorDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysthatIndiahasattained"stateoftheart"technologyinits
guidedmissileprograms.ReferringtoIndia's22May1989AgniItest,KalamrevealsthatIndia'sindigenously
developedreentryvehicletechnologywasfullydemonstratedwhenthenoseconewithstoodtemperaturesof
3,000C.ThefourdirectionalpreformusedinthenoseconeoftheAgniwasmadeofcarboncarbonmaterial.The
temperatureintheAgnipayloadwas30C.KalamalsostatesthatthePrithviwillenterproductionin1992.[Note:
TheAgni'sreentryvehicleisdesignedtoensurethatthetemperatureinsidethevehicledoesnotexceed60C,a
conditionnecessarytoprotectthewarheadandelectronicsystemsplacedinside.Thereentryvehicleconsistsof
"fivesections."Eachofthesesectionsismadeupofa"twolayercompositeconstruction."The"innerlayeris
madeupofcarbon/epoxyfilamentmould"constructedona"CNCwindingmachine."Theinnerlayerisdesignedto
bearstructuralloads.Theouterlayerismadeupof"carbon/phenolicfilamentwoundconstruction,"and"curedin
anautoclaveat7barpressure."Theouterlayerisdesignedtobearthermalloads.]
"Ourmissiletechnologyismostmodern:Kalam,"Hindu(Chennai),2March1991,p.16;Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.
Murthy,eds.,"AirframeStructures&CompositeComponents,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems(DRDO,
MinistryofDefence,December1998),pp.6465.
11February1991
IndiaconductsthirdtestflightofthePrithvi1fromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota
(AndhraPradesh).AccordingtoIndiandefenseministrysources,thetestwascarriedoutat12:15p.m.andthe
flightmet"allmissionrequirements."ThedefectiveinertialguidancesystemthatledtothefailureofthePrithvi
duringtheterminalphaseofthesecondtestisreplacedbyahighperformancegyro,whichperforms"moderately
well."
"Indiatestsmediumrangesurfacetosurfacemissile,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),12
February1991,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,12February1991,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"India'sPrithvi
StrategicBallisticMissileinThirdTest,"Defense&ForeignAffairsWeekly(Alexandria,VA),1824February1991,p.
5;RajChengappa,"EndtheWinkandNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobe
January1991
TheChairmanoftheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP)managementboard,Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,says
thatIndianscientistsarenow"studyingconceptsforthedesignofreusablelaunchvehicles,"whichmightbe
deployedatthebeginningofthe21stcentury.Thesevehicleswouldbedevelopedusingtheexpertisealready
gainedbyIndiainreentrytechnologyandpropulsionsystems,whichcouldalsobeappliedtothedesignofa
hyperplane.KalamsaysthatdesignstudieshavealreadybegunatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad
(AndhraPradesh)andahandfulofcountrieshaveshowninterest.
Milavnews(Romford,Essex),January1991,p.14.
1990
19901991
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)launchesprojecttodevelopNishantunmannedaerial
vehicle(UAV).Thefirstflightisexpectedin1995andtheprojectisscheduledtobecompletedbythesummerof
1997.Productionanddeliverytothearmedforcesisexpectedtobeginin1998.
"India'sArmsIndustry:AMissedOpportunity?,"StrategicComments,Vol.3,No.1,InternationalInstituteof
StrategicStudies(London),January1997,p.2.
19801990
AccordingtotheheadoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)solidpropulsiondivision,A.
SubhanandaRao,Indiamadesignificantstridesinthedevelopmentofsolidpropulsiontechnologiesforguided
missilesduringtheperiod19801990.Duringthisdecade,itacquiredcompetenceinmanufacturingtechniques
using15CDV6maragingsteel,titaniumalloys,HE15aluminumalloy,andstainlesssteel.Duringthisphaseofthe
missileprogram,DRDLalsodevelopedprocessingtechniquesandproductionfacilitiesfordoublebaseextruded
andcastpropellants,compositepropellantswithcarboxylterminatedpolybutadiene(CTPB),hydroxylterminated
polybutadiene(HTPB)binders,highenergylowsmokenitraminepropellantsbyadvancedcastingpowderand
slurrycasttechniques,compositemodifieddoublebasepropellantswithaluminumandammoniumperchlorate.In
addition,DRDLestablishedfacilitiestofabricate,process,andproduceglassphenolic,carbonphenolic,and
ablativeliners.Statictestfacilitiesfortestingsolidmotorsupto100tonthrust,solidandRAMrocketsin
integratedandsustainermodeswereestablished.Environmentalqualificationfacilitiesforvibration,shock,
acceleration,highandlowtemperature,dust,rain,saltspraywerealsoestablishedtoqualifythepropulsion
systems.Expertiseforthedesignanddevelopmentofpyrotechniqueignitersusinggunpowder,boron,and
potassiumnitratewasdeveloped.Pyrocartridgesforinitiationoftheseigniters,pyrogenignitersforlargesize
solidmotorswerealsodevelopedforthedesignofignitionsystemsforsmallandlargemotors.
pp.182183.
Winter1990
TheArunSinghcommitteeondefensepresentsitsfindingstotheChandraShekhargovernment.It'sreport
recommendsthatthechiefsofthearmedforcesshouldbebroughtintothenucleardecisionmakingloopandthat
thegovernmentdistributethetaskofnuclearwarheadassemblytoseveralagenciestominimizethedangersofan
inadvertentoraccidentaldetonation.[Note:TheV.P.SinghledUnitedFrontgovernmentlostmajorityin
parliamentandresignedinthewinterof1990;PrimeMinisterSinghwassucceededbyMr.ChandraShekhar.]
RajChengappa,"EndtheWinkandNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobe
aNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.365366.
November1990
PrimeMinisterV.P.SinghannouncesthatthelocationoftheNationalTestingRange(NTR)willbechanged.
PaulRoutledge,"TheBaliapalMovement,"TerrainsofResistance:NonviolentSocialMovementsandthe
ContestationofPlaceinIndia(Westport:PraegerPublishers,1993),p.70.
Mid1990
TheIndianAirForceandtheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)differintheirassessmentsof
theefficacyofthePrithviballisticmissile.TheAirForceandDRDOcommissionseparatestudiestoarguetheir
casesinfavorofmannedbombersandballisticmissiles.TheAirForceisreluctanttocommitmoneyforthePrithvi
untiltheAirForceversionisvalidatedbytheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL).Thereisalso
organizationalrivalrybetweentheArmyandAirForceoverwhichserviceshouldhaveoperationalcontroloverthe
missile.TheIndiangovernmentappointsaninterservicecommitteeheadedbytheViceChiefofAirStaff,Air
MarshallP.M.Ramachandrantoresolvethesedisputes.TheRamachandrancommitteerecommendsthatthe
ArmyandAirForceholdjointusertrialsforthePrithvitoshortenthetrainingperiod,andsavetimeandfinancial
resources.ThecommitteealsoestablisheszonesofdemarcationtoresolvetheArmyAirForcerivalryoverthe
Prithvi.Itrulesthatalltargetswithina150kmzoneshouldbetheresponsibilityoftheArmy;similarly,theAir
Forceshouldengagetargetsbeyond150kmwithstrategicmissiles.However,theinterorganizationaldispute
remainsunresolved.TheArmymaintainsthatallsurfacetosurfaceweaponsshouldremainunderitsjurisdiction
whiletheAirForceshouldretaincontroloverairtosurfaceweaponsystems.
RajChengappa,"EndtheWinkandNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobe
aNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.364365.
28July1990
AccordingtoIndiandefenseministrysources,IndiawillconductasecondtestoftheAgniIinSeptember1990.
"IndiatoTestFireIRBMAgaininSeptember,"Defense&ForeignAffairsWeekly(Alexandria,VA),24July1990,
p.1.
13June1990
India'sdefenseministryannouncesthatitisinvestigatingthefeasibilityofdesigningabeyondthevisualrangeair
toairmissilecalledtheAstraandmaylaunchaformaldevelopmentphaseoftheprojectinthenearfuture.The
Astrawillhavearangeof42milesandbeequippedwithaninertialnavigationsystem.ItwillbesimilartotheAIM
7SparrowandAIM120AMRAAM.TheprojectwillnotbepartoftheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).
"IndiaExpandsMissileProgramtoIncludeAirtoAir,"ForecastInternational:WorldWeaponsReview,Issue89,
13June1990,p.4;EdmondDantesandGeorgeLeopold,"MissilesinGulfBuoyIndia'sDevelopmentDrive,"
DefenseNews(Springfield,VA),25February1991,pp.3,44.
16May1990
MinisterofStateforDefenseRajaRamannasaysIndiawillgiveprioritytodefenseexports.Defenseexportswill
notonlybeencouragedto"earnforeignexchangebutalsotoimprovethetechnologicalcapabilitiesofthe
productionunitsandtoenhancelevelsofproductivitythroughcompetition."Respondingtoaquestionaboutthe
Agniprogramandmissilerelatedexports,Ramannasays,"Agniatthisstageisonlyatechnologydemonstrator.I
don'tthinkwehavereallythoughtaboutitsproductioninsignificantnumbers...thequestionofexportsofmissiles
hasnotevenbeenconsideredasfarasIknow."
"Indiandefenseministerondefensemodernization,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),16May
1990,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,16May1990,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
February1990
BijuPatnaikleadstheJanataDaltovictoryintheOrissastateelections.PatnaikannouncesthattheUnitedFront
leduniongovernmentwilldroptheNationalTestingRange(NTR)project.
1990
IndiapostponessecondtestoftheAgniI.
"IndiaDelaysAgniLaunch,"Defense&ForeignAffairsWeekly(Alexandria,VA),39June1990,p.3.
1990
ScientistsandengineersatAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka)testa
modifiedversionoftheMiniRPV;thevehicleprovidesrealtimeinflightTVtransmissionandismodifiedto
performlowlevelflightsatsubsonicspeeds.WorkbeginsondevelopinganoperationalminiRPV.
J.Jayaraman,"TechnologicalAdvancesandCostEffectivenessofUnmannedAirVehicleSystems,"inH.S.
MukundaandA.V.Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesinAerospaceSciencesandEngineering:VolumeII
(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),p.165.
1990
TherevisedbudgetfortheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP)isestimatedat7.8billionrupees,anearly
100%increaseovertheinitialestimateof3.9billonrupeesin1983.
"StateMinisterSays504CroreEarmarkedforMissileProgram,"DeccanHerald(Bangalore),22March1997,in
FBISDocumentFBISTAC97081,22March1997.
1990
AspecializednavalgroupisformedattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)tobegin
developmentofthe300kmrangeSagarikasubmarinelaunchedmissile.[Note:Thereisacontroversywhether
Sagarikaisaballisticorcruisemissile.SomeIndianobserversbelievethattheSagarikaisasealaunchedcruise
missile.InApril1998,theNewYorkTimes,citingUSintelligencesources,claimedthatSagarikaisasealaunched
ballisticmissile.However,bothIndianandWesternsourcesagreethatSagarikaisaprogramtodevelopa
submarinelaunchedmissilewithastandofflandattackcapability.]
http://web.lexisnexis.com;StevenLeeMyers,"RussiaisHelpingIndiaExtendRangeofMissile,U.S.AidesSay,"
NewYorkTimes,27April1998,p.A1.
19891985
198990
Productioncapacityoftheammoniumperchlorate(AP)plantinAlwaye(Kerela)climbsto200tonsannually.
23December1989
Indianscientistsreportthattheyhavedevelopedanewtechnologytofabricatethereentryvehicleforlongrange
missilessuchastheAgni.AccordingtotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)journalAstra,the
newtechnologyhasbeendevelopedbyateamofscientistsledbyMurliManohar.Thenewtechnology,called
multidirectionallyreinforcedcarbonfiberperformtechnology(MRCP),canmeettherequirementforcomposite
materialsprovidingstringentthermal,mechanical,andfrictionalfeaturesrequiredbytheaerospaceindustry.
[Note:AccordingtoaDRDOreportonIndiandefensetechnology,"multidirectionallyreinforcedfiberperform
structuresformthepotentialbackbonesforhighperformanceadvancedcompositesinpolymeric,ceramic,and
metalmatrices.Thetechnologycanbeusedtocontrolthethermal,mechanical,andphysicalpropertiesofthe
compositesbyappropriatedesignparameterssuchasfiberorientation,fibervolumefraction,andfiberspacing.
Such[MRCPtechnology]indifferentshapessuchasblocks,cylinders,cones,andothernearnetshapesexhibit
superiorstructuralintegrityandproducehighlyengineeredstructuralcomposites.Theyalsoexhibitahighdegree
ofdamagetoleranceandimprovedinterlaminarshearstrength...thesecompositescancontinuetocarryload
evenafternoticeablefractures...the[MRCP]technology...hasbeensuccessfullyappliedtomissilereentrynose
tipsandrocketnozzles....thelaboratory[DRDL]hasdevelopedthe[MRCP]technologyanddevelopedthe3Dand
4Dperformsforreentryapplications.Ithasalsoacquiredexpertiseindesignofweaveconfigurations,thedesign
anddevelopmentoftoolingandactualweavingprocessinspectionandprocessingofmultidirectionallyreinforced
performs.Matrixdensificationtechnologyhasbeendevelopedusingahighpressureimpregnation,carbonization
andahightemperaturegraphitizationprocess.Themultidirectionalreinforcedcarbonfiberperformshavebeen
successfullydensifiedtowithstandreentryconditions."]
"NewTechnologyforMediumRangeMissileDevelopedinIndia,"XinhuaNewsAgency(Beijing),23December
1989,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23December1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.
Murthy,eds.,"AirframeStructures&CompositeComponents,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems(DRDO,
MinistryofDefence,December1998),pp.6364.
27September1989
IndiaconductssecondtestflightofthePrithviI.Duringtheterminalphase,themissilerollsuncontrollablyand
missesitstargetbyseveralkilometers.Theproblemistracedtoadefectiveinertialguidancesystem.[Note:There
issomeconfusionaboutthedateofthePrithvi'ssecondtest.Althoughthemajorityofprintmediasourcesplace
thedateofthesecondtestinSeptember1989,IndiandefensejournalistRajChengappareportsthatthetest
occurredinNovember1989.]
"India'sPrithviStrategicBallisticMissileinThirdTest,"Defense&ForeignAffairsWeekly(Alexandria,VA),1824
February1991,p.5;RajChengappa,"EndtheWinkandNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryof
India'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),p.361.
27May1989
Inanaddresstoapressconference,ScientificAdvisortodefenseministerDr.V.S.Arunachalamclaimsthatthe
mainpurposeoftheAgnitestlaunchwastoestablishthedesignoftheheatshieldforreentry,inertialnavigation
system,andtheswitchinpropulsionfromthefirsttothesecondstage.Arunachalamsaysthatthesuccessfultest
hasprovedthatIndiahasacquiredvitalreentrytechnology.DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)
DirectorDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamsaysinaninterviewthattheAgni"cancarryconventionalwarheads...itcanalso
carrynuclearwarheads.InIndiawearenotmakingnuclearwarheads.Weprovidethecarrierandthe
policymakersdecidehowtouseit."KalamdisclosesthattheAgnicostsalittlelessthan30millionrupees.
"ScientistonDec.Launch,"DelhiDomesticService,27May1989,inFBISNES89102,30May1989,p.61;
"AdvancedSurfacetoSurfaceMissileTestsPlanned,"AFP(HongKong),26May1989,inFBISNES89102,p.60;
DilipBobbwithAmarnathK.Menon,"Agni:ChariotofFire,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115June1989,pp.1013.
26May1989
DefenseMinisterK.C.PantsaystheAgnihasthepotentialtocarrylethalwarheadswithahighdegreeofaccuracy.
However,Indiastillhasalongwaytogobeforethemissilesenteroperationalservice.Pantsaysthatthe
IntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP)isaimedatbuildingamissilebaseddefenseandIndiawillhaveto
consideritsmissileoptioninthecomingyears.
"DefenseMinisterSays'Agni'CanCarryWarheads,"DelhiDomesticService,26May1989,inFBISNES89101,
26May1989,p.35.
22May1989
TheUnitedStatesexpressesconcernovertheAgnitest.Commentingonproliferationrelateddevelopmentsin
SouthAsia,WhiteHousedeputyspokespersonRomanPopadiuksays,"Inthepast,wehavemadeourpositionvery
cleartotheIndiangovernmentthatfurtherproliferationofballisticmissilesinSouthAsiawouldberegardedasa
highlydestabilizingdevelopmentintheregion."AUSStateDepartmentspokespersonadds,"theproliferationof
missilesystems,particularlyinareasofpoliticaltension,underminesregionalstabilityandpeace."
"U.S.concernedoverIndianmissiletest,"22May1989,XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,22May1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
22May1989
TheAgniistestedfromtheInterimTestRange(ITR)inChandipur(Orissa)at0247GMTandtravels800kmcarrying
adummywarheadoftungsten.DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)scientistscalltheAgnia
reentrytestvehiclebecausethefirstlaunchwasaimedatevaluatingstructure,guidance,andcontrolduringre
entryintotheearth'satmosphere.PrimeMinisterRajivGandhidescribestheAgnilaunchasanationalendeavorin
thepursuitofselfreliance.Hesaysthat"Agniisnotanuclearweaponsystem.WhatAgnidoesistoaffordus
[India]theoptionofdevelopingtheabilitytodelivernonnuclearweaponswithhighaccuracyatlongranges."
Justifyingthedevelopmentofmoderndefensetechnologies,Gandhisays,"welostourindependencetwo
centuriesagobecauseweweredisunitedonthehomefrontandnotvigilantontheexternalfront.Wemust
rememberthattechnologicalbackwardnessalsoleadstosubjugation.Neveragainwillweallowourfreedomtobe
sosubjugated."
"India'sMediumRangeMissile'Agni'Launched,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),22May1989,
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,22May1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;MissileSystemsoftheWorld,AMI
International(Bremerton,Washington),1999,p.455;"GandhiHailsMissileTest,"DelhiDomesticService,22May
1989,inFBISNES89097,22May1989,p.54;"GandhiSaysMissile'sSuccessGuardsIndia'sIndependence,"St.
LouisPostDispatch(St.Louis,Missouri),23May1989,p.11A,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,23May1989,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;DilipBobbwithAmarnathK.Menon,"Agni:ChariotofFire,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),
115June1989,pp.1013.
19May1989
TheCIADirectorWilliamH.Webstertellsasenatepanelthattheagencyhasfound"indicators"thatIndiais
interestedinobtaining"thermonuclearweaponscapability."TheseincludeattemptsbytheBhabhaAtomic
ResearchCenter(BARC)inTrombay(Maharashtra)topurifylithium,separatelithiumisotopes,andproduce
tritium.OtherindicatorsincludetheimportofberylliumfromWestGermany,whichaccordingtoWebster,"is
usedinenhancingfissionreaction."
DavidB.Ottaway,"SignsFoundIndiaBuildinganHBomb;W.GermanyShippedBeryllium,CIASays,"
WashingtonPost,19May1989,p.A29,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19May1989,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
10May1989
DefenseministerK.C.PanttellsparliamentthatIndoUSdefenserelatedtechnologicalcooperationcoversthree
areas:aeronautics,missiletechnology,andantiarmorsystems.
"IndiatakesnodecisiononproductionofLCA,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),10May1989,in
6May1989
AnIndiandefenseministrysourcetellstheChennaibasedHinduthattheAgniwillhavearangebetween800
1,200km.However,onceIndiaisabletolaunchamissileoftheAgni'sclasssuccessfully,itwillbeabletodevelop
missileswitharangeof2,500km.
"India'smediumrangemissiletobelaunchedthismonth,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),6
1May1989
AtestoftheAgniIispostponedforthesecondtimeafterscientistsdiscoveraleakinthefirststagemotor's
SecondaryInjectionThrustVectorControl(SITVC)system.Avalveregulatingtheflowofstrontiumperchlorate,the
liquidusedforthrustvectoringorcontrollingthemissile'sdirectionduringflight,ruptures,drainingthefluidinto
thethrusters.Theleakisdiscovered11secondsbeforelaunchandattemptstorepairitareabandonedthree
hourslater.ThedefectiveengineisflowntotheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)VikramSarabhai
SpaceCentre(VSSC)forrepairs.Thepostponementismetbycheersandtheblowingofconchshellsbymanyof
theapproximately11,00012,000villagerswhohavebeentemporarilyevacuatedfromtheirhomesaroundthe
launchsiteasasafetyprecaution.ThevillagersopposethetestbecauseoftheIndiangovernment'slongtermplan
topermanentlyrelocatethemfromthefertilefarmlandsurroundingthetestsite.
DilipGanguly,"IndiaAgainPostponesBallisticMissileTestFiring,"AssociatedPress,1May1989,inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,1May1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;AdamKelliher,"IndianMissileTestAborted,"UPI
(Washington,DC)1May1989,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1May1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;Raj
Chengappa,"TheAgniPariksha,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(New
Delhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.340341;"TheWorld,"LosAngelesTimes,21April1989,
p.2,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,21April1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArun
Tiwari,"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress(India)Limited,1999),pp.
150151.
20April1989
ThefirsttestoftheAgniintermediaterangeballisticmissile(IRBM)fromInterimTestRange(ITR)ispostponeddue
toanallegedmalfunctioninthemissile'signitionsystem.Afailureanalysisteamlaterattributesthepostponement
toafalsemalfunctionalarmtriggeredbyacomputerovercomebyamemoryoverloadproblemandabreakdown
inthemissioncontrol'sintercomsystem.Residentsofsurroundingvillages,whohavebeenevacuatedfromtheir
homesasasafetyprecaution,expressoppositiontothemissiletest.Protestersreportedlycutcablestosirens
intendedtoalertresidentswithinatwomileradiusofthetestrangetoevacuatetheirhomes.
DilipGanguly,"LaunchofIndia'sFirstIntermediateRangeMissilePostponed,"AssociatedPress,20April1989,in
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,20April1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com;RajChengappa,"TheAgniPariksha,"
WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers
IndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.339340;TonyAllenMills,"Indiadelaysmissiletest,"Independent,21April1989,inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,21April1989,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
February1989
DefensesecretaryNareshChandraforcesareluctantarmytoallocate580millionrupeesfromitsbudgetforthe
Prithvi'sproduction.ThefundsarethensiphonedofftomakesecretpurchasesfortheAgniintermediaterange
ballisticmissile(IRBM)program.AlthoughtheIndiangovernmentformallyallocates400millionrupeesfortheAgni
program,actualR&Dcostsareamortizedacrossseveralprojectstodisguisethetruescaleoftheprogramfromthe
pryingeyesofforeignintelligenceagencies.
RajChengappa,"TheHouseIsOnFire,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.333334.
8February1989
Thescientificadvisortodefenseminister,Dr.V.S.ArunachalamsaysthattheDefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO)isexaminingthefeasibilityofpartneringwithprivate,public,andsmallindustries.Forthis
purpose,theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)willsetup"technologyparks"inHyderabad
(AndhraPradesh),Bangalore(Karnataka),andDehraDun(UttarPradesh)toencouragelocalentrepreneurstostart
industriesformanufacturingcomponentsandsubsystemsrequiredbythedefenseindustry.[Note:Dehradunwas
declaredcapitalofthenewlycreatedstateofUttaranchalin2000.]
"PrivateSectortoJoininDefenseResearch,"DelhiDomesticService,9February1989,inFBISNES89026,p.49.
7February1989
DefenseMinisterK.C.Pantinformsparliamentthatthegovernmentisexaminingaproposaltosetupan
autonomousorganizationforpromotingdefenseexports.PantsaysthatthreepublicsectordefenseunitsBharat
ElectronicsLimited(BEL),HAL,andBharatEarthMoversLimited(BEML)exceededtheirexporttargetsin198788.
"AutonomousBodyforDefenseExportsExamined,"DelhiDomesticService,7February1989,inFBISNES89
046,10March1989,p.46.
30January1989
DefenseMinisterK.C.PantsaysthatIndiaisplanningtoexpanditsdefenseexports.However,hecautionsthat"we
[Indiangovernment]willbeverycarefulwhatkindsofweaponswesendandwherewesend...ourforeignpolicy
perceptionswillgovernthesales."
"DefenseMinisteronPlanstoBoostArmsExports,"AFP(HongKong),30January1989,inFBISNES89019,31
January1989,pp.4546.
9January1989
IndiandefenseministryofficialsannouncethatIndiawilltestanewsurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)soon.Thiswill
beIndia'sfirsttestofarocketwithanintermediaterangecapability.However,theprecisescheduleforthetest
hasnotbeendecidedyet.
"TestofNewSurfacetoSurfaceMissilePlanned,"AFP(HongKong),9January1989,inFBISNES89005,9
January1989,pp.5657.
January1989
ThetwocommitteesappointedtoinvestigatetheJuly1988crashofthesecondAugmentedSatelliteLaunch
Vehicle(ASLV)concludethatthatthemissionfailedduetothefailureofseveralkeytechnologies.Thereview
committeesfindthattheASLV'sclosedloopguidancesystemfailedtocorrectfordeviationsintherocket's
predeterminedflightpathandtherewas"poorcontrolofthelaunchvehicleinthecriticaltransitionstagewhen
thetwostraponboostersareejectedandthenextstagerocketmotorisignited."Controlatthisstageiscritical
"becausetheloadontherocketismaximumduetoairpressureaswellasthethrustexertedontherocketwhen
thestraponboostersarebeingjettisoned."Lossofcontrolleadstherockettoveerononesideandbreakup
understress.InthecaseofthesecondASLVlaunch,flightdataandphotographsshowthattherocketbegantilting
tooneside39secondsafterlaunchandcontinuetotiltuntil50.5seconds,whenitbrokeupbelowtheequipment
bay.Thecommitteefindsthattherewasa"completeabsenceofcontrolbetween48.6and49.1secondsafterlift
off."Thisisacriticalphasewhentherocketissubjectedtomaximumdynamicpressure.Althoughthenextstage
motordidignite,intheabsenceofcontrol,therocketcrashed.ThefindingsnotethatIndianscientistsand
engineersalsofailedtoaccountforanunexpectedchangeinthewinddirectionfromtheeasttowestataheight
of11km,38secondsafterlaunch,whichmighthavedisturbedtherocket.
AmarnathK.Menon,"ASLV:DamningFindings,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115January1989,p.94;GopalRaj,
"TheASLV:ATechnologicalBridge,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.134135.
1989
AccordingtoareportontheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)solidrocketmotorsdevelopment,the
basicinfrastructurefortherawmaterialsandfabricationofthemotorsisavailableinIndianindustry.Inaddition,
"propellantprocessingfacilities,andcompositeproductsprocessingfacilitiesalongwithnondestructive
evaluationcapabilitieshavebeenestablishedwithinISRO.Assemblyandtestingrequirementscomprising
environmentalfacilities,singleandsixcomponentteststandsandaltitudetestfacilitieshavealsobeenestablished
inhouse.Thebasicaimofselfsufficiencyintherealizationofsolidmotorshasbeenachievedbytheindigenous
developmentandproductionofrawmaterialsandcriticaltechnologies.Besidesengineeringoftheprocessof
propellant,compositemotorcases,andnozzles,facilitiesforthemanufacturingandinspectionofthesehavebeen
setup.Inaddition,manytechnologiesdevelopedwithinISROhavebeentransferredtoindustry.Chiefamong
thesearetheproductionofhydroxylterminatedpolybutadiene(HTPB)binder,phenolicresinandhighsilicacloth.
CapacitiesforammoniumperchlorateareavailableinISROandinIndianindustry.Indianindustryhascapabilities
tomeettherequirementsofaluminiumpowder,adhesives,insulationproductsandlargescalefabricationof
motorcases."
R.Nagappa,M.R.Kurup,andA.E.Muthunayagam,"ISRO'sSolidRocketMotors,"ActaAstronautica,vol.19,no.
8,1989,pp.696697.
1989
IndiabeginsproductionoftheKonkursantitankguidedmissile(ATGM)beginsatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)in
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh)underlicensefromtheSovietUnion.[Note:TheKonkursisa"longrange,semi
automaticwireguidedsecondgenerationantitankguidedmissile,whichismanportable."Themissilehasarange
of754,000meters;ithasalengthof1,260mmandweighs25.16kg.]
"BharatDynamicsLimited:DefenceProductionandSupply,"IndianArmedForces,www.indianarmedforces.com;
"Missiles:KonkursAntiTankMissileSystem,"DepartmentofDefenceProduction&Supplies:MinistryofDefence
(GovernmentofIndia),p.124,www.defstand.gov.in.
1989
TheUnitedStatescancelsacontractforthesaleofaCombinedAccelerationVibrationClimaticTest(CAVCT)
systemfromtheUSbasedMBDynamicsandWyleLabsinanattempttoslowdownIndia'smissileprogram.The
CAVCT,whichisalsoknownasthe"shakeandbake"system,isusedtosimulateheatandvibrationsthatrocket
subsystemsandcomponentsencounterduringflight.TheBushadministrationalsoblocksthesalesofaprecision
trackingradardeviceusedtotrackamissile'sflightpathandmagnesiumalloysusedintheconstructionofmissiles.
RajChengappa,"TheAgniPariksha,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),p.350.
1989
TheInterimTestRange(ITR),adedicatedfacilitytotestairborneweaponsystems,iscompleted.Thetestrangeis
spreadover17kmalongIndia'seasterncoastandislocatedatChandipur,15kmfromBalasore(Orissa).Therange
includesanumberoftrackinginstrumentstocoverthetotalflightpathoftestvehicles.Testfacilitiesinclude
mobileandfixedelectroopticaltrackingsystems,mobileSbandtrackingradar(KAMAN),fixedCband(PCMC)
trackingradar,fixedandmobiletelemetrysystems,rangecomputer,closecircuittelevisionsystem,photo
processingsystem,meteorologicalsystem,andrangesafetysystem.AccordingtoIndiangovernmentsources,the
ITRisbeingdesignedtotracklongrangemissiles,airdefensemissiles,weaponsystemsdeliveredbycombat
aircraft,multitargetweaponsystems,andhigh'G'maneuverablemissiles.
"InterimTestRange,Balasore,Orissa,"FederationofAmericanScientists:NuclearForcesGuide,www.fas.org;
"InterimTestRangetobeupgraded,"IndianExpress(Mumbai),17August1998,www.expressindia.com.
1989
TheAgniteam,ledbyR.N.Agarwal,decidestointroducedesignmodificationstoextendthemissile'srangefrom
8001,200km.Sincethefirststagesolidfueledmotor,builtbytheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),
cannotbeupgradedwithoutlongdelays,theteamdecidestomodifythePrithvi'sliquidfueledenginesinthe
secondstage.InthefirsttestoftheAgni(22May1989),thePrithvi'sliquidfueltanksweremodifiedtoreduce
burnoutfrom100secondsto50seconds.Forthesecondtest,themissilescientistsdecidetorestoretheburnout
timeto100seconds.Theteamalsoextendsthenozzleoftheengine"sideways"todoublethethrust.Inanother
significantchange,theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)dispenseswiththesixullagemotors
thatwereusedtokeepthemissileflyingatthesamevelocityduringthetransitionfromthefirsttothesecond
stage.Instead,adecisionismadetoignitethesecondstagemotorevenbeforethefirststagemotorburnsout
completely.Inordertodothis,thefirstandsecondstagesareseparatedbygiantringsofsteelheldbycrossed
girders.
RajChengappa,"CaughtintheCrosshairs,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.371372.
1989
ColonelV.J.Sundaram,projectdirectorofPrithvimissileproject,ispromotedtothepositionofdeputydirectorof
theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL).V.K.Saraswat,formerdeputydirectorofPrithviproject,
isappointednewdirectorofPrithviprogram.
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Ltd.,2000),pp.350351.
October1988
Indiandefensescientistsclaimthattheyhavedevelopedaconceptualdesignforanairbreathinghypersonic
vehicleincollaborationwithBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).Theaircraftwillbe
basedonanewprinciplewith"payloadcapabilitiesoneorderofmagnitudehigherthaneventhemostadvanced
rocketlaunchers."Thenewsinglestagevehiclewillbeahybridofajetaircraftandarocket.Itwilltakeofffroma
conventionalrunwayandafanramjetenginewillassistitstakeoffandclimbtocruisealtitude.Ascramjetengine
willthenaccelerateittoeighttimesthespeedofsound.Thereafter,theliquidhydrogenandliquidoxygen
producedandcollectedduringflightwillburninarocketengineandpropelthevehicleintospace.
"ScienceandTechnology;Hyperplane/selffuellingrocketdesigned,"10October1988;BBCSummaryofWorld
Broadcasts,"inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19October1988,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
27August1988
PresidentR.VenkataramaninauguratesDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)Advanced
TechnologyInstituteinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).
"IndustrialProduction;Guidedmissileinstituteopened,"27August1988;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,
20July1988
Indiandefensesourcessaythatthegovernmenthasappointedaninterservice"qualityassurancepanel"with
representativesfromtheArmy,Navy,andAirForce,tooverseetheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).
ThepanelwasformedafterthesecondfailureofAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)toensurethatbugs
areremovedfromIndia'smissileprogramsduringthedevelopmentphase.
"DefenseTeamtoOverseeGuidedMissileProgram,"AFP(HongKong),20July1988,inFBISNES88141,22July
1988,p.43.
July1988
TheOrissagovernmentstartsconstructionof400ofthe6,500housesinthemodelvillagesplannedunderthe
rehabilitationpackagefortheNationalTestingRange(NTR)evacuees.
13July1988
Secondlaunchofthe23.5mhigh,40ton,fourstageAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV).Therocketfailsto
placea145kgsatelliteinorbit.Missioncontrollosescontactwiththerocket210secondsafterlaunch.Thecauses
ofthefailurearenotknownandIndianSpaceCommissionchairmanProfessorU.R.Raosays,"Onehastosuspect
everythingnow,gobackandlookintoeverything."TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)appointstwo
committees,a"FailureAnalysisCommittee"headedbyDr.S.C.GuptaofVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)and
an"ExpertsReviewPanel"headedbyProfessorR.Narasimha,toinvestigatethereasonsforfailureandmake
recommendationsonthedevelopmentoffuturelaunchvehicletechnology.
"IndiaFailsin2ndAttempttoLaunchBigRocket,"LosAngelesTimes,14July1988,p.5;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,14July1988,http://web.lexisnexis.com;AmarnathK.Menon,"ASLV:DamningFindings,"IndiaToday
(NewDelhi),115January1989,p.94.
May1988
TheIndiangovernment'sdecisiontoestablishanintegratedtestrangeinOrissa'sBalasoredistrictarousesstrong
localopposition.Thousandsofvillagersfearingdisplacementfromtheirhomesblockroadstokeepgovernment
officialsaway.Thevillagersdemandthatthesitebeshiftedelsewhere.Thegovernmentrejectstherequestand
deploysan8,000memberpoliceforcetomaintainorder.
"MissiletestrangeopposedinsoutheasternIndia,"XinhuaOverseasGeneralNewsService(Beijing),19May
1986;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19May1986,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
22April1988
TheSovietUnionofferstosharethespecificationsoftwosupercomputermodels"Elbrus31"and"EC1068"with
IndiabytheendofJuly1988.K.P.Nambiar,secretaryinthedepartmentofelectronics,saysthattheSoviet
supercomputersarecompatiblewiththemodelsthatareavailabletoIndiafromtheUnitedStates.
"ComputerCooperationAccordSignedWithUSSR,"DelhiDomesticService,22April1988,inFBISNES88081,
27April1988,p.48.
April1988
LocaloppositiongroupsintheBaliapalareadestroyamodelvillageunderconstructionbytheOrissastate
governmentaspartoftherehabilitationplanfortheNationalTestingRange(NTR)evacuees.
3March1988
AnIndiandefenseministryspokespersonsaysthatIndianscientistshavesuccessfullytestedprototypesofa
pilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA),andPTAlaunchboostershavebeendevelopedforthefirsttimeinthecountry.
ScientistsatAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka)successfullytesta"Mini
RPV"withrealtimeinflightTVtransmission.
"DefenseMinistrySpokesmanonResearchProjects,AFP(HongKong),3March1988,inFBISDocumentFBIS
NES88043,4March1988,pp.5455;J.Jayaraman,"TechnologicalAdvancesandCostEffectivenessofUnmanned
AirVehicleSystems,"inH.S.MukundaandA.V.Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesinAerospaceSciencesand
Engineering:VolumeII(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),p.165.
March1988
ACIAsourcesaysthat"....Indiadidnotstopin1974,"afteritexplodedanucleardevice.HesaysthatIndia
possessesa"nucleararsenal"thatis"sophisticatedandminiaturized."Anotherintelligenceanalystaddsthatthe
IndianAirForceJaguarshavebeenobservedpracticingthe"fliptossmaneuver"overtheHimalayasaspecial
bombingtechniqueusedtodelivernuclearmunitions.Intelligencesourcesalsosuggestthatthereisstrong
evidencetosuggestthatIndiahasdevelopedanuclearwarheadforuseonsurfacetosurfacemissileswitha200
milerange.
RichardSale,"Indiasaidtoupgradenucleararsenal,"UPI,19March1988;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19
March1988,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
26February1988
IndiandefensescientistsoutlinetheorganizationalscaleofIndia'sIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).
TheyrevealthatinadditiontotheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL),19otherdefense
laboratories,21publicsectororganizations,andsixprivatesectorunitsarealsoparticipatingintheprogram.The
futuremissileprograminvolvesthedevelopmentof"dualthrust,'RAM'rocketandliquidpropulsionsystem,
strapdowninertialandcommandguidancesystem,homingguidancesystem,compositeandmetallicairframes,
phasedarrayradarandgroundsystem,highperformancehighexplosivewarheads,missilepowersystems,
actuators,missilesoftware,andsimulationsoftware"technologies.Toensuresecrecy,DRDLisbeingrelocatedtoa
maximumsecuritycomplexatImarat,located20kmfromHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).Thenew2,000acre
complex[aprobablereferencetoResearchCentreImarat(RCI)]mayalsoprovideundergroundfacilitiesforthe
productionofdifferentkindsofmissiles.
"PaperDetailsMissileProductionPlans,"HindustanTimes(NewDelhi),27February1988,pp.1,5,inFBIS
DocumentFBISNES88044,7March1988,pp.5556.
25February1988
Indiaconductsfirstflighttestofthe150kmrangePrithvi1ballisticmissilefromIndianSpaceResearch
Organization's(ISRO)SriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)Sriharikota(Andhra
Pradesh).PrimeMinisterRajivGandhiinformsparliamentthatalltestrequirementshavebeenmet.
"SurfacetoSurfaceMissileSuccessfullyTested,"DelhiDomesticService,25February1988,inFBISDocument
FBISNES88037,25February1988,pp.4647;"PaperDetailsMissileProductionPlans,"HindustanTimes(New
Delhi),27February1988,pp.1,5,inFBISDocumentFBISNES88044,7March1988,pp.5556.
January1988
AnIndianinteragencygroupcomprisedofmembersfromtheforeignministryandtheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)visitstheUnitedStatestoreviewimplementationoftheIndoUStechnology
transferagreement.IndiangovernmentsourcessuggestthatthereisnowbetterappreciationintheUnitedStates
ofIndia'srequirementsforsensitivetechnologies.Inthisregard,theUnitedStateshasclearedthesaleof
equipmentforIndia'smissiletestrangeinOrissa.
"UnitedStatestoreviewtechnologytransfer,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),12January1988;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,12January1988,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
1988
AccordingtoIndianscientists,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)VikramSarabhaiSpaceCentrehas
developed"variousinertialgradesensors"like"rategyros,rateintegratinggyros,dynamicallytunedgyros,and
servoaccelerometers"forIndia'ssatellitelaunchvehicles."RategyroshavealreadybeenusedintheSLV3and
rateintegratinggyroswithberylliumcomponentshavebeenqualified."
S.C.GuptaandB.N.Suresh,"InertialguidancesystemforIndianlaunchvehicles,"inR.NarasimhaandA.P.J.
AbdulKalam,eds.,DevelopmentsinFluidMechanicsandSpaceTechnology(Bangalore:IndianAcademyof
Sciences,1988),p.349.
1988
AreportonthemanagementofIndia'sspaceprogramstatesthattheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)hascooperated
withtheindustrialsectorinfourkeyareas:technologytransferfromthespacesectortoindustry;acquisitionof
existingindustrialtechnologyforapplicationsinthespaceprogram;procurementofgoodsandservicesfrom
industry;andconsultancybytheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)totheindustry.Fromthemid1970s,
ISROstressedcooperationwithindustryasamatterofpolicy.ThenumberoftechnologiestransferredfromISRO
toindustryincreasedfrom3in1977to88in1984and129in1986.Inthisregard,themonetaryvalueofthe
transfersincreasedfrom130millionrupeesin197778to1.19billionrupeesin198687.Since1974,ISROhasalso
supportedspacerelatedacademicresearchinthedifferentacademicinstitutionsunderaprogramcalled
RESPOND.
Y.S.Rajan,"ManagementoftheIndianspaceprogramme,"inR.NarasimhaandA.P.J.AbdulKalam,eds.,
DevelopmentsinFluidMechanicsandSpaceTechnology(Bangalore:IndianAcademyofSciences,1988),pp.402
403.
1988
IndianscientistsclaimthattheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)hasachievedimportantsuccessesin
indigenizingsolidpropellanttechnologies.Thesesuccessesincludetheengineeringofaplanttomanufacture
ammoniumperchlorate(AP)inAlwaye(Kerela),"buildingaPropellantFuelComplex,"indigenizingequipmentlike
"perchlorategrinderandverticalmixer,andthedevelopmentofa4MeVlinearaccelerator..."Theyalsodivulge
thatISRO'ssolidrocketmotorsareofthe"casebonded"type.[Note:In"casebonded"motors,thepropellantis
castinsideaninsulatedandlinedrocketchamberandduring"curing"thepropellantgrainstickstothewall.]
M.R.Kurup,V.N.Krishnamoorthy,andM.C.Uttam,"DevelopmentofSolidpropellanttechnologyinIndia,"inR.
NarasimhaandA.P.J.AbdulKalam,eds.,DevelopmentsinFluidMechanicsandSpaceTechnology(Bangalore:
IndianAcademyofSciences,1988),pp.340341.
Late1980s
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)succeedsinproducinghydroxylterminatedpolybutadiene(HTPB)
indigenously.
November1987
PrimeMinisterRajivGandhitellsparliamentthatIndiahasdecidedtoacquiretwoCrayXMP14supercomputers
fromtheUnitedStates.OnecomputerwillbeinstalledinNewDelhi,whiletheotherwillbeinstalledinBangalore
(Karnataka).
"GandhionAcquiringSuperComputerFromUS,"DelhiDomesticService,19November1987,inFBISNES87
225,23November1987,p.49.
November1987
Indianscientists,C.N.R.RaooftheIndianInstituteofSciences(IISc)inBangalore(Karnataka)andN.Seshagiriof
theNationalInformationCentre,NewDelhi,submitproposalstodevelopasupercomputer.TheIndian
governmentapprovesSeshagiri'sproposal,whichwillbecarriedoutbythenewlycreatedCentreforthe
DevelopmentofAdvancedComputing(CDAT)inPune(Maharashtra).Seshagiridismissestalkofacquiring
supercomputersfromtheSovietUnion,claimingthatIndiaisaheadinsupercomputertechnology.
T.N.Ninan,"Supercomputers:HomeMade,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115November1997,p.56.
26November1987
MinisterofStateforDefense,ShivrajPatil,tellsparliamentthatIndiahascontractedtopurchaseSeaEagleanti
shipmissilesfromBritain.[Note:TheSeaEagleisa"shortrange,airlaunched,turbojetpowered,singlewarhead,
airtosurfacemissile."Ithasalengthof4.14m,bodydiameterof0.4m,andlaunchweightof600kg.TheSeaEagle
candeliverasingle"230kgHEsemiarmorpiercingwarhead"overamaximumrangeof110km.]
"ContracttoBuyUKSeaEagleMissilesSigned,"DelhiDomesticService,26November1987,inFBISNES87229,
30November1987,p.59;"OffensiveWeapons:SeaEagle,"DuncanLennoxed.,Jane'sStrategicWeaponsSystems,
Issue32,(Coulsdon,Surrey:UnitedKingdom,2000).
27September1987
Thepublicsectorundertaking,MishraDhatuNigam(MDN),Midhani,Hyderabad,(AndhraPradesh)begins
producingmaragingsteel.ThesteelwillbeusedtobuildthePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicle(PSLV).Thefirmalso
manufacturesawiderangeofspecialmetalsandsuperalloysforuseinIndia'saerospace,space,andnuclear
sectors.
"PublicFirmProducesMaragingSteel,"DelhiDomesticService,27September1988,inFBISDocumentFBISNES
87187,28September1988,p.48.
30August1987
AnIndiandefenseministry'sresearchanddevelopmentreportstatesthatIndianentitieshaveacquiredself
relianceinthedevelopmentofadvancedmissiles.
"DefenseMinistryNotesDevelopmentofAdvancedMissiles,"DelhiDomesticService,30August1987,inFBIS
Document,"India,"V,31August1987,p.R2.
27August1987
ThegovernmentinformsparliamentthatitisexploringthepossibilityofmanufacturingsupercomputersinIndiaas
wellasimportingthemfromtheUnitedStates.Inaddition,theSovietUnionhasassuredIndiaofprovidingitwith
thelatestcomputersproducedinthecountry.
"SovietUniontoSupply'LatestComputers',"DelhiDomesticService,27August1987;inFBISDocument"India,"
V.27August1987,p.R2.
23August1987
IndianDefenseMinisterK.C.PantlaysthefoundationstoneforthesecondunitofBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)
inBanaruvillage,Medakdistrict(AndhraPradesh).Theunit,whichisexpectedtocost1.76billionrupees,isbeing
setuptomanufactureantitankmissiles.
"MinisterNotesSuccessinDefenseProduction,"DelhiDomesticService,23August1987,inFBISDocument,
"India,"V,27August1987,p.R2.
LateJune1987
TheFailureAnalysisCommitteeappointedtoinvestigatethecausesoftheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle
(ASLV)failureidentifiestwopossiblescenariosthatmayhaveledtothecrash.Thefirsttheoryfocusesona
possiblefaultintheswitchoftherocket'ssafearmdevice.Scientistsspeculatethattheswitcheitherdidnotopen
ormalfunctionedduetoashortcircuit.Thesecondtheorycentersonanunidentifiableflawintheignitionsystem
andcircuitryofthefirststagemotor.Althoughthecommitteereachesnofirmconclusions,theIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO)decidestoremovetheswitchandsafearmdevicefromthesecondASLV,whichwill
belaunchedbyApril1988.ThenextASLVwillalsobeprovidedwithbackupsystemstoensurethatasinglepoint
failuredoesnotleadtothefailureoftheentiremission.
AmarnathK.Menon,"ASLV:FindingtheFlaws,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115August1987,p.73.
3May1987
ADefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)spokespersonsaysthatthelabispreparingtoconductthe
firsttestofthe150kmrangePrithviISSMinJune1987.TheliquidfueledSSMcandelivera1,000kgpayloadovera
150kmrange.
"GovernmenttoTestLongRangeSAMinJune,"AFP(HongKong),3May1987,inFBISVIII,4May1987,p.E2;
"DetailsofMissilesRevealed,"DelhiDomesticService,3May1987,inFBISVIII,4May1987,p.E2.
7April1987
IndianspacescientistsattheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)saythatapreliminaryanalysiscarriedout
bytheFailureAnalysisCommitteeappointedtoinvestigatetheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)failure
hasconcludedthatthecrucialstraponboostertechnologyperformedwell.Themaincauseofthefailurehasbeen
tracedtothefailureofthefirststagemotortoigniteonreceivinganignitioncommandfromtheonboard
computer.
"ASLVTechnologyGoodDespiteMissionFailure,"DelhiDomesticService,7April1987,inFBISVIII,8April1987,
p.E1.
1April1987
TheMinisterforScience&Technology,K.R.Narayanan,tellsparliamentthatthenextlaunchoftheAugmented
SatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)willtakeplaceinayear'stime.Narayanansaysthattherocketlaunchandsatellite
payloadcost60and40millionrupees,respectively.
"MinisterBriefsParliamentonSpacePrograms,"DelhiDomesticService,1April1987,inFBISVIII,2April1987,p.
E1.
27March1987
TheUnitedStatesagreestosellIndiaasupercomputerofrelativelylimitedpower.
AUSinteragencygroupcomprisedofofficialsfromthedepartmentsofdefense,state,andcommerceissuea
communiqusayingthatIndiaisfreetopurchasetheCyber205,aCray1orapproximatelythesamevintage,a
singleprocessorCrayXMPorsome"othermachineofequivalentcapability."Indiaretainstheoptiontopurchase
asupercomputerfromtheJapan'sNEC,whichhasagreedtosellsingleprocessormachinestoIndia.
DavidE.Sanger,"U.S.LetsIndiaBuyComputer,"NewYorkTimes,27March1987,pp.13;inLexisNexis
25March1987
TheMinisterforScienceandTechnology,K.R.Narayanan,informsLokSabhathattheAugmentedSatelliteLaunch
Vehicle(ASLV)launchfaileddueasuspectedmalfunctioninthemotorafter163seconds.Thevehicleperformed
normallyfor48.5secondsandtelemetrydatawasreceivedbymissioncontrolthroughouttheflightduration.The
twoimportantnewtechnologiesincorporatedintheASLV,includingthestraponboosterrockets,performed
satisfactorily.
"MinisterCommentsonFailureofRocketLaunch,"DelhiDomesticService,25March1987,inFBISVIII,p.E1.
March1987
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)appointsaFailureAnalysisCommitteeundertheleadershipof
VikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)AssociateDirectorR.Aravamudantodeterminethecausesofthe
AugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle's(ASLV)failure.Thecommitteeisaskedtosubmititsreportwithinone
month.
GopalRaj,"TheASLV:ATechnologicalBridge,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme
24March1987
ThemaidenflightoftheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)fails162secondsafterliftofffromthe
SriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).The23.5mhigh,40ton,fivestagerocket
isdesignedtolifta145kgsatelliteintoorbit.IndianSpaceCommissionchairmanProfessorU.R.Raosaysthatthe
rocketappearedtohavemalfunctionedafterthefirststage.AccordingtoRao,"thestageseparationtookplacebut
maynot[havebeen]attherighttime."TheDirectorofSHAR,M.R.Kurupsays"itappearsthatthefailureofthe
motortoburnisthemainreasonforASLV1notgoingup,butitwillbetwoweeksbeforewecanconcludewhy
themotorfailed."
RichardM.Weintraub,"LaunchFailureDelaysIndianRocketProgram,"WashingtonPost,24March1987,p.A16;
inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,25March1987,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"RocketcrashstrikesblowtoIndian
plans,"TorontoStar,25March1987,p.A9;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,25March1987,http://web.lexis
nexis.com;AmarnathK.Menon,"ASLVProgramme:SetbackintheSky,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115April1987,
p.68.
1987
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)establishesacomputeraideddesignandmanufacturing
facilitytohelpwiththedesignanddevelopmentofmissiles.
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"AirframeStructures&CompositeComponents,"inIndianDefense
Technology:MissileSystems(NewDelhi:DefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization,MinistryofDefence,
GovernmentofIndia,1998),p.51.
29December1986
Afterayeardeadlock,IndianandUSnegotiatorsreachatentativeagreementonthesalefora$1215millionCray
supercomputertoIndia.TheUnitedStatesagreestopermittheuseofthesupercomputerformeteorological
sciences,agriculture,health,molecularbiology,andsolidstatephysics.However,nonationalnetworkingwillbe
allowed.Inaddition,thesecurityofthecomputerwillbehandledbyIndia.
SheilaTefft,"PlannedSaleofUSComputertoIndiaPointsuptoSnagsinRelations,"ChristianScienceMonitor
(Boston),29December1986,p.8;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,29December1986,http://web.lexis
nexis.com;InderjitBadhwar,"Supercomputer:ADiplomaticTriumph,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115February
1987,p.41.
3December1986
Thegovernment'sdecisiontorelocateapproximately6,000familiesfromthevillagessurroundingthemissiletest
siteintheBalasoredistrictofOrissadrawscriticismfromoppositionpartiesinparliament.India'sMinisterofState
forDefense,ArunSingh,tellstheLokSabhathatBalasorewasselectedafterexaminingatotalof30sitesinthe
country.Balasoreisthebestsiteonstrategicandtechnologicalconsiderationsandnoalternativelocationis
availableonthenorthsouthaxis.
"Ministerdefendsselectionofmissiletestsite,"NewDelhiHomeService,4December1986;inBBCSummaryof
WorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,5December1986,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"Defense
MinisterViewsBalasoreMissileTestRange,"DelhiDomesticService,6August1986,inFBISVIII,7August1986,p.
E1.
November1986
TheIndiangovernmentownedBELfacesdifficultiesintryingtoobtain"monopulsecoherenttrackingradarsand
associatedsignalprocessors"fromtheUSbasedScientificAtlanta;USdefenseofficialsbelievethatthetechnology,
whichisusedfortrackingsatellitesormissiles,isfartooadvancedandhasproliferationimplications.BEL'sGeneral
ManagerforResearchandDevelopment,K.Menon,saysthatthedealwillmostlikelyberejectedbytheUS
governmentandIndiamayhavetodevelopthetechnologyindigenously.
[Note:Monopulsetrackingradariscapableof"obtainingdirectionalinformationwithgreataccuracy."]
JohnH.CushmanJr.,"USMilitarySalestoIndiaHitSnags,"NewYorkTimes,2November1986,p.5;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,2November1986,http://web.lexisnexis.com;AcademicPressDictionaryofScienceand
Technology(Harcourt)www.harcourt.com.
November1986
TheReaganadministrationdecidestopermitthesaleofUSsupercomputerstoIndia.However,USCommerce
SecretaryMalcolmBaldrigecautionsthattheUnitedStatescouldsellcomputerstoIndia"ifthesecurityconditions
aremet."IndiannewspapersreportthattheIndiangovernmenthassentaletterofintenttopurchasea
supercomputerfromCrayResearchCorp.ofMinneapolis.
StuartAuerbach,"U.S.toLetIndiaBuySupercomputer;NationMustFirstAgreetoSafeguardAdvanced
Machine'sSecretsfromtheSoviets,"WashingtonPost,1November1986,p.C1;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,
31October1986
India'sscientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.V.S.ArunachalamtellsreportersthatscientistsattheDefense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)havesuccessfullydevelopedandtestedahighthrust,liquidfueled
rocketenginethatgeneratesathrustof30tonsandiscapableofliftingapayloadtoaheightof600kmintospace.
AccordingtoArunachalam,thethrustchamberoftheenginehasbeenfabricatedwithstainlesssteel;propellants
arefedwiththehelpofindigenouslydevelopedhighperformanceturbopumps.
"Indiamakesheadwayinrocketdevelopment,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),31October
1986;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31October1986,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
11October1986
USDefenseSecretaryCasparWeinbergerarrivesinNewDelhi.Duringhisvisit,hetoursHindustanAeronautics
Limited(HAL)inBangalore(Karnataka),BharatElectronicsLimited(BEL)inHyderabad,(AndhraPradesh),and
AeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore.
"CasparWeinbergerArrives11October,IssuesStatement,"DelhiDomesticService,11October1986,inFBISVIII,
14October1986,p.E.1.
October1986
Indiasignscontractsworth$6to7millionwithtwoUSbasedcompanies,VitroandScientificAtlanta,forthe
supplyofadvancedmissilerangetechnology.
JohnElliott,"IndiaCourtsSuperpowersforTechnologyandAid,"FinancialTimes(London),10October1986,p.
8;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,10October1986,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
2October1986
TheUnitedStatesextendsa$27millionaidpackagetoIndiaforamainframecomputermanufacturingplant.The
plantwillbebuiltbytheUSbasedControlDataCorporationfortheIndiangovernmentownedElectronics
CorporationofIndia(ECIL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh).Theaidpackagewillcoverthecostofimporting
manufacturingequipmentandrelatedtechnologytransfersforbuilding400to600Cyber830and810mainframe
computers.AmericanofficialsestimatethatECIL'stotalpurchasecouldamountto$500million.Althoughthe
IndiangovernmentdecidedtoawardthecontracttoControlDataCorporationin1985,theprojectwasblockedby
theReaganadministrationpendingIndianassurancestotheUSgovernmentthatthecomputerswouldnotbeused
fornuclearweaponsrelatedresearch.
JohnElliott,"AidFinalisedforIndianComputerPurchase,"FinancialTimes(London),2October1986,p.6;in
October1986
TheUnitedStatesindicatesitswillingnesstosellanadvancedradarsystemtoIndiaforitsnewnationalmissiletest
facilityinOrissa.AmericanofficialssaythattheradarishighlyadvancedandwillgiveIndiathecapabilitytotest
rockets.India'sscientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.V.S.ArunachalamsaysthatIndia'sapproachisto"get
thebesttechnologyavailable...atmutuallyacceptableterms."
StevenR.Weisman,"U.S.toSellHighTechEquipmenttoIndiaforArmsUpgradingPlan,"NewYorkTimes,1
October1986,p.15;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,1October1986,http://web.lexis.nexis.com.
September1986
USintelligenceofficialsallegethatIndiamayhaveacquired12SS21ballisticmissileswiththeirtransportererector
launchers(TELs)fromtheSovietUnion.InJuly1986,USintelligencemonitorsdetectedashipmentof12missiles
andTELsleavingaBlackSeaport.ThemissileswerenotdeliveredtoSyria;neitherweretheyoffloadedatthe
JordanianportofAqabah.TheshipcarryingthemissileshipmentwasultimatelylocatedinanIndianport.Indian
defenseexpertsdismisstheUSintelligenceleakas"highlyimaginative."
"IndiareportedlygetsSovietSS21missiles,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),6September1986;
September1986
VedPrakashSandlas,formerprojectdirectoroftheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)SLV3program,
joinstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO).
GopalRaj,"SLV3:India'sFirstLaunchVehicle,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme
August1986
Duetolocalopposition,theuniongovernmentscalesbacktheareaoftheproposedNationalTestingRange(NTR)
atBaliapalfrom160squarekilometersto102squarekilometers(68squarekilometersfortherangeand34square
kilometersforthesafetyzone).Therevisedprojectisexpectedtocost11billionrupeesandthegovernment
estimatesthatitwilllikelyaffect41,000people.Groupsopposingtheproject,however,estimatethatthenumber
ofevicteeswillbecloserto130,000people.Inaddition,theyalsoestimatethattheprojectwillindirectlyaffectan
additional200,000peoplewhomigratefromWestBengaltoBaliapalforseasonalemployment,100,000people
whoobtainindirectemploymentthroughthecashcropeconomy,and30,000fishermenfromtheareawhofish
alongtheSubarnarekhariverandthecoast.
August1986
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)beginspreliminarydiscussionsforamannedspaceflightinthe
1990s.ISROchairmanProfessorU.R.Raosay,"whilewewouldhavethecapabilityoflaunchingamaninspaceby
the'90s,therealquestioniswhetherwecanaffordtodoit."Inaddition,ISROalsoplanstodeveloprecoverable
boosterrocketstoreducethecostsoflaunch.
RajChengappa,"MannedSpacecraft:PlansinOrbit,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1631August1986,p.77.
July1986
TheUnitedStatessaysthatitispreparedtorespondfavorablytoanIndianrequesttopurchasesupercomputers,
pendingthenegotiationofadequatesafeguardswithNewDelhi.TheUnitedStatesalsoseeksacommonpolicy
withJapanforthesaleofsupercomputerstofriendlycountriesoutsidetheWesternalliancetoensurethatthe
technologydoesnotfallintothehandsoftheSovietblockofcountries.UndertheUSproposal,broadoutlinesfor
appropriatesaleswouldbeestablishedandthenspecificsaleswouldbedecidedonacasebycasebasis.Japanese
officialssaythattheyfindtheUSapproach"toobroadandtoostringent."
RichardM.Weintraub,"US,IndiaNearSupercomputerDeal;SaleReportedlyHingesonNegotiationsOver
Safeguards,"WashingtonPost,8July1986,p.D1;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8July1986,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
21May1986
TheUniongovernmentformallyannouncesplanstobuildtheNationalTestingRange(NTR)inBaliapal(Orissa).The
missilerangewillcoveranareaof160squarekilometersandresultintheevacuationofnearly70,000villagers
from130villages.Thetotalcostoftheprojectisestimatedat30billionrupees.Thegovernmentalsoannouncesa
1.27billionrupeerehabilitationpackageinthehopeofplacatinglocaloppositiontotheproject.Theplanistobe
implementedbytheOrissastategovernment,whoserulingpartyistheCongress(I).Theplanintendstorelocate
thepeopleofBaliapalintomodelvillages15kmawayfromtheirpresenthomes,eachfamilyreceivingahousebuilt
of10decimalsofland(onetenthofanacre)costing15,000rupees.Theproposedmodelvillageswillcontain
schools,hospitals,communitycenters,andpostoffices.Thegovernmentalsoproposestoestablishnineindustries
(spinning,leather,oil,andtoolmanufacture)toprovidejobopportunitiesforatleastonememberofeach
displacedfamily.Theindustriesareexpectedtoemploy4,000people;inaddition,therangeisexpectedto
generateapproximately470jobs.
ContestationofPlaceinIndia(Westport:PraegerPublishers,1993),pp.41,6465.
April1986
ResidentsofChaumukhvillageintheBaliapalarea(Orissa)launchanonviolentpoliticalmovementtoopposethe
settinguptheNationalTestingRange(NTR).VillagerssetupbarricadesatPanchapali,Kachna,Jamkundaanddeny
entrytogovernmentofficials.
March1986
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)postponestheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)maiden
launchtoJulyAugust1986.
RajChengappa,"SpaceProgramme:SuddenSnags,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1630April1986,p.84.
1986
IndianrocketscientistsidentifykeytechnologyareasfortheadvancementofIndia'slongtermsatellitelaunch
vehicle(SLV)program.Thetechnologyareasencompasssolidandliquidpropulsion,advancedmaterials,
fabrication,propellants,polymers,chemicals,guidanceandcontrol,fluidmechanics,atmosphericflightmechanics,
astrodynamics,aerospacecommunicationandavionics,computersystemsandsoftwaretechnology,andground
installations.Herearethedetailsofthesekeytechnologyareas:
SolidPropulsion
Improvementsincomputeraideddesigncapabilities;improvedinstrumentationanddataacquisitionsystemsfor
staticandflighttests;upgradesinnondestructivetesting(NDT)technology;advancementsinthermaldesign,heat
transfer,andstructuralperformanceofnozzles;developmentoffabricationtechnologyforadvancedcomposites
and2D/3Dcarboncarbonstructures.
LiquidPropulsion
Developmentandqualificationofcryogenicengineandstage;developmentofa100tonclassthrustengineor
clusterofsmallercryogenicenginesforalargercryostage;developmentofgroundtestfacilitiesforthetestingof
cryogenicengine/stagesystems;developmentofadvancedmonopropellanthydrazinethrustersofdifferent
ratingsfororientationandcontroloflaunchvehicles;developmentofliquidbipropellantsystemstoreplacethe
solidapogeemotorsinlargeearthorbitingspacecraft;developmentoflarge,lightalloystructuralfabrication
technologyforfueltanksandauxiliarystructures;softwaredevelopmentforliquidpropulsionandheattransfer
analysis.
Propellants,Polymers,andChemicals
Advancedinexpensivepolymersforuseasbindersinhighenergysolidpropellants;highstrength,high
temperatureresistantplasticforstructuralcomponentsandcontainers;highstrengthorganicfibers;advanced
polymideresinsystemsforfiberreinforcedplasticsandcomposites;conductingplasticmaterialsforvibrationand
shockisolators;insulatingplastics,polyurethanefoams,andresinsystems;MYLAR,Kaptonsheetsandfoils;
productionofliquidoxygenandhydrogen,unsymmetricaldimethylhydrazine(UDMH),monomethylhydrazine,
hydrazine,aerozineinpureforms,nitrogentetroxideindifferentgrades,Kerosene,andRP1fuel.
Fabrication
Integrationofcastcomponentstominimizedetailparts;fabricationoflargemetalliccompositeintertank
bulkheadsforliquidcryogenicstageapplications;computeraidedmanufacturingtechniquesforfabricationof
complexelementssuchaspumpimpellers,turbineblades;fabricationofthrustchambersandinjectorsadopting
electroforming,laserdrilling,sparkerosion,rigimeshwelding;flowformingofcontournozzles;formingthin
walledtubesandbrazingforregenerativelycoolednozzles;fabricationofintegrallystiffenedliquidtankage
structureswithisogridconstruction;advancedfabricationmethodsforinnovativedesignsincompositesand
metallicstructures.
Guidance&Control
Developmentoflaserandfiberopticgyrosandotherinertialsensors;multipleredundantguidanceand
navigationsystems;distributedcontrolsystemsforlargespacevehicles;advancedsimulationtechniquesand
associatedsoftware.
FluidMechanics
Advancesincomputationalfluiddynamics;numericaloptimizationfordesign;timedependentsimulationsof
turbulentflows;developmentoflaserholographyandothertechniquesfornonintrusivemeasurementof
propertiesandvisualizingtheflowfield.
AtmosphericFlightMechanics
Atmosphericentryathighanglesofattack(40tothenominal),andaerothermodynamics;transitionandturbulent
flowathighaltitudes;stabilityandcontrolofalargeliftingvehicle;hypersonicflowinteractionsbetweencontrol
surfacesandthickboundarylayersathighReynoldsnumbers;compilationofflightdataforcreationofan
extensivedatabank.
Astrodynamics
Advancesinmissionanalysistechniques;improvementsinmathematicalmodelingofspacevehicledynamics.
AerospaceCommunicationandAvionics
Adoptionofmorerobustmodulationanddemodulationschemestoobviateproblemsofincreasednoiseinradio
signalpropagationandinterference;advanceddigitalsignalprocessingtechniques;improvementsintimeand
frequencydivision,multipleaccesssystems;developmentofKuband(44/30/20GHz)forhighercapacity;high
speedrealtimeprocessingofdatafromspace;highgainmultiplebeamsatelliteantennaeforuseinconjunction
withsmallterminalsfordatalinksfromspacevehicles;developmentofverylargrescaleintegration(VLSI)circuit
withhighreliability;laserandfiberopticcommunicationlinksforgroundsystems.
ComputerSystemsandSoftwareTechnology
Dynamicmodelingforlargemultibodyvehicles;guidanceandcontrolalgorithm,multiplereferencetocoordinate
system;onboardmicrocomputerswithbitsliceandadvancedmicroprocessorswithmultipleredundancyandself
diagnostics,FDIlogic,andreconfigurationfacilities;higherlevellanguagesandprogrammingtechniques;useof
supercomputers;computerbasedmethodsinstatisticalqualitycontrol,qualityassurance,reliabilityprediction,
andprobabilityofmissionsuccess.
Facilities&GroundInstallations
Establishmentoffacilitiesforgroundtestingandevaluationofpropulsion,avionics,controlandauxiliarysystems;
operationalfacilitiesforsystemsintegration,checkout,andlaunching;offshorelaunchbase,recoveryand
refurbishmentandservicingofspacevehicles,seaandlandrecoveryofbooster/landingvehicleswith
powered/unpoweredphaseofflights;multipleglobaltrackinganddatarelayspacecraftbasednetworksupport
forlargespacevehicles;shipbornecommunicationsandtrackingsystems.
S.SrinivasanandM.Sundaresan,"TechnologyChallengesPosedbySpaceLaunchVehiclePrograms,"Journalof
AerospaceSocietyofIndia,vol.38,no.2,1986,pp.8790.
1986
IndiasendsatechnicalteamtoJapantonegotiatethesaleofoneortwosupercomputersfromtheNipponElectric
Company(NEC)forIndianInstituteofSciences(IISc)inBangalore(Karnataka).Indiaisnowbelievedtobeinthe
marketforuptofoursupercomputersfrombothJapanandtheUnitedStates.TheIndianteamholdsatleasttwo
roundsoftalksatatechnicallevelwithNECofficials.
RichardM.Weintraub,"US,IndiaNearSupercomputerDeal;SaleReportedlyHingesonNegotiationsOver
Safeguards,"WashingtonPost,8July1986,p.D1;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,8July1986,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
1986
TheSovietUnionofferstosell48SS21(Tochka)surfacetosurfacemissiles(SSMs)toIndiafor2.88billionrupees.
TheIndianArmyexpressesaninterestinpurchasingthesystem.However,MinisterofStateforDefenseArun
SinghrulesoutthepurchaseunlessDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)failstodeliverthePrithvi
SSMonschedule.[Note:TheSovietSS21"Scarab"missileisalsoknownasTochka(Point).TheSS21wasdesigned
byKolomnaOKBasareplacementfortheshortrangeFreeRocketOverGround(FROG)missileandintroducedin
servicein1976.TheSS21isashortrange,roadmobile,solidpropellant,singlewarheadballisticmissile.Alonger
range"ScarabB"(120kmrange)wasintroducedaround1986andthereare"unconfirmed"reportsofa"ScarabC"
witharangeof185km.TheScarabAis"6.4minlengthand0.65mindiameter.Ithasalaunchweightof2,000kg
andaminimumrangeof15kmandmaximumrangeof70km.Propulsionisasinglestagesolidbooster,andthe
missileusesaninertialguidancesystem.Thecontrolsystememploysfourpaddletyperearmountedcontrol
fins...thesecancontrolthemissileinboostandterminalphaseswhenwithintheatmosphere.Inaddition,vanesin
themotoreffluxcontributetostabilityimmediatelyafterlaunch.Thepaddletypecontrolfinsandcontrolvanes
areelectricallyactuated.Themissileisreportedtobeabletoflyeitherballisticorcruiseprofiles,thelatterprofile
useswingliftandkeepsthemaximumaltitudeataround30kmfollowedbyasteepdiveontothetarget."The
ScarabAcandelivera482kgconventional,chemical,ornuclearwarhead.Themissileistransportedonasix
wheeledmodifiedZIL5937orBAZ5921transportererectorlauncher(TEL)andtheassociatedtransloadervehicle
carriesanadditionaltwomissiles.TheSS21Ahasanaccuracyof150mcircleofequalprobability(CEP).The
"ScarabB"usesa"newmotorandimprovedguidanceandcontrol...theweighthasbeenincreasedto2,010kgand
themaximumrangehasbeenincreasedto120km...[and]minimumrangeof20km..."The"ScarabBisreportedto
havethecapabilitytomakepreprogrammedmaneuversupto10gduringtheterminalphaseofflighttomake
interceptionmoredifficultforthedefense...theScarabBhasanaccuracyof95mCEP."]
RajChengappa,"TheFunnyGuysDidIt,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000)pp.317318;"SS21'Scarab'(OTR21/9M79Tochka),"Jane's
StrategicWeaponsSystems,Issue32,(Coulsdon,Surrey),February2000,pp.126127.
December1985
TheAugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle(ASLV)maidenlaunch,whichwasearlierscheduledforDecember1985,is
delayeduntilMarch1986.IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)scientistsattributethedelaytoa1984
cyclone,whichsubmergedalltherocketteststandsunderameterofwater.Inaddition,Indianscientistsarealso
facingdifficultiesindevelopingtherocket'sclosedloopguidancesystem,whichwasoriginallysupposedtobe
deployedonthesecondASLVflight.
RajChengappa,"SpaceProgramme:SuddenSnags,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1630April1986,pp.8485.
October1985
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)engineersdemonstratestrapontechnologyinasuccessfultestofan
RH300soundingrocketwithtwoRH200straponmotors.[Note:Straponreferstothe"propulsivecomponentof
alaunchvehicleattachedtothecorevehicletoaugmentitsthrust,usingeithersolidorliquidpropellant."]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.130;MarkWilliamson,DictionaryofSpaceTechnology(New
York:AdamHilger,1989),p.333.
October1985
IndiaexpressesinterestinpurchasingoneortwosupercomputersfromtheUnitedStatesformeteorological
researchandweatherforecasting.TheUnitedStatesviewstherequestunfavorablyduetofearsofpotential
technologyleakagestotheSovietBlockaswellasconcernsthatthecomputerscouldbeusedfordesigningnuclear
weapons.However,theReaganadministrationapprovesthesa/leofsixsuperminicomputerstoIndia.AUSState
DepartmentofficialsaysthattheIndianrequestisstillonthetablebutisunlikelytobeapproved.However,
anotherReaganadministrationofficialsaysthatIndia'srequestisbeingseriouslyconsideredbytheadministration,
andIndiawould"getit[supercomputer]intime."
SanjoyHazarika,"U.S.SaidtoBalkatSaleofComputertoIndia,"NewYorkTimes,16October1985,p.17;in
October1985
PrimeMinisterRajivGandhiappointshiscloseconfidanteArunSinghasMinisterofStatefordefense.
SumitMitraandPrabhuChawla,"CabinetReshuffle:ABoldExperiment,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),115October
1985,p.28.
December1985
Firstsuccessfultestofapilotlesstargetaircraft(PTA)occurs.ThePTA,whichcanbelaunchedfromthegroundor
ships,"isareusable,highsubsonictarget,"usedfortraininggunandmissilecrews.ThePTA'srocketmotor,which
isdevelopedbytheAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka),drawsonthe
technologicalspinoffsoftherocketmotorsforsurfacetoairapplicationsdevelopedbytheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inthelate1970s.Themotorcasingismadeof"15CDV6highstrengthsteel."The
propellantisof"doublebasecomposition"anda"sevengrainmultitubularconfiguration"isused.Themotoris
qualifiedfor"variousenvironmentalconditionslikevibration,drop,highandlowtemperature,cycling,saltmist,
sandanddust,andrain."Afterconductingextensivestatictests,DRDLcontractsasmallprivatesectorfirmto
producea"reliable,airworthy,andhighthrusttoweightratiorocketmotor"withtechnologicalinputsfromDRDL.
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"WingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:Universities
Press(India)Limited,1999),p.137;J.Jayaraman,"TechnologicalAdvancesandCostEffectivenessofUnmannedAir
VehicleSystems,"inH.S.MukundaandA.V.Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesinAerospaceSciencesand
Engineering:VolumeII(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),p.165;A.SubhanandaRao,"DevelopmentofSolid
PropulsionSystemsforGuidedMissiles,"inH.S.MukundaandA.V.Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesin
AerospaceSciencesandEngineering(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),p.183.
16September1985
FirsttestoftheTrishulsurfacetoairmissile(SAM)fromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR).
Press(India)Limited,1999),p.136.
August1985
AseniorteamofIndianscientistsandengineersledbythescientificadvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.V.S.
ArunachalamvisitstheUnitedStatesattheinvitationoftheUSAirForce.Theteamisonavisittoexplorethe
prospectsofhightechandotherdefenserelatedcooperationwiththeUnitedStates.Teammembersinclude
RoddamNarasimhaoftheNationalAeronauticalLaboratory(NAL),K.K.GanapathyofHindustanAeronautics
Limited(HAL),andDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamoftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL).
3August1985
PrimeMinisterRajivGandhilaysthefoundationstonefortheResearchCentreImarat(RCI)atImaratKancha
(AndhraPradesh).
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.133.
12June1985
TheReaganadministrationagreestoselladvancedmilitarytechnologyandweaponrytoIndia.However,the
UnitedStatesinsistsonIndianacceptanceoftightsafeguardstopreventtheleakageofUSdefensesecretsto
"thirdcountries."AUSofficialsaysthatthememorandumofunderstandingtoputtheagreementonhigh
technologytransfersintoeffecthasnowbeensignedandprocedureshavebeenestablishedtoexpeditiously
processIndia'srequestsforcomputers,lasers,sensors,andotheritemswithmilitaryapplications.
MichaelWeisskopfandDonOberdorfer,"U.S.toOfferAdvancedArms,TechnologytoIndia,"WashingtonPost,
13June1985,p.A1,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,13June1985,http://web.lexisnexis.com;Bernard
Weinraub,"ReaganGandhiTalksTouchonArms,"NewYorkTimes,12June1985,p.3,inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,13June1985,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
Summer1985
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)completesgroundworkforbuildingthenewmissile
technologyresearchcenteratImaratKancha,(AndhraPradesh).
3May1985
IndianandUSofficialssaythattheyareclosetoreachinganagreementthatwillpermitIndiatoacquirehighly
advancedUStechnology,includingtechnologywithmilitaryapplications.
StevenR.Weisman,"USIndiaTechnologyAccordGains,"NewYorkTimes,3May1985,p.3;inLexisNexis
March1985
IndiangovernmentofficialsvisitWashingtontolaythegroundworkforPrimeMinisterRajivGandhi'sJune1985
triptotheUnitedStates.Theydiscussthedetailsofabroadumbrellaagreementonhighgradetechnology
transferstoIndiawithReaganadministrationofficials.India'srequestforhightechnologygoodsisreviewed
favorablyinWashington.
VenugopalaRao,"India:MovingClosertoUSThroughTechnology?,"InterPressService,5March1985;inLexis
NexisAcademicUniverse,5March1985,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
January1985
IndianengineeringgiantLarsen&ToubrobeginsdrawingupplanstobuildaheavyengineeringworkshopatHazira
(Gujarat)tobuild"plantequipmentandmodulesfornuclearpowerplants,heavywatermachinery,androcket
casings"forIndia'snuclearandspaceprograms.
JagannathDubashi,"Larsen&Toubro:AimingHigh,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1631January1985,p.68.
1985
ProductionoftheMilan2antitankguidedmissile(ATGM)commencesatBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)in
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh).TheMilanATGMisbeingproducedunderlicensefromM/sEuromissile,France.
[Note:Milan2isa"manportable"ATGMwitharangeof252,000m.Themissilehasalengthandweightof
1,200mmand12.50kg,respectively.]
"BharatDynamicsLimited:DefenceProduction&Supply,"IndianArmedForces,www.indianarmedforces.com;
"Missiles:Milan2AntiTankMissileSystem,"DepartmentofDefenceProduction&Supplies:MinistryofDefence,
(GovernmentofIndia),p.122,www.defstand.gov.in.
19841980
19841985
Theproductioncapacityoftheammoniumperchlorate(AP)experimentalplantinAlwaye(Kerela)climbsto160
tonsannually.
Post1984
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)approachestheIndianInstitutesofTechnology(IIT)in
NewDelhitodevelopasmallworkingmodelofamultidirectionalweavingdevicetoweavecarbonfibersforthe
Agni'sreentryheatshield.However,Agni'sdesignteamisdissatisfiedwithIIT'seffortsanddecidestoimportasix
axisfilamentwindingmachinewithcomputercontrollersfromWestGermanyusinganIndiantextilemanufacturer
asafront.DRDLalsousesafrontcompanytoimportequipmentfromtheUnitedStatestoimpregnategraphite
intocarbonfiberusedintheheatshield.TheseareultimatelyusedtodevelopcarboncarbonfibersfortheAgni's
reentryvehicle.FourDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)andCouncilofScientific&Industrial
Researchlaboratoriesdevelopthecarboncarbontechnologywithin18months.DRDLengineersJ.C.Bhattacharya
andK.V.RamanaSaialsodecidetousetwo16bitIntel8086microprocessorsfortheAgni'sonboardcomputation
system.
[Note:Importsareroutedthroughfrontcompaniestodefeatmissilerelatedtechnologydenialcontrolsinformally
institutedbytheUnitedStates.]
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.346348;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"in
WingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress(India)Limited,1999),pp.138139.
Post1984
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)launchesanextensivecollaborativeeffortwith
technologicalacademicinstitutionsinthecountry.Stafffacultyandtheirstudentsarerecruitedtoparticipatein
missilerelatedprojects.JointadvancedtechnologyprogramsareinstitutedwiththeIISc,Bangalore(Karnataka),
andJadavpurUniversity,Jadavpur(WestBengal).SeveralotheracademicinstitutionssuchastheIndianInstitutes
ofTechnology(IIT)alsoparticipateinthedesignanddevelopmentofDefenseResearch&Development
Laboratory's(DRDL)missileprograms.AteamofgraduatestudentsatJadavpurUniversityledbyProfessor
Ghoshaldevelopsthe"guidancealgorithm"forthePrithvi.PostgraduatestudentsatIndianInstituteofSciences
(IISc)ledbyProfessorI.G.Sharmawritethesoftwaretoevaluatemultitargetacquisitionforsystemssuchasthe
AkashSAM.AteamofscientistsfromDRDOandIITinChennai(TamilNadu)developsareentryvehiclesystem
designmethodologyfortheAgnireentryvehicletechnologydemonstrator;similarlyateamofscientistsledby
ProfessorS.M.Deshpande,IISc,developssoftwareforcomputationalfluiddynamicsforhypersonicregimes,
whichisusedforpredictingtheAgnipayload'sbehaviorduringreentryintotheearth'satmosphere.Other
successfulcollaborativeeffortsincludethedevelopmentof"ferritephaseshifters"byProfessorBharatiBhattofIIT
(NewDelhi)andtheSolidStatePhysicsLaboratory,NewDelhiandCentralElectronicsLaboratoryinGhaziabad
(UttarPradesh).ProfessorSarafofIITinKharagpur(WestBengal)andB.K.MukhopadhyayofResearchCentre
Imarat(RCI)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)developa"millimetricwaveantenna"fortheNagseekerheadwithin
twoyears.TheNavigationalElectronicsResearch&TrainingUnitatOsmaniaUniversityinHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh)developsstateoftheartsignalprocessingalgorithmsortheNagantitankmissile.TheCentralElectrical
&ElectronicsResearchInstitute(CEERI)inPilani(Rajasthan)developsanimpactdiodeincollaborationwiththe
SpacePhysicsLaboratory(SPL)andRCI.
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.137139;"MillimeterWaveRadar,"ResearchHorizons(Atlanta:GeorgiaInstitute
ofTechnology),http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu.
Late1984
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)formsa"SpecialPurchaseTeam"tobuyvalves,
chips,microprocessors,andgyrosfortheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).IndianembassiesinLondon
andWashington,D.C.arrangespecialmeetingswithkeysuppliersintheUnitedStatesandBritainforthesupplyof
theseparts.Anticipatingsuppliercontrols,thepurchaseteamheadedbyJ.C.Bhattacharyapurchasesstocksforas
manyas50missiles,includingthoseforPrithvi,Agni,andTrishul.GyrosarepurchasedfromFranceandSweden;
hydraulicactuatorsacquiredfromFrance.Inaddition,computers,motionsimulatorsandthreeaxismeasuring
machinesareprocuredfromtheUnitedStatesandWestGermany,respectively.Thetotalbillforthesepurchases
in1984isestimatedat500millionrupees.[Note1:Actuatorsareusedinflightcontrolsystemsofmissiles.The
"flightcontrolsystemsetstheactuatorsoncontrolsurfacestointroducepitch,roll,and/oryaw;holdsthese
settingsuntiltheorientationhaschanged;andthenresetstheactuatorstomaintainthenewprofile."Anactuator
caneitherbe"rotaryorlinear.Arotaryactuatorcanbepoweredbyanelectricmotor...thisactuatormustnotonly
becapableofrotatingthecontrolsurfaceintoasignificantaerodynamicforce,butalsosupportingtheentiremass
ofthemissileduringhighaccelerationlaunchesandmaneuvers.Linearactuatorsareconnectedtocontrolsurfaces
throughmechanicallinkagesthatconvertthelinearactuatormotionintoanangularsurfacemotion.These
actuatorsarepoweredbyanelectricmotor,pressurizedgas,orhydraulicfluid.";Note2:Motionsimulatorsare
"precisionmachinesthatrotateamountingtableaboutmultipleaxesatpreciselyknownspeedsandangles.They
arenormallyusedinguidancedevelopmenttotestinstrumentsandinertialmeasurementunitassemblies."
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000)pp.315316;"CategoryIIItem10:FlightControl,"Missile
TechnologyControlRegime:AnnexHandbook,pp.102103;"CategoryIIItem9:Navigation,"pp.919.
October1984
ProfessorSatishDhawanretiresasChairmanoftheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO);ProfessorU.R.Rao
isappointedashissuccessor.Inaninterview,RaoemphasizesthepeacefulnatureofIndia'sspaceprogram.He
says,"ourspaceprogrammeisbasedonpeacefulapplications...ourentireprofileisveryopenandthereisnotone
elementofmilitarybusiness.Noneofoursatelliteshassofarbeendesignedforspying.Wearenotdoingit."
RajChengappa,"Space:ASmoothSuccession,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1631October1984,pp.7071.
October1984
OrissaChiefMinisterJ.B.PatnaikannouncesthattheuniongovernmenthasselectedBaliapalasthesiteforthe
proposedNationalTestingRange(NTR)totestanddevelopmissiles.[Note:Theuniongovernmentcitesthe
followingreasonsforselectingBaliapaloverotherpotentialmissiletestsites:
Distancefrommajorpopulationcenters
Distancefrommajorairandsearoutes
Flatterrainandabsenceofmineraldeposits
Goodweatherconditions;roughly200cleardaysayear
Shallowseabedtoenableeasymissilerecoveryaftertests
LocationoutsidethesurveillancerangeofPakistaniradars
Sitesufficientlylargetoaccommodatedownrangeinstrumentationsites
Locationtopermittestingofbothshortrangeandlongrangemissilesofrangesupto5,000km
Shallowcurvedshapeofcoastpermitseasytrackingofmissilesinthepostlaunchphase
Firmsoilconditionsallowconstructionofsupportinginfrastructure
Goodroadandrailcommunicationslinks]
ContestationofPlaceinIndia(Westport:PraegerPublishers,1993),pp.4041.
September1984
AseniorIndiandelegationledbytheDeputyMinisterforElectronicsDr.SanjeeviRaovisitstheSovietUnionto
purchasehighpoweredcomputersforIndia'sdefenseandnuclearindustry.TheSovietUnionagreestosupplyits
latestgeneration"Elbrus"computersystemtoIndiafor$20million.Undertheagreement,theUSSRagreesto
installthefirstElbrussystemin1985andsubsequentlysupplycomputerstoIndiaafteraoneyearprovingtime.
Thecomputersaretobeusedforsettinguparegionalcomputercenter.TheUSSRalsoagreestosellIndiatwo
othercomputerswithavaluebetweensixandeightmilliondollars.Indianrequeststoprocurefourthgeneration
computersarerejectedbytheUnitedStates,France,Britain,andJapanduetoapprehensionsthatthecomputers
mightbeusedforIndia'sdefenseandnuclearprograms.
D.P.Kumar,"IndiaturnstoSovietUnionforcomputers,"FinancialTimes(London),p.5;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,27September1984,http://web.lexisnexis.com;"SovietUniontogiveIndiasupercomputer,"Xinhua
GeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),26October1984;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,26October1984,
27September1984
Thescientificadvisortothedefenseminister,Dr.V.S.Arunachalam,leadsacomprehensivestatusreviewofthe
IntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP).DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)labs,the
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),academicinstitutions,andproductionagenciesparticipateinthe
review.Duringthereview,theDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)finalizesplanstoestablisha
modelhightechnologyresearchcenterwithadvancedtechnicalfacilitiesattheImaratKanchaareanear
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh).Theplannedfacilitiesinclude,"inertialinstrumentationlaboratory,fullscale
environmentalandelectronicwarfaretestfacilities,acompositesproductioncenter,ahighenthalpyfacility,anda
stateoftheartmissileintegrationandcheckoutcentre."ThefacilityisultimatelynamedResearchCentreImarat
(RCI).
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:Universities
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.125,130131.
August1984
NewsmediareportssuggestthattheUnitedStateshasrefusedtoclearthedealbetweentheBarodabasedNSF
andtheUSfirmHemlockontechnicalcollaborationforthemanufactureofpolycrystallinesilicon.However,Indian
officialsdenythesereportsandclaimthatHemlock'sapplicationisbeingconsidered"sympathetically"in
Washington.
T.N.Ninan,"TechnologyTransfer:RestrictivePractice,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1631August1984,p.56.
19July1984
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhivisitstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh).Dr.AbdulKalaminformsherthatthefirstflighttestofthePrithviisscheduledforJune1987.
26June1984
IndianscientistsdecidetotesttheattitudecontrolandonboardcomputersystemsdevelopedforthePrithvi
ballisticmissileprogram.TheyimprovisebytestingthesesubsystemsonamodifiedDevilmissile.ADevilmissileis
dismantled,modified,reconfigured,andsuccessfullytestfiredon26June1984.Thisflighttestisalsousedtotest
anIndianstrapdowninertialnavigationsystem.AccordingtoDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalam,thisisahistoriclandmarkin
thehistoryofIndia'smissiledevelopmentprogramasitmarkstheshiftfrom"reverseengineering"todesigning
indigenoussystems.
AprilJune1984
ADefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)teamleadbyDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalambeginsvisiting
academiccampusesaroundIndiatoaggressivelyrecruitengineersforIndia'smissileprogram.DRDLhopestohire
atleast300newengineersforitsprojects.
April1984
Anewlycreatedgovernmententity,NationalSiliconFacility(NSF),signsa900millionrupeecontractwiththeUS
basedHemlockSemiconductorsInc.tobuilda200tonplanttomanufacturepolycrystallinesiliconatBaroda
(Gujrat).Thenewplantisexpectedtocomeonlinein1988.[Note:Polysiliconisusedtomanufacturelargescale
integratedcircuitsandsolarphotovoltaiccells.]
"NationalSiliconFacility:ControversialContract,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),1631May1984,p.63.
1984
TheUnitedStatesandIndiasignamemorandumofunderstandingonhightechnologytransferstoIndia.Although
anagreementisreachedinprinciple,bothsideshavedifficultiesinarrivingatacommonlanguagetoputthe
agreementintoeffect.TheUnitedStatesinsiststhatIndiatakestepstopreventtechnologyleakagestotheSoviet
UnionandEastEuropeancountries.USofficialsalsodemandassurancesfromNewDelhithatthetechnologywill
notbeusedformakingnuclearweapons.
StevenR.Weisman,"USIndiaTechnologyAccordGains,"NewYorkTimes,3May1985,p.3;inLexisNexis
19831984
AmissilesubsystemteamledbyK.V.RamanaSaiandP.Banerjeedevelopsan"attitudecontrolsystem"andan
onboardcomputerforballisticmissiles.
19831984
Searchbeginsforasitetobuildadedicatedmissiletestrange.TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory
(DRDL)identifiesasuitablesitealongIndia'snortheasterncoastlinetobuildtesttheNationalTestingRange(NTR).
Pendingthecompletionofthenewtestrange,DRDLdecidestobuildaninterimfacilityadjacenttotheProof
ExperimentalEstablishmentatChandipurintheBalasoredistrictofOrissa.Threehundredmillionrupeesare
sanctionedtobuildadedicatedtestrangeforIndia'smissileprogramsand,inanunprecedenteddecision,the
constructioniscontractedtoaprivatesectorconstructionfirm.Intheinterim,Kalamandhisteamdecidetouse
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)facilitiesattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota
(AndhraPradesh)formissiletests.
19831985
TheAgnidesignteamsubmitsfourdifferentdesignsfortheAgni.AgniProjectDirectorR.N.AgarwalandDr.A.P.J.
AbdulKalamfavoranallsolidmotorconfigurationforthemissile.However,thesolidmotorconfigurationis
opposedbyDr.V.S.ArunachalamandR.Gopalaswami,whofavortheuseofthePrithvi'sliquidfueledenginesinat
leastonethemissile'sstages.Finally,theselectedconfigurationhasasolidfuelmotorderivedfromtheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)SLV3inthefirststageandliquidfueledenginesfromthePrithviinthe
secondstage.IndianscientistssaythatthehybridconfigurationistheresultoftheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)historicalexperiencewithdevelopingliquidfueledengines.[Note:The
timeframeoutlinedaboveisaroughestimate,asthereisnopubliclyavailableinformationthatprovidesprecise
informationonthedesign,development,andproductionphasesoftheAgni.]
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.345346.
October1983
ThegovernmentownedSCLcompletestheconstructionofa450millionrupeeplanttomanufacturelargescale
integratedcircuitsattheMohaliindustrialcomplexoutsideChandigarh(Punjab).Theplantwillmanufacture8bit
and16bitmicroprocessorsaswellas16KRAM.
T.N.Ninan,"Electronics:TheChipsareComing,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),15October1983,pp.5859.
Early1980s
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)decidestodevelopstrapdowninertialnavigation
systemsforballisticmissilesfor"uptoamediumrangeapplication."
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"InertialGuidanceandSensors,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems
(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December1998),p.156.
27July1983
IndiaformallyannouncesthelaunchingoftheIntegratedGuidedMissileProgram(IGMDP)todevelopafamilyof
missiles.ThefivemissilestobedevelopedbytheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)areashort
rangeballisticmissile(Prithvi),anintermediaterangeballisticmissile(IRBM;Agni),anantitankmissile(Nag),a
lowlevelsurfacetoairmissile(SAM;Trishul),andamediumrangeSAM(Akash).
Dr.N.C.Birla,ed.,"TheOrigins,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems(NewDelhi:DefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization,MinistryofDefense,1998),pp.ixx;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,
"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography,(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress(India)Limited,1999),pp.117
118.
July1983
TheIndiancabinetformallyapprovestheguidedmissileprogramandsanctions3.8billionrupeesfortheproject.
RajChengappa,"ArsenalForTheGods,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttoBeaNuclear
Power,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.279;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"in
17April1983
SuccessfullaunchoftheSLV3occurs.The23mhigh,fourstage,solidpropellantrocketplacesa40kgRSD2
satelliteintoanominalellipticalorbit(936kmatitsapogeeand420kmatitsperigee),ataninclinationof45
degreestotheequator.[Note:IndianrocketscientistshaveemphasizedthatalthoughIndia'sSLV3wasmodeled
ontheUSScout,itwasnotanexactcopy.Thelatterwouldhaveonlybeenpossiblethroughlicensemanufacture.
WhiledesigningtheSLV3,IndianscientistsdidusetheScout'sconfigurationanddesignparametersasa
reference,buttheyhadtodevelopthepropellants,materials,andsubsystemsindependently.SincetheScout
usedsolidpropellantmotorsfromUSmilitarymissiles,ithadbetteroptimizedlowerstages.Incontrasttothe
Scout,whichusedamonolithicsolidmotorinitsfirststage,theSLV3'sfirststagecomprisedofthreesegments.
TheuppertwostagesoftheSLV3hadfiberglasscasingstoreduceweight.However,inthefourthandfinalflight
oftheSLV3,thefourthstagewasmadeofKevlar,ahighstrengthfibertoreducetheweightofthemotorcasing
andsubsequentlyincreasetheweightofthepayload.AmericanscientistsmadethetransitiontoKevlarinthe
Scout'sfourthstagemuchearlier.Inaddition,theSLV3andScoutuseddifferentcontrolsystems.Lastly,theUS
Scouthadbetterguidancecapability.]
StewartSlavin,"Indialaunchessatellite,"Sunday,17April1983;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,17April1983,
http://web.lexisnexis.com;GopalRaj,"SLV3:India'sFirstLaunchVehicle,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionof
India'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.5759.
January1983
FirstlaunchofthesinglestageRH300soundingrocketoccurs.[Note:TheRH300islaterlengthenedto
accommodateanadditional100kgofpropellant.TheresultingRH300MkIIbecomesareplacementforthetwo
stageCentauresoundingrocketfirstacquiredinthe1960sfromFrance.]
GopalRaj,"FirstStepsinRocketry,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.41.
12January1983
IndiasuccessfullylaunchesaRH560rocketwitha90kgpayloadfromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)
inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).Therocketreachesanaltitudeof330kmandcarriesatechnologicalpayloadto
evaluatevariousaerodynamicandstructuralparametersofrockets.IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)
sourcesclaim,"theflighthasopeneduppossibilitiesforvariousapplicationsofrockettechnology."
"IndialaunchesRohini560rocket,"XinhuaGeneralOverseasNewsService(Beijing),14January1983;inLexis
1983
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)establishesanexternalfabricationofficeunderP.K.
Biswastocoordinateactivitieswithgovernmentowned,publicsectorunitsandotherprivatesectorcompanies
associatedwiththedevelopmentofmissilerelatedhardware.
1983
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalaminvolvestheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)inthePrithviprogrambyrequesting
itsliquidfueledengineexperts,includingA.E.MuthunayagamandN.Narayan,whoarebuildingtheVikasengine,
toconductanindependenttechnicalauditofthescaledupversionoftheDevil'sliquidpropulsionsystem
developedforthePrithvi.
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.313314.
1983
Explainingtherationaleforhisdecisioninfavorofliquidfueledengines,Dr.V.S.Arunachalamsays,"therewasa
verystronglocalreasonfordecidingthatPrithvishouldbepoweredbyliquidfueledengines.TheDRDL[Defense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory]spentyearsdevelopingit.Wewouldhavecompletelydemoralizedthe
laboratory[DRDL]ifwesaidweweregoingtospace[ISRO]togetasolidpropellant.Alsoweavoidedcatastrophic
failuresbecausetherewerenosurpriseswiththeengine.OurdecisionsawPrithvibecomingthemissiletobe
proveninthestablebecauseitalreadyhadaproventechnology."HisdecisionissecondedbyKalam,whosays,
"thefactwasthatDRDLhadtremendousamountofexperienceinliquidpropulsionsystems.Theyhadtestedthem
formorethanathousandsecondsandtherewasanexperiencedteamgeareduptobuildtheengine.Italsohad
theadvantageforshortrangemissilesbecauseyoucouldterminatetheengineanytime,givingthemissilegreater
amountofmaneuverability....don'tforget,ithassavedusalotofmoneyandbroughtdownourtimeschedules
considerably."
CitedinRajChengappa,"TheFunnyGuysDidIt,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobea
NuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.311312.
1983
DesignworkforthePrithvibeginsattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad
(AndhraPradesh).IndianscientistsdebatewhethertodevelopsolidmotorsorliquidfueledenginesforthePrithvi.
Kalamfavorsasolidfuelconfiguration.Hearguesthatsolidfueledmotorsarelesscomplexandeasiertomaintain
astheycanstorefuelforlongperiodsoftime.Solidfueledmotorsalsohavenopumpsorvalvesthatare
characteristicofliquidfueledengines.Unlikeliquidfueledmissiles,whicharetoxicandrequirecomplexhandling,
logisticssupport,andprolonglaunchpreparationsinthefieldbyasmanyas12hours,solidfueledmissilescanbe
firedquickly.However,theliquidpropellantlobbyarguesthatduetothepoorconditionsofIndianroads,cracks
coulddevelopinthesolidfuelcasts,whichinturnwouldhaveanegativeeffectonthemissile'sperformance.
Liquidfueledmissileswouldalsooffergreaterelasticityinrange(40150km)astheenginecouldbeshutdownby
turningoffthefuelsupply.Thiscouldbeachievedwithsolidfuelmotorsaswell,butwouldrequirecomplex
thrustterminationtechnologyincludingflexiblenozzles,whichDRDLwouldhavetodevelopseparately.Those
favoringliquidfueledenginesalsoarguethatDRDL'sorganizationalrivalrywiththeIndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)andhistoryofdevelopingtheDevilandValiantenginesgiveitanaturaladvantagein
continuingwithliquidfueledengines.IISROcitestimeandorganizationalconstraintsandexpressesreluctancein
designingasolidfuelmotorforPrithvi.Ultimately,DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)
DirectorDr.V.S.Arunachalamdecidesinfavorofliquidfueledengines.
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.309311;StevenM.Flank,"IndianMissileandSpace
Programs:StrategicAlliancevs.NationalConsensus,"inReconstructingRockets:ThePoliticsofDevelopingMilitary
TechnologyinBrazil,India,andIsrael,Ph.D.Dissertation,MIT,1993,pp.131194;DuncanLennox,ed.,Jane's
StrategicWeaponsSystems,Issue32,2000,pp.7576.
1983
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamappointsprojectdirectorsforthemissileprograms.
ColonelV.J.Sundaram:Prithvi
CommodoreS.R.Mohan:Trishul
R.N.Agarwal:Agni
R.R.Prahlada:Akash
N.R.Iyer:Nag
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography,(Hyderabad:Universities
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.122123;RajChengappa,"TheDevil'sWorkshop,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecret
StoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.163.
2November1982
DefenseMinisterR.VenkataramaninformsparliamentthatIndiahastheinfrastructuretomanufactureantitank
andsurfacetosurfacemissiles(SSMs).TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)isalso
developinganumberoftechnologiesforantitankandsurfacetoairmissiles(SAMs).
"ProductionofSurfacetoAirMissilesBegins,"DelhiDomesticService,2November1982,inFBISDocument,
"India,"VIII.p.E2.
19821983
DefenseMinisterR.Venkataraman,hisscientificadvisor,Dr.V.S.Arunachalam,andDr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamdecide
thattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)shouldfocusonbuildingstrategicmissilesthatwill
meetIndia'srequirementsbeyondtheyear2000.Theydecidetoapportion10%oftheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)annualbudgetfortheproject.KalamanticipatesthattheUnitedStatesandits
WesternallieswilltryanddenycriticalmissilerelatedtechnologiestoIndia.DRDLdecidestodefeatthe
anticipateddenialsbypurchasingtherequisitetechnologiesabroadanddevelopingkeytechnologies
simultaneously.DRDLidentifiesfivecriticaltechnologiesthatwillhavetobedevelopedindigenously.These
include,"phaseshiftersforradars,impactdiodesthatactashighfrequencypowersources,carboncarbon
compositestowithstandtheheatofreentry,keysensorsforguidancesystems,andcomputerizedfluiddynamic
models."
12September1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalammakesaformalpresentationforaprospectiveguidedmissileprogrambeforeDefense
MinisterR.Venkataraman,thethreeservicechiefs,theuniongovernmentsecretariesfordefenseand
expenditure.HeproposesthatIndiadevelopasurfacetosurfacemissile(SSM)capableofdeliveringahalforone
tonwarheadoverarangeof150250km(SS150);amultirolesurfacetoairmissile(SAM)calledTacticalCombat
Vehicle(TCV);astateoftheartSAMthatcouldengagemultipletargetscalledSAMX;anantitankmissilewith
"fireandforget"capabilitiestermedATM3;andfinally,anintermediaterangeballisticmissilecodenamedREX(Re
EntryVehicleProjectX).Kalamestimatestotalprojectcostsat3.9billionrupees;healsoexpectstheprojecttobe
completedwithin12years.KalamproposesthatIndiafirstdeveloptheTCVandSS150beforeattemptingthe
developmentofothermissiles.However,DefenseMinisterVenkataramanpersuadestheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)toundertakethedevelopmentofallmissilessimultaneously.Anestimateof3.9
billionrupeesispresentedtothedefenseminister,whichisthensenttothecabinetforapproval.
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.113114;RajChengappa,"ArsenalForTheGods,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecret
StoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.276279.
26June1982
InanaddresstotheIndianparliament'sconsultativecommitteeondefense,DefenseMinisterR.Venkataraman
saysthatalotofworkhasbeendoneonmissiles,includingtheirguidancesystem.Healsoinformsthecommittee
membersthataplantisbeingbuiltinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)forproducingspecialalloysforaircraft.
"DefenseMinisteronWeaponsDevelopment,"DelhiDomesticService,26June1982,inFBISDocument,"India,"
VIII,30June1982,p.E1.
June1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamformsacommitteetodrawupa"clearandwelldefinedprogrammefortheproductionof
indigenousmissiles."CommitteemembersincludeZ.P.Marshall,N.R.Iyer,A.K.Kapoor,andK.S.Venkataraman.
Thecommitteestudiesthedesignof16differentmissilesandanalyzestherangeoftasksinvolvedfromdeveloping
technologies,toactuallyproducing,testing,anddeployingthemissiles,anddraftsapaperonthefutureofIndia's
indigenousmissileprogramsfortheconsiderationoftheCabinetCommitteeonPoliticalAffairs(CCPA).
Press(India)Limited,1999),pp.113;RajChengappa,"ArsenalForTheGods,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStory
ofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),p.276.
1June1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamformallyjoinstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad
(AndhraPradesh).
June1982
TheDepartmentofSpaceclearsproposalstobuildtheASLVandPSLVandapportions197.3millionrupeesforthe
ASLVprogram.[Note:ThefourstagesoftheSLV3willformthe"coreoftheASLV,withtwostraponmotors,each
identicaltotheSLV3'sfirststage."UnliketheSLV3,whichusesanopenloopguidancesystem,theASLVwillusea
combinationofan"openloop"and"closedloop"orinertialguidancesystems,whichwillallowittoplacesatellites
ina400kmnearcircularorbitwithgreaterprecision.TheASLVwillbedesignedtoflywithan"openloop"inthe
firststageofitsflight.The"closedloop"guidancewillbeginoperationinthesecondstageandjettisonedafterthe
thirdstageofflight.TheASLVwillalsocarrya"bulbousheatshieldsothatsatelliteslargerthantherocket's
diameter"canbeaccommodated.UnliketheSLV3,whichwasintegratedhorizontallyandthenraisedtoavertical
positionforlaunch,theASLVwillbeintegratedverticallyinaMobileServiceTower(MST).]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.127131.
18April1982
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)secretaryDr.Y.S.RajanreportsthatIndiahasbegunconstructingtest
facilitiesforaliquidrocketmotorVikasatMahendragiri(TamilNadu).Thefacility,whichisbeingbuiltin
collaborationwithWestGermany'shelp,willcomeunderthedirectcontrolofVSSC,Thiruvanathapuram(Kerela).
WorkonanengineeringmodelandaprototypeoftheVikasliquidrocketenginehasalreadystarted.
"Rocketry,"NewDelhiHomeService,18April1982;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexisAcademic
April1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamvisitstheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad(Andhra
Pradesh).Heisbriefedonthelaboratory's"fivestaffprojects,"and"sixteencompetencebuildingprojects."The
laboratoryisalsoinvolvedindevelopingseveraltechnologieswiththeobjectiveofgaining"leadtime"forthe
developmentofindigenousmissilesystemsinthefuture.KalamisimpressedbytheDRDL'seffortstodevelop
"twin30ton"liquidpropellantengines.
16March1982
DefenseMinisterR.VenkataramantellsparliamentthatIndiaisevolvingalongtermdefensestrategy.However,
herefusestodivulge"anythingmore"aboutthelongtermpreparations.
"Minister:CountryPreparedForAnyThreat,"AFP(HongKong),16March1982,inFBISDocument,"India,"VIII,
17March1982,p.E1.
4February1982
TheDirectorofSACProfessorU.R.RaodisclosesthatIndia'snextsatellitelaunchvehiclecapableoflaunchinga
150kgsatellite,willbereadywithintwoyears.
"SpaceEffort,"NewDelhiHomeService,4February1982;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexis
February1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamappointeddirectoroftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)in
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh).[Note:KalamreceivedanhonorarydoctoratefromAnnaUniversityin1982.]
1982
Dr.V.S.Arunachalamisappointedscientificadvisortothedefenseminister.
RajChengappa,"TheLawyerAndTheBlacksmith,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobea
NuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.264.
1982
Dr.A.P.J.AbdulKalamundertakesanintensivefailureanalysisoftheDefenseResearch&Development
Laboratory's(DRDL)earliermissileprojects.HeidentifiestheDRDL'skeyfailuresaspoorinteractionwithuser
servicessuchastheArmyandAirForce,overemphasisoninhouseresearchasagainstsubcontractingtoprivate
sectorcompanies,andacademicinstitutions,andthepaucityoffundsatcriticalstagesofprojects.Kalamdrawson
hismanagerialexperienceattheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)tointroduceorganizationalchangesat
DRDL.DRDLisreorganizedwithaGuidedMissileBoardatthetopwithDr.V.S.ArunachalamasthechairandDr.
A.P.J.AbdulKalamassecretary.Theboardincludessecretariesfromthedefenseandfinanceministries,theheads
ofkeypublicsectorindustriesinvolvedinproduction,andthevicechiefsofthearmedservices.Atthemiddle
organizationallevel,aProgrammeManagementBoardisconstitutedwithKalamasitschair.Theboardincludes
theheadsofalllaboratoriesinvolvedinthemissileprogramaswellasseniorofficersfromthearmedservices.At
thebottomtier,KalamformsaProjectManagementBoardheadedbyindividualmissileprojectdirectorswith
representativesfrompublicsectorcompaniesandthearmedservices.Theseorganizationalchangesare
introducedtoensureeffectivecoordinationbetweenallagenciesinvolvedintheprogram.Insteadofdeveloping
thekeytechnologiesinhouse,Kalamandhisteamdecidetoadopttheconsortiumapproachandcollaboratewith
researchinstitutes,universities,andprivatesectorcompanies.Toavoidpastfailures,KalamalsoadoptsISRO's
peerreviewculturetoprovidescientistswithanegativefeedbackloopduringthedesignanddevelopment
process.ISROexpertsareinvitedtoprovideaninformalpoolingofknowledgeforthemissileprogram.DRDL
adoptsa"concurrentengineering"modelofdevelopmentandproduction.Underthismodel,oncethe
commitmentoftheuserandflexibilityoftheweaponsystemareestablished,theprogramofdevelopment,user
interaction,industryinteraction,andactualproductionaretightlycoupledtominimizethetimegapbetween
developmentandfinalserialproduction.
RajChengappa,"ArsenalForTheGods,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power,(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishers,2000),pp.279284;RajChengappa,"TheMissileMan,"IndiaToday
(NewDelhi),15April1994,p.44;Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"AnOverviewofMissileTechnology,"in
IndianDefenseTechnology:MissileSystems,(NewDelhi:DefenceResearchandDevelopmentOrganization,
MinistryofDefence,GovernmentofIndia,1998),pp.26;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Propitiation,"in
4December1981
AlthoughtheIndiangovernmentmaintainsthatitsspaceprogramisforpurelypeacefulpurposes,independent
observersbelievethattherocketscouldbeusedformilitarypurposes.Pointingoutthatallsatellitelaunchvehicles
(SLVs)havethepotentialtobemissiles,IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)chairmanProfessorS.Dhawan
insiststhat"thegovernmentofIndia'spolicyisthatitsspaceprogramisapeacefuleffort...buttherocketislikea
knifeinthekitchen.Itcouldbeamurderweaponorathingtocutvegetables.Therocketdoesn'tknowthe
difference.It'sthehandthatusesit."DhawanreiteratesthatISROisnotworkingonamissileprogram.Hesays,
"wecangetapayloadintoorbit.Tobringdownapayloadfromorbittoaspecifiedpointontheground,whichisa
militarytarget,requiresanotherformoftechnology,whichIhastentoaddcanbedevelopedbythespace
engineers."
StuartAuerbach,"PeacefulIndianProgramHasMilitaryPotential,"WashingtonPost,p.C5,4December1981;in
9June1981
India'sspaceprogramreceivesasetbackastheRohinisatellite(RSD1),launchedonboardtheSLV3on31May
1981,isunabletomaintainitsorbit.Thesatellitewasexpectedtoremaininorbitfor300days.Indianscientists
haveyettodeterminethecauseofthefailure.ButanIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)spokesperson
saysthatbecausethesatellitekeptspiraling,itcouldnottakepicturesandlocateimportantlandmarkswithwell
knowncoordinates.
RichardS.Ehrlich,"India'sspaceprogramcrashestoearth,"International,9June1981;inLexisNexisAcademic
Universe,9June1981,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
31May1981
Indiasuccessfullylaunchesa38kgRohinisatellite(RSD1)onboardtheSLV3.ThisisthethirdtestflightoftheSLV
3.ThePressTrustofIndia(PTI)reportsthatthelaunchingis"notconnectedwiththetestingofmissilesystems."
"RohiniSatelliteSuccessfullyLaunched31May,"DelhiDomesticService(NewDelhi),31May1981,inFBIS
Document,"India,"VIII,1June1981,p.E1;"ISIGivesDetailsofUpcomingSatelliteLaunch,"Diplomatic
InformationService,7May1981,inFBISDocument,"India,"VIII,7May1981,p.E2;"Indiafiressecondsatellitein
orbit,"International,31May1981,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,31May1981,http://web.lexisnexis.com;
K.K.Sharma,"Newdevelopmentscomeclosetomatchingcapabilitiesofmoreadvancednations,"FinancialTimes
(London),24May1982,p.V,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,24May1982,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
17April1981
TheFederalGermanAerospaceResearchEstablishmentDFVLRandtheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)
conductajointtestflightofanIndiansoundingrocketcarryingIndianandWestGermanpayloads.Thelaunchis
partofacollaborationprogrambetweenISROandDFVLR"todevelopmodernaltitudesensingdevicesusinga
radiofrequencyandtoperfectthedeterminationandcorrectionofthealtitudeofsatellites."TheDirectorofVSSC
V.R.Gowarikersays,"therocketcarriedaninterferometerandaradioreceiverwithashortwavebanddeveloped
byISROandanonboardcomputer,camera,andotherdevicesprovidedbytheDFVLR."Therocketflewtoaheight
of130kmanditsperformancewasnormal.
"India,WestGermanyTestIndianMadeRocket,"XinhuaNewsAgency(Beijing),20April1981;inLexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,21April1981,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
19February1981
MinisterofStateforDefenseC.P.N.Singhtellsparliamentthatthegovernmenthasplanstolaunchanimproved
versionoftheSLV3.Thenewvariantwillhaveadditionalstraponrocketstogivegreaterthrust;therocketwillbe
capableofputtinga150kgsatelliteinorbit.Theprojectednewversion,AugmentedSatelliteLaunchVehicle
(ASLV),willberoughlycomparabletotheadvancedversionoftheUSScoutvehicle.Theministeralsodiscloses
thatthereisaproposaltodevelopamorepowerfullaunchvehiclecapableofplacing600kgclassofsatellitesin
sunsynchronouspolarorbits.
"PlansforImprovedSatelliteTechnologyNoted,"AFP(HongKong),19February1981,inFBISDocument,"India,"
VIII,26February1981,p.E2.
January1981
ThescientificadvisortothedefenseministerDr.RajaRamannaoffersA.P.J.AbdulKalamdirectorshipofthe
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)withthemandateofreviving
India'sguidedmissileprogram.[Note:Dr.RajaRamannaoversaweffortstoconductIndia'sfirstnucleartestinMay
1974.]
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Creation,"inWingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:Universities
1981
ThegovernmentownedSemiconductorComplexLtd.(SCL)inChandigarh(Punjab)signsacontractwiththe
CaliforniabasedAmericanMicrosystemsInc.(AMI)tobuildaplanttomanufacturelargescaleintegratedchips
(LSIs)inIndia.[Note:Largescaleintegratedchipshaveapplicationsinindustrial,defense,andspacesectors.]
T.N.Ninan,"Electronics:TheChipsareComing,"IndiaToday(NewDelhi),15October1983,pp.5859.
19801981
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)decidestobuildanewlaunchvehicleAugmentedSatelliteLaunch
Vehicle(ASLV)toactasabridgebetweentheSLV3andlargersatellitelaunchvehiclestolaunchoperational
satellitesinorbit.ISRO'sAnnualReportstates,"themaingoalofthisprojectistoachieveinabouttwotothree
yearstimeanaugmentedsatellitelaunchvehiclebasedontheSLV3,asthecorewithminimummodifications,but
capableofplacinga150kgpayloadinnearearthorbitfromSHAR[theSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange]."[Note:
ISROhopestousetheASLVasanintermediatevehiclebetweentheSLV3andthemoreambitiousPolarSatellite
LaunchVehicle(PSLV)totestcriticaltechnologiesforthePSLV.ThedevelopmentofanASLVisalsoviewedasa
meanstogiveISROpublicityduringthedecadelongeffortrequiredtodevelopthePSLV.]
PostAugust1980
A.P.J.AbdulKalamisappointeddirectorofIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)AerospaceDynamics&
Designgroup.KalamandSivathanuPillaiconducttheoreticalstudiesontheapplicationofciviliansatellitelaunch
vehicle(SLV)technologiesforballisticmissiles.TheyconcludethattheSLV3solidrocketmotorscanmeetthe
requirementsofshortandintermediaterange(rangesofupto4,000km)ballisticmissiles.Thedevelopmentof
oneadditionalsolidfuelboosterof"1.8mdiameterwith36tonsofpropellant"couldbeusedtobuildan
intercontinentalballisticmissile(ICBM)(arangeofmorethan5,000kmwitha1,000kgpayload).[Note:These
conceptsfindapplicationsintheformulationoftheReentryExperiment(REX),whichislaternamedAgni.]
1August1980
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhipresidesoverameetingoftheparliament'sconsultativecommitteeofthedefense
ministry.ThecommitteeistoldthataprojecttodevelopmissilesinIndiaisunderway.Inaddition,theDefense
Research&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)isalsodevelopingagasturbineengineforafuturefighteraircraft.
"ProjecttoDevelopMissilesUnderway,"AFP(HongKong),1August1980,inFBISDocument,"India,"VIII,4
August1980,p.E4.
25July1980
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhiallaysfearsthatIndiamightusespinoffsfromtheSLV3formilitarypurposes.She
saysthatsuchfearsareunwarrantedandallmajorachievementsofIndiansciencesofarhavebeenforpeaceful
purposes.
"GandhiDisclaimsIntentforMilitaryUseofSatellite,"DelhiGeneralOverseasService,25July1980;inFBIS
Document,"India,"VIII.28July1980,p.E2.
23July1980
MinisterofStateforDefenseC.P.N.Singhinformsparliamentthatapreliminaryanalysisofthedatacollectedfrom
the18JulylaunchoftheSLV3indicatesthattheperformanceparametersofthevehiclewerebetterthan
predicted.Asaresult,itisassessedthattheSLV3vehiclewillbeabletoplacea60kgpayloadinorbitduringfuture
launches.
"UpperHouseCongratulatesScientistsonSLV3Success,"DelhiDomesticService,23July1980,inFBIS
Document,"India,"VIII,24July1980,pp.E1E2.
18July1980
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ChairmanProfessorS.DhawansaysthatthesuccessfulSLV3launch
givesIndiathecapabilitytodevelopintermediaterangeballisticmissiles(IRBMs).AccordingtoDhawan,"any
countrywhichcanplaceasatelliteinorbitcandevelopanIRBM."
StuartAuerbach,"IndiaBecomes6thCountrytoPutSatelliteinOrbit,"WashingtonPost,18July1980;inLexis
18July1980
Secondexperimentallaunchofthe17tonSLV3;Rohinisatellitesuccessfullyplacedinorbit.PrimeMinisterIndira
Gandhiinformsparliamentthat"thefourstage,allsolidpropellantvehiclehasbeendevelopedinIndiabyIndian
scientistsandengineers.ThetotaldevelopmentcostofSLV3isabout200millionrupeesandthepresent
experimentallaunchhascostabout10millionrupees."
"GandhiMakesStatementon18JulySatelliteLaunch,"ISIDiplomaticInformationService,19July1980,inFBIS
Document,"India,"VIII.21July1980,pp.E1E2;StuartAuerbach,"IndiaBecomes6thCountrytoPutSatellitein
Orbit,"WashingtonPost,18July1980,inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,19July1980,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
February1980
TheIndiangovernmentcancelsProjectDevil,theprogramtoreverseengineertheSovietSA2surfacetoair
missile(SAM);theIndianAirForcedecidestoprocurePechoraSAMbatteriesfromtheSovietUnion.Defense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)DirectorV.S.Narayanandisputesthegovernment'sdecisionand
tendershisresignation.S.L.BansalisappointednewdirectorofDRDLwiththemandatetoreviveIndia'sflagging
missileprogram.
RajChengappa,"TheBoatOwner'sSon,"inWeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Limited,2000),pp.233234.
22January1980
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)conductssuccessfultestofa30tonthrust,liquidfueled
enginebuiltfortheValiantballisticmissileprogram.[Note:The30tonthrust,liquidfueledengineusesa
propellantcombinationofredfumingnitricacid(RFNA)oxidizerandunsymmetricaldimethylhydrazinefuel.By
1998,DRDLconductedthreestatictestsofthisengineforburndurationsvaryingfrom5to30seconds.]
RajChengappa,"EndTheWinkAndNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobe
aNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Limited,2000);Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,
eds.,"PropulsionSystems,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems,(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December
1998),pp.99,102.
1980
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)DirectorS.L.BansalrevivesProjectValiant;healsodrawsup
ambitiousplanstobuildaseriesofmissiles.
RajChengappa,"TheBoatOwner'sSon,"inWeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndiaPvt.Limited,2000),p.234.
1980
VedPrakashSandlasreplacesA.P.J.AbdulKalamasprojectdirectorofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)program.
Press(India)Limited,1999),p.101;GopalRaj,"SLV3:India'sFirstLaunchVehicle,"ReachfortheStars:The
EvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme,(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.72.
1980
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)terminatesplanstobuildthethreetonthrustliquidfueledengineand
decidesinsteadtofocusonacquiringtheVikingliquidenginetechnologyfromFrance.
GopalRaj,"EarlyInitiativesinLiquidPropulsion,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme
19791975
11August1979
ApostflightreviewcommitteeappointedtoanalyzethecausesoftheSLV3launchmishapconcludesthatlaunch
failureoccurredduetoafailureinthesecondstagecontrolsystem.A"solenoidvalve"intheoxidizertank
remainedopenafterthefirstcommandatT8minutes,whichresultedinthedrainageoftheredfumingnitricacid
(RFNA),usedastheoxidizer.Asaresult,nocontrolforcewasavailableduringthesecondstageflight,resultingin
thevehiclebecameaerodynamicallyunstable,losingvelocityandaltitude.Thisfinallycausedthevehicletoplunge
intotheseabeforetheotherstagescouldignite.
A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Creation,"WingsofFire:AnAutobiography(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress
(India)Limited,1999),pp.9596.
10August1979
FirstexperimentallaunchoftheSLV3withtheRohiniTechnologyPayloadat0228GMTfromtheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).Therocketfailstoplacethepayloadinorbit.AnIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)pressreleasesaysthattheflightwasonlypartiallysuccessfulfollowingthe
abnormalbehaviorofthesecondstageofthefourstagevehicle.Whiletheliftoffandseparationofthebooster
stagewasnormal,thesecondstageshowedabnormalchangeinflightattitude,preventingthepayloadfrom
attainingfullaltitudeandvelocity.Theflightterminatedafterfiveminutesand15seconds,andthefirststage
motorandpayloadcrashedintotheBayofBengal,about500kmfromSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).[Note:The
SLV3isafourstagesolidpropellantvehicle,22mtall,andhavingaliftoffweightof16.9tons.Thevehicle'sfirst
stageof1,000mmdiameterismadeupof15CDV6steelandisloadedwith8,660kgpolybutadieneacrylicacid
acrilonitrile(PBAN)propellant.It'sactiontimeis49secondsandaveragethrustdevelopedis441kN.Thestageis
controlledbysecondarythrustvectorandmovablefintips.Thesecondstageis800mmindiameter.Itisalsobuilt
of15CDV6steeland3,150kgofPBANpropellant.Actiontimeis39.9secondsandaveragethrustdevelopedis196
kN.Thisstageiscontrolledbyabipropellantreactioncontrolsystem.Thethirdstagehasadiameterof815mmand
ismadeoffiberreinforcedplastic.Ithas1,060kgofHEF20propellant.Theactiontimeis45secondsandaverage
thrustdevelopedis64kN.Thisstageiscontrolledbymonopropellantreactioncontrolsystem.Thefourthstagehas
adiameterof657mmandisalsomadeoffiberreinforcedplastic.Ithas262kgHEF20propellant.Theactiontime
is33secondsandtheaveragethrustdevelopedis21kN.Thefourthstageis"spinstabilized."Allfourstagesare
interconnectedbyaluminumalloyinterstageshousinginstrumentation,controlsystem,andseparationsystem.]
"LaunchofSLV3,"NewDelhiHomeService,10August1979;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,LexisNexis
AcademicUniverse,22August1979,http://web.lexisnexis.com;R.Nagappa,M.R.Kurup,andA.E.
Muthunayagam,"ISRO'sSolidRocketMotors,"ActaAstronautica,vol.19,no.8,1989,pp.683684.
23July1979
AccordingtothechairmanofIndia'sSpaceCommission,ProfessorSatishDhawan,Indiahasthecapabilitytobuild
intermediaterangeballisticmissiles(IRBM),ifthemilitaryrequiresthem.However,theIndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)isdevelopingrocketsforpeacefulpurposesandisnotcollaboratingwiththedefense
departmenttobuildmissiles.Dhawansaysthat,"wewouldhavelargerlaunchersifthemilitaryweregivinga
push."ArocketexpertattheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)saysthatthe
fourthstageoftheSLV3cantheoreticallybesubstitutedbyawarhead.
"BallisticMissileCapability,"PressTrustofIndia(NewDelhi),23July1979;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,15August1979,www.lexisnexis.com.
15February1979
IndianDefenseMinisterJagjivanRamtellstheparliament'sconsultativecommitteeondefensethatIndiahasplans
toequipitsarmedforceswiththemostsophisticatedmissiles.Amissilecommitteeappointedbythedefense
ministryhasrecommendedthatinadditionprocuringmissilesfromabroad,Indiashouldplantodevelopand
producemissilesindigenously.
"MissilesForArmedForces,"NewDelhiHomeService,15February1979;inBBCSummaryofWorldBroadcasts,
LexisNexisAcademicUniverse,7March1979,http://web.lexisnexis.com.
JanuaryMarch1979
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)beginsintegrationoftheSLV3vehiclesystem.
"MajorMilestoneEventsDuring197778and1979,"AnnualReport:197879,DepartmentofSpace
(GovernmentofIndia).
January1979
Statictestofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)secondstageflightmotor.Withtheconclusionofthistest,allstage
motorsarequalifiedforflight.TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)alsoqualifiesalltherocket
interstagesandbeginspreparationstobeginassemblingthelaunchvehicle.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19781979,p.16.
January1979
TheBalasorerocketlaunchingstation(Orissa)becomesoperationalwiththelaunchingofanRH200sounding
rocket.[Note:Indialaunchedatotalof182RH200soundingrocketsin1979aspartoftheMonsoonExperiment
(Monex).]
1979
TheUnitedStatesbansthesaleofpolybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)bindersusedinsolidpropellants
toIndia.
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.9091.
1979
TheuniongovernmentacceptsaproposaltobuildaNationalTestingRange(NTR)fortestingrocketsandmissiles
atBaliapal(Orissa)inprinciple.
December1978
Between197678,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)reinforcedplasticsfacilityproducesatotalof
sixstagethreemotorcases,19stagefourmotorcases,148ignitercasesand12gasbottlesforthesatellitelaunch
vehicle(SLV)andRohiniSoundingRocket(RSR)programs.
OctoberDecember1978
Successfulstatictestofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)firststageflightmotorwithSecondaryInjectionThrust
VectorControl(SITVC):
Qualificationofthefintipcontrolsystem
Qualificationofbipropellantmotorsforthesecondstagereactioncontrolsystem;Monopropellant
thrustersfortheSLVthirdstagearehottested
VibrationandshocktestsonSLV3heatshield
SLV3launcherloadtest
"MajorMilestoneEventsDuring197778and1979,"AnnualReport:197879,DepartmentofSpace
(GovernmentofIndia);DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport19781979,p.17.
JulySeptember1978
IntegrationoftheSecondaryInjectionThrustVectorControl(SITVC)systemfortheSLV3firststagecomplete:
QualificationofinertialsubsystemsfortheSLV3
EnvironmentalqualificationofSLV3fourthstage
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),"MajorMilestoneEventsDuring197778and1979,"Annual
Report:19781979.
AprilJune1978
ErectionofSLV3launchercompleted:
SLV3firststagenozzlemodified
Report:19781979.
JanuaryMarch1978
HighaltitudetestsoncontrolrocketsforSLV3:
FabricationandassemblyofSLV3mockupmodelstructure.
Designreviewofproblemsencounteredinsatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)secondstagenozzle.
AwardofcontractstoHALandothercompaniesforthefabricationofSLVstructuralelements,assembly,
andtestfixtures.
Report:19781979.
1978
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)commissionsathermalhumiditychamberattheStaticTest&
EvaluationComplex(STEX),theSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).Civil
engineeringandelectricalworksarealsocompletedonasecondhighaltitudetest(HAT)facilityatSHAR.[Note:A
thermalhumiditychamberisusedtoperformclimaticandacceleratedageingtestsofupperstagemotorsandsub
systemsoflaunchvehicles.]
1978
Twentysatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)stagemotorsareproducedattheSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant
(SPROB),theSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).A100litersigmaprocessor
forprocessingpropellantiscommissionedatSPROB;another1,000litermixerisinstalledattheRocketPropellant
Plant(RPP)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela).
ThenondestructivetestfacilityatSPROB,withits400KVxrayfacility,isusedextensivelyfortestingSLV
stagemotors,liquidenginenozzles,andigniters.
RPPproduces51tonsofpropellants.Processdevelopmentsincludemodificationsneededtoavoidcracks
intheSLVsecondstageflightmotor.Afluidjetcuttingfacilityisemployedtorecovermotorcase
hardwarefromdefectivepropellantgrains.
ThePropellantFuelComplex(PFC)produces24tonsofvariousresins,plasticizers,andchemicalsneeded
fortheSLVandRohiniSoundingRocket(RSR)programs.
Anewplantiscommissionedtoaugmentpolybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)productionto
7.5tonsperannum.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19781979,pp.2223.
1978
Qualificationoftheprotomodelofathreeaxis,fourgimbalinertialmeasurementunit(IMU).
1978
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsthatfacilitiesforthelaunchsupportandtrackingofthe
satellitelaunchvehicle(SLV),whichincludetheblockhouse,launchpads,controlcenter,vehicletelemetry,
telecommandandtrackingsystems,datalinks,rangetiming,closedcircuitTV,intercommunication,computers,
andrangesafetyattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh),areinanadvanced
stageofcompletion.
1978
Aninsulatedfacilitytomeasureelectromagneticinterferenceonelectronicpackagesnearscompletion.TheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),BhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC),andIndoBurmahPetroleumalso
jointlyundertakeaprojecttodesignanddevelopa4mthermovacuumchambertoprovidelargerenvironmental
testfacilitiesforspacecraft.
1978
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)engineerscontinueparticipationintheprogramtodeveloptheVikas
liquidfuelenginewiththeFrenchfirmSEP.AspartoftheagreementwithFrance,Indiareceivesmostofthe
documentsanddrawingsonsystemsdescription,specifications,fabrication,testing,andanalysisrelatedtothe
engine.[Note:AspartofthecontractwithFrance,inpartpaymentforthetechnology,highqualitypressure
transducersmanufacturedatthePressureTransducerUnit(PTU)areexportedtoFrance.Over4,000transducers
worth9millionfrancsaredeliveredtoFranceuntiltheendof1979.]
1978
Thegasgeneratorsystemforthethreetonpressurefedengineisqualified;downratedtestsonthethreeton
turbopumpsystemscoupledwiththegasgeneratorarecompleted:
Hardwareforlongburningthreetonengineforpossibleupperstageapplicationsiscompleted.
Thethreetonthrustliquidfuelengineistestedasasinglestagerocket.However,"sloshingandvortex
development,"causetheenginetoshutdownprematurely.
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.113;DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),Annual
Report:19781979,p.21.
1978
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)commissionsa150toncapacityammoniumperchlorate(AP)plantatAlwaye
(Kerela).Theplantisformallyinauguratedin1979.However,theplantisbarelyabletoproducemorethan40tons
ofAPduetolowdemandfromISROandanelectrodeprocessproductionbottleneck.
OctoberDecember1977
FirstcontrolledflightoftheRH560validatesvehiclecontrolphilosophyandhardwaredesign:
QualificationofspinupandseparationsystemsfortheSLV3.
Successfulstatictestof[segmented]firststageflightmotor.
Report:19781979.
August1977
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)commissionsthesatellitelaunchvehiclecomplexfortheSLV3at
theSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR).
JulySeptember1977
Statictestofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)secondstageflightmotor.TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization
(ISRO)alsosuccessfullyprovesmotorsegmentationtechnologyusedtocastthefirststagemotor.
Report:19781979.
AprilJune1977
Statictestofsatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)thirdstageproofmotorattheStaticTest&EvaluationComplex(STEX).
TheSLV3heatshieldanditsjettisoningsystemarequalifiedinaseriesoftestssimulatingflightenvironments
suchaszerogravity,severeheat,andaerodynamicloadingexperiencedduringascentofthevehicleinthe
atmosphere,vibration,andshock.
Report:19781979.
27March1977
TestofthefirststagemonolithicSLV3motor;motorexplodesduringthetest.Asaresultofthefailure,theIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)decidestoproceedwiththeoriginalplanforasegmentedsolidpropellant
motorusingpolybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)binderresin.
27March1977
ThefirstphaseoftheSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant(SPROB)iscompletedatacostof77.4millionrupees.
AlthoughmostoftheequipmentfortheplantismanufacturedinIndia,criticalfacilitiessuchasmixerstocastlarge
solidpropellantmotorsandlinearacceleratorstoXrayfinishedpropellantgrainsareimported.[Note:Indian
scientistsclaimthatonly15%ofthehightechequipmentfortheRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)inThumba(Kerela)
andSPROBinSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)wasimported;thebulkofthefacilitiestomanufacturesolid
propellantswereconceivedanddevelopedbyIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)scientistsandengineers.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.8586;M.V.Kurup,V.N.Krishnamoorthy,and
M.C.Uttam,"DevelopmentofSolidPropellantTechnologyinIndia,"Sadhana,vol.12,part3,March1988,p.233.
1977
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)PrecisionEquipmentDivision(PED)usesitsnewresinbinder,
ISROPolyol,tocastamonolithicSLV3firststage.
December1976
AmidtermreviewoftheSLV3programleadstotheconclusionthatthevehiclelaunchdatewillhavetobe
postponedfrom1978to1979.Thepostponementiscausedby"delaysinthedeliveryofstagemotorand
interstagehardwarefromoutsidefabricators(duetostringentqualityrequirements);unexpecteddeviationsin
performanceofvarioussubsystemsaftertheyhadperformedtosatisfactionsduringearliertests;andproblemsat
systemlevelafterintegrationofthesubsystems."
Report:19781979,p.15.
October1976
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)threetonthrust,liquidfuelengineisusedtopowerthesecond
stageofasoundingrocket,whichusesanRH560asthefirststage.Therocketisdesignedtoflytoaheightof
100kmwitha175kgpayload.However,anothrustphasebetweentheburnoutofthefirststageandignitionof
thesecondstagecausesthetesttofail.ISROengineersintroducemodificationsintherocketforfurthertests.In
subsequentmodels,thefirstandsecondstagesoftherocketareheldtogetherbymetalstrutsandbothstagesare
ignitedonthegroundtoeliminatethenothrustcoastphase.
1976
ThefollowingfacilitiesarecommissionedattheStaticTest&EvaluationComplex(STEX)attheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh):
Staticaccelerationtestfacility;
Vibrationtestfacility;
Droptestfacility;and
Hotandcoldchambers.
[Note:TheSTEXfacilityiscompletedin1976atacostof60millionrupees.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19751976,p.24;GopalRaj,"Developing
CompetenceinSolidPropulsion,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:
1976
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)PrecisionEquipmentDivision(PED)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)
commissionsfacilitiesformanufacturingpolybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)binderusedinsolid
propellants.
1976
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)commissionsplant(ReinforcedPlasticsCentre)tomanufacture
reinforcedplastics.
19751976
VarioussubsystemsoftheSLV3suchas"stagemotors,interstages,heatshield,stageseparationsystems,
controlandguidancesystems,vehicleelectronics,technologypayload,andlaunchsystems"progressfrom"design
todevelopment,fabricationandtestingphases."
[Note:AccordingtotheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreport,the"stageproofmotorstatictestresults
indicatethatthetechnologyforpropellants,insulation,igniter,andnozzleforallthestageshavebeen
developed."]
April1975March1976
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)launchesatotalof94rocketsbetweenApril1975andtheendof
March1976.Thebreakupincludes:
Type
CentaurIIB
M100B
M100
MenakaII(MKI)
MenakaII(MKII)
RH300
NumberofLaunches
6
52
1
30
4
1
March1975
Afterathirdandfinalmeeting,theProjectDevilevaluationpanelconcludesthattheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)hasmadesufficientprogressinhardwarefabricationintheareaofmissile
subsystems.ThecommitteealsofindsthatDRDLhasaccomplishedthetwintasksof"hardwarefabrication"and
"systemsanalysis"inthedesignanddevelopmentofgroundelectronics.However,moreprogressneedstobe
madeintheareaofliquidpropulsion.ThecommitteenotesthattheDRDL'sphilosophyofreverseengineeringhas
takenprecedenceoverthegenerationofdesigndata.Asaresult,missileengineershavebeenunabletomake
muchprogressinoverallsystemsanalysis.ThepanelrecommendsthatDRDLbeallowedtoproceedwithProject
Devil;thedefenseministryacceptsthepanel'srecommendations.
(India)Limited,1999),pp.7475.
February1975
TheDevilreviewpanelholdsitssecondmeeting.
1January1975
TheScientificAdvisortothedefenseministerDr.M.G.K.Menonappointsanindependentreviewpanelfrom
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)underDr.BrahmPrakashtoconductanexternalreviewofProjectDevil.
CommitteemembersincludeA.P.J.AbdulKalam,Dr.R.P.Shenoy,andProfessorI.G.Sharma.Thecommitteeholds
itsfirstmeetingon12January1975.
1975
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)scientistsandengineerscontinuetoreceivetraininginFrenchandWest
Germanresearchestablishments.
1975
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)reportssignificantadvancesinthedevelopmentoftelemetryandtelecommand
systems,trackingsystems,andelectronicsproduction.ACbandradarwithatrackingcapabilityupto2,500kmis
beinginstalledattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh);aCband
transpondertooperatewiththisradarhasalsobeendeveloped.TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)
hasalsoundertakentheproductionofvariousonboardsystemsforrocketssuchastransmitters,regulatorsand
mixersfortheRohiniandSLV3programs,andgroundsystemssuchasdataamplifiers,timecodegenerators,and
firecontrolpanels.
1975
During1975,thefollowingfacilitiesarecommissionedattheStaticTest&EvaluationComplex(STEX)atthe
SriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh):
Partsprocessingfacility;
Trimmingandconditioningfacility;
Motorstoragefacility;
Facilitiesformaterialhandling;and
Loadcellcalibrator.
[Note:TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreportnotesthat,"constructionworkonfournumbersofsingle
componentteststandstotestdifferentstagesofSLV3andthetestbayNo.1consistingof25tonand100ton
thrustcapacitytestbedstoaccommodatetheteststandshasbeencompletedandcommissioned.Thesewillmeet
thecompleterequirementofsinglecomponentmeasurementprogramsforSLV3.Thefabricationworkontwo
numbersofsixcomponentteststands,withhighandlowcapacitiestotestthemotorsandthrustvectorcontrol
systemofthefirststageoftheSLV3andRH560hasbeencompleted.TheconstructionworkontheSpinTest
FacilityfortestingthefourthstageoftheSLV3...isnearingcompletion.Toaccommodatethesixcomponenttest
standsandspinteststands,thetestbayNo.2consistingof25tonand100tonthrustcapacitytestbedshasbeen
constructed."]
1975
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)expandsthesoundingrocketcomplexattheSriharikotaHigh
AltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)toflighttestthesecondandfourthstagesoftheSLV3and
forqualifyingitssubsystems.Constructionbeginsonasatellitelaunchvehiclecomplex4kmsouthofthesounding
rocketcomplexfortheSLV3.Thefacilitywillprovide"completesupportforvehicleassembly,checkout,and
launchingoperations."Itwillconsistoffacilitiessuchas"launchpad,blockhouse,vehicleintegrationbuilding,
servicebuilding,pyrotestingbuilding,andterminalbuilding."TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreportstates
thatprogresshasalsobeenmadeinbuildingtelemetry,tracking,telecommand,rangetiming,radio
communications,andcomputer&dataprocessingfacilitiesfortrackingsatellitesandrocketsatSHAR.
1975
SpecialenvironmentaltestfacilitiesareinstalledattheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram
(Kerela)tosimulateconditionsinspaceforsatellitesandtesttheupperstagesandheatshieldsoftheSLV3.The
facilitiesincludethecommissioningofa1.25mthermovacuumchamber,andtheinstallationofakineticheat
simulatortotestSLV3heatshields.Groundenvironmentalfacilitiessuchasthermalcyclingchamberandhumidity
chamberarecommissionedandusedtotestthefourthstagemotorcasesoftheSLV3.
1975
IndiasetsupaunittomanufactureandsupplyhighaccuracypressuretransducersfortheEuropeanArianelaunch
vehicleproject.ThePressureTransducerUnit(PTU)islocatedonthecampusoftheNationalAeronautical
LaboratoryinBangalore(Karnataka);thefirstbatchof7021UtransducersarefabricatedandexportedtoFrance.
Plansaremadetoexpandproductiontoinclude21URand21NStransducers.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19751976,p.20;DepartmentofSpace
(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19781979,p.21.
1975
AccordingtoDepartmentofSpace(DOS),theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)ismakingplansto
developlaunchvehiclesthatwillbecapableofplacingcommunicationsatellitesinageostationaryorbit.Studies
arebeingconductedforestimatingthe"orbitalcapabilitiesofstagecombinationsofsuchavehicle."
1975
TheestablishmentoftheRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)attheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)in
Thiruvanathapuram(Kerela)nearscompletion.
1975
Aspartoftherocketdevelopmentproject,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO):
TestsanRH300withthenewlydevelopedPP10propellant.
UndertakesdesignofastretchedRH560singlestagerocket.
IntroducesdesignimprovementsintheMenakaI(MarkI)andMenakaII(MarkII)rockets.
CompletesprojecttoindigenizetheCentaurrocketproductioninIndia.TheCentaurrocketisalsousedto
flighttesttheworthinessofSLV3subsystems.
1975
Significantdevelopmentsinaerospacerelatedmaterialstechnologyinclude:
Finalizationofheattreatmentcyclesfor15CDV6,techniquesforthemelting,casting,androllingof
maragingsteel,andweldingtechniquesfortitaniumalloygasbottles.
Testingofindigenouslydevelopedcarbonfibersforablativeapplications.
Developmentoftungstenbasedmaterialsforjetvaneapplications.
Developmentofnozzlethroatinsertsbasedontungstenandmolybdenum.
Developmentsofcatalystsforapplicationsincontrolrocketsandprovidemultistartcapability.
FabricationoftwofullsizedheatshieldsfortheSLV3.
Commissioningofapolar[filament]windingmachine(PH500),andahelical[filament]windingmachine
(H1000)forwindingpressurebottlesandrocketmotorcases,respectively.Designofaverticalnozzle
windingmachine(1,500mmdiametercapacity)andaracetracktypefilamentwindingmachine.
[Note:Gasbottlesareusedtostorehighpressuregas.Thehighpressuregascanbeusedtopressurizeliquidfuel
tanksortoprovideenergyandmeanstomoveactuatorsandvalvesinbothsolidandliquidfuelrockets.
Additionallypressurebottlesarefoundinpropellantstoragetanksforattitudecontrolthrusters.]
1975
Captivetestsofaflightvehicleemployingathreetonthrust,liquidpropellantengineusingredfumingnitricacid
(RFNA)andanilinenearcompletion.Researchanddevelopmentcontinuesongasgenerators,turbopumpfeed
systems,flowcontrolsystems,andthrustchambersformeetingtheneedsoffutureprograms.Indianengineers
andscientistsalsoacquiretechnologyandtrainingrelatedtohighthrustliquidenginesthroughtheVikasproject
withFrance.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19751976,p.3,20.
1975
Inthefieldofsolidandliquidpropellants,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO):
FlightqualifiesthenewlydevelopedPP10propellantfortheRH300program.
CaststhefourthstagemotoroftheSLV3usingHEF20asasubstituteforimportedcarboxylterminated
polybutadiene(CTPB);theVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)launches
programtobeginscaledupproductionofHEF20basedpropellantandPP10propellant.
DevelopspyrotechnicdevicesincludingignitionandseparationsystemsusingRohinirocketsfortheSLV3
program.
Setsupadditionalfacilitiesforthedevelopmentofpolybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)anda
pilotplantfortheproductionofpolyisobutylene.
Finalizesengineeringdetailsforbuildinganammoniumperchlorate(AP)plantinAlwaye(Kerela).
Caststhethreesegments(eachweighing2.9tons)oftheSLV3firststageproofmotoranda3.2ton
singlegraincastforthesecondstageproofmotor.Thefirststagemotor(1mindiameterand9mlong)is
successfullystatictestedattheStaticTest&EvaluationComplex(STEX)facilityinSHAR,Sriharikota
(AndhraPradesh).
Beginssynthesisofmethylaziridinylphosphineoxideandtriepoxideswhichareusedascurativesfor
CTPB/PBANpropellants
CommissionskeyfacilitiesattheSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant(SPROB)suchasthepropellant
mixingstations,oxidizergrindingandblendingstations;otherfacilitiesincludingthoseforcasting,curing,
andnondestructivetestingareinthefinalstagesofcompletion.Theentireplantitselfisexpectedtobe
commissionedwithinafewmonths.
[Note:ISROadoptedthesegmentationrouteincastingtheSLV3firststagemotorsbecause,untilthe
commissioningofSPROBin1976,itdidnothaveafacilitytocastlargemonolithsolidmotors.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19751976,pp.1314;GopalRaj,"Developing
CompetenceinSolidPropulsion,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgram(NewDelhi:Viking
byPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.7879.
Mid1970s
TheprivatesectormatchmanufacturerWimcobeginssupplyingammoniumperchlorate(AP)totheIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO).
Mid1970s
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)setsupafacilityformanufacturingfiberreinforced
plasticsfortheValiant'sreentryvehicleandimportsafilamentwindingmachinefromtheUnitedStatesforthis
purpose.[Note:Filamentwindingmachineslaystrongfiberscoatedwithanepoxyorpolyesterresinontorotating
mandrelsinprescribedpatternstocreatehighstrengthtoweightcompositeparts.Themachinescanbe
programmedinthreeormoreaxesforthepurposesofpositioning,wrapping,andwindingfibers.Filamentwinding
machinesaretypicallyusedtomakerocketmotorcases,propellanttanks,andpayloadshrouds.Thehighstrength
andlowweightoftheresultingstructuresmakeincreasedmissilerangesandpayloadratespossible.]
RajChengappa,"TheDevil'sWorkshop,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.171;"CategoryIIItem6:CompositeProduction,"
MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,pp.6162.
19741975
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreportsaysthatthethreetonthrust,liquidfuelenginecurrentlyunder
development"foratestvehicle,willeventuallybeupgradedtomeettherequirementsofSLV3asastrapon
boosterandasanupperstage."Thethreetonthrustenginehasfivetimesasmanyinjectorelementsasthe
600kgthrustengine.Theasbestosphenolicablativeliningfirsttriedoutinthe200kgand600kgthrustenginesis
retainedintheearlytrialsofthethreetonthrustengine.Itislaterreplacedbyanimprovedablativeliningmade
upofsilicafibersembeddedinphenolicresin.Graphiteisusedtolinethethroatofthenozzle.Theerosionof
graphitebyhotgasesallowstheenginetobefiredforabout45seconds.[Note:Ablativematerialsareusedto
withstandacombinationoferosion,fusion,corrosion,ordecomposition,leadingtoprogressivedegradation,and
orlossofmaterialasadirectconsequenceofexposuretohotpropellantgasflowinthenozzle.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.112;ThiokolPropulsion,"Nozzles,"RocketBasics:AGuideto
SolidPropellantRocketry,www.thiokol.com,p.23.
19741970
JulyDecember1974
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)andFrenchspaceagencyCNESsignanagreementtoallowIndiato
acquireFrenchVikingliquidfuelenginetechnology.Undertheagreement,Indianengineerswillworkalongside
specialistsfromtheFrenchfirmSEPandprovidehundredsofmanyearsofefforttowardsdevelopingtheViking
enginesneededfortheArianerocket.Inreturn,IndianengineerswillacquirethecapabilitytobuildVikingengines
inIndia.[Note:Asaresultofthisagreement,withinfiveyears,Indiaacquiredthetechnologytobuildhighthrust,
turbopumpbasedliquidpropellantengines.ISROnotonlyacquiredthedrawingsandtechnicaldocumentationfor
theengine,butsinceIndianengineersworkedintandemwiththeirFrenchcounterparts,italsoacquiredcritical
knowhowforthedesignprinciplesforsuchengines.ISROsentapproximately50engineerstoworkontheViking
programinFrance.UnderthecontractIndianengineersweresupposedtoprovide75manyearstoSEP;the
remaining25manyearscouldbeusedbyISROtodevelopcompetenceinareasofitschoice.Bytheendof1980
81,Indianengineerscontributednearly135manyearsofwork.AlthoughISRObudgeted27millionrupeesforthe
Vikingprogramin1974,totalcostshadescalatedto40millionrupeesby198081.]
July1974
SecondmeetingoftheISROCNESjointcommission(theIndianSpaceResearchOrganizationandFrenchspace
agency).Thetwoworkinggroupsmeettodiscusssatellitelaunchvehicles(SLVs)andcommunicationsatellites.
Report:19731974,p.44.
July1974
TheAeronauticalDevelopmentEstablishment(ADE)inBangalore(Karnataka)testsanairlaunchedsupersonic
expendabledroneinanattempttodevelopanunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV).Theprojectisnamed"Missile
Target"andisreleasedoveratestrangetosimulateanaerialthreattotraingunandmissilecrews.Thevehicleis
autostabilizedandusesacanardconfiguration.[Note:Unmannedaerialvehicles(UAV)are"typicallyairbreathing
vehicleswhichuseaerodynamiclifttoflyandtherebyperformtheirentiremissionwithintheearth'satmosphere.
ThemostcommonmissionforUAVsisreconnaissance.Theyareusuallypoweredbysmallturbineorpiston
enginesthatdriveeitherfreeorductedpropellers.UAVstendtoflyatrelativelyslowspeedsof360to540km/hr,
usuallyforseveralhours....UAVs...canflyataltitudesrangingfromverylow,napoftheearthtrajectoriestovery
highaltitudes...UAVsarelaunchedfrommanyplatforms,typicallytrucks,aircraft,andships.Theymayfly
autonomouspreplannedroutesand/orroutescontrolledbyahumanoperator.Aftertheirmissioniscompleted,
theyusuallyreturntobasetobeusedagain....UAVsaremosttypicallyusedasreconnaissanceplatformsandthus
carryelectronic,video,orphotographicpayloadstogatherormonitordataoverunfriendlyterritory.Theyare
designedtooptimizetimeonstation,which,forsomesystems,canbemorethan24hours.Becauseoftheirlong
range,flexiblepayload,easeofacquisition,andreasonablecost,UAVsarepotentialdeliveryvehiclesfor
weapons."ItshouldalsobenotedthatUAVspoweredbypistonorreciprocatingenginesflyatspeedssubstantially
less(~150km/hr)thanturbinepoweredsystems.]
J.Jayaraman,"TechnologicalAdvancesandCostEffectivenessofUnmannedAirVehicleSystems,"inH.S.
MukundaandA.V.Krishnamurty,eds.,RecentAdvancesinAerospaceSciencesandEngineering:VolumeII
(Bangalore:InterlinePublishing,1992),p.165;"CompleteRocketandUAVSystems:CategoryIItem1,"Missile
TechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,pp.1516.
13June1974
BeginningoftheflightqualificationprogramforSLVsubsystems.ACentaurrocketislaunchedfromTERLScarrying
miniaturerategyros,vehicleattitudeprograms,tonerangereceiver,andascaleddownfiberglassheatshield;the
testissuccessful.
18May1974
TheIndiangovernmentannouncesthatithasconductedasuccessfultestofa1015ktnucleardeviceatthe
PokhrantestsiteinRajasthan.
"TheNewYorkTimesCompany:Abstracts,"19May1974;inLexisNexisAcademicUniverse,http://web.lexis
nexis.com.
10May1974
TheDefenceResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)conductsitsfirsttestofaliquidfuelenginedeveloped
fortheValiantballisticmissile;theengineistestedforfiveseconds.
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.174.
April1974
FirsttestofatwostageRH560soundingrocket.TheRH560usesanaluminizedpolyvinylchloride(PVC)
propellant;theRH560ismodeledontheFrenchDragonsoundingrocketandcarriesan86kgpayloadtoaheight
of280km.[Note1:TheDragonsoundingrocketisatwostagevehicle.Itusesa560mmboosterinthefirststageto
boosttheBelierupperstage.TheDragonfirstflewin1962andcancarrya60kgpayloadtoaheightof475km.The
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)laterusedtheRH560asaplatformtotesttheSLV3'sguidanceand
controlsystem.Note2:Metalssuchasaluminum,beryllium,boron,magnesium,andzirconiumareaddedtothe
solidpropellantgrainortoliquidfueltoenhancepropellantperformance.Forexample,aluminumpowderasa
fueladditivemakesup5to21%byweightofsolidpropellant.Combustionofthealuminumfuelincreasesthe
propellantflametemperatureby526.85Candincreasesspecificimpulsebyasmuchas10%.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.4143;JonathanMcDowell,"CNESSoundingRockets,"Historyof
Spaceflight,26January2000,http://heawww.harvard.edu;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"MissileTechnology
ControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,p.44.
1974
TheDefenceResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)budgetincreasesnearly40fold,from4millionrupees
in1972to160millionrupeesin1974.
1974
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreportstatesthata"substantialnumberofISRO[IndianSpaceResearch
Organization]engineersandscientistshavereceivedtraininginFrance."Similarly,thetrainingofISROpersonnelat
theWestGermanspaceagencyDFVLR,whichbeganinJuly1973,continuedin1974.Therehavebeentwotypesof
trainees.Agroupof10trainees(90manmonths)havebeentrainedatthehighaltitudetestfacilitiesat
Lampoldshausan.Anothergroupof13trainees(103manmonths)havereceivedtrainingindifferentfields
includingremotesensingtechniques,microwaves,pulsecodemodulation(PCM)telemetry,andwindtunnel
testing.Detailsfortrainingprogramsin1975arebeingplanned.
1974
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)commissionsa6,000amperemodularindustrialelectrolyticcell
withacapacitytomanufacture10tonsofammoniumperchlorate(AP)annually.
1974
WorkcontinuesonfacilitiesattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).During
1974,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO):
Completesasoundingrocketcomplexforflighttestingsingleortwostagesoundingrocketsuptoa
maximumdiameterandweightof560mmand1.5tons,respectively.
Undertakesaprojecttoexpandthesoundingrocketlaunchfacilitytoincludethelaunchofmultistage
combinationsofRH650andRH800rockets.
MakesprogressintheconstructionoftheSLV3launchcomplex.
Continuesdevelopmentofgroundsupportfacilitiessuchastelemetrysystems,trackingandtelecommand
systems,computeranddataprocessingfacilities,rocketsledfacility,andthestatictestevaluation
complex.
1974
WorkbeginsontheinstallationofaspecialenvironmentaltestfacilityforsatellitesattheVikramSarabhaiSpace
Centre(VSSC).The1.25mdiameterthermovacuumchamberwillbeabletoachieveatemperaturerangefrom
60Cto+120C.Workisalsoinprogressonakineticheatingsimulatorfortestsundercombinedenvironmentsof
thermalandstaticloadsaswellasejectiontests.Theclimaticchambersareexpectedtobecommissionedby
March1975.
1974
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)annualreportstatesthattheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)hastested
twooperationalmodelsofthe"miniaturerategyroscope."Inaddition,anoperationalmodelofthe"free
gyroscope"hasbeengroundtestedwhilethefirstprototypeofa"singledegreeoffreedomRateIntegrating
Gyroscope(RIG)"isnearingcompletion.A"singleaxisinertialstabilizingplatform"isbeingassembledanditwill
providedataandexperiencefordeveloping"3axis4gimballedinertialplatformsrequiredforSLV3missions."
ISROhasalsosucceededinassembling"thegroundmodeloftheonboardprocessorforSLV3(a21bitsystem
using4Kwordmemorywith5microseccycletime)."Inaddition,the"systemofthefintipcontrolsystemforthe
flightcontrolofthefirststageoftheSLV3hasbeencompletedandthecomponentssuchasservovalvesand
actuatorsareunderdevelopment."Thereportalsonotes,"transducersbasedonstraingaugesandpiezoelectric
quartzcellsareunderpilotproduction...lightweightvibrationpickups,universalthrustpickups,and
semiconductortypepressurepickupshavebeendeveloped."
DepartmentofSpace,GovernmentofIndia,AnnualReport:19741975,p.14.
1974
During1974,theIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)launchesatotalof102rocketsfromtheThumba
EquatorialRocketLaunchingStation(TERLS).Hereisthebreakdownoftheselaunches:
Type
M100
CentaurIIB
MenakaItestrocket
MenakaIItestrocket
RH125
RH100
NumberofLaunches
24
1
12
54
2
9
1974
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)successesinrockethardwaredevelopmentandfabrication
include:
ConsolidationofallsoundingrocketactivitiesundertheRohiniSoundingRocket(RSR)program.Special
soundingrocketlaunchesforqualificationoftheSLV3project.
CompletionoffeasibilitystudytoboosttherangeandpayloadofthetwostageRH300rocketusing
aluminizedpolyvinylchloride(PVC)andRCNpropellantsfortheboosterandhighenergypropellant(PP
10)fortheCentaursustainer.ThiscombinationwillenableaboostedRH300toreachaltitudesof150
200km.
TwoflighttestsoftheRH560rocketusingstripwoundmotorchambers.
CompletionofstructuralqualificationtestsontheSLV3stagefourmotors.
DevelopmentofSLV3subsystems.
DesignanddevelopmentofcompositenozzlesforSLV3stages.
Progressinthedevelopmentofa3tonthrustbipropellantliquidfuelengine.ISROproposestoeventually
upgradetheenginesothatitcanmeettherequirementsoftheSLV3asastraponboosterorasanupper
stage.
TestsofathreequartersizesecondstagemotorfortheSLV3.
CompletionofsystemdevelopmentandcomponentfabricationofaSecondaryInjectionThrustVector
Control(SITVC)systemusingstrontiumperchlorate.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19741975,pp.13,17.
1974
Inthefieldofaerospacematerialstechnology,Indianspaceanddefenseagencies:
Experimentwithdifferentgradesofmaragingsteelonalaboratoryscale.TheIndianSpaceResearch
Organization(ISRO)collaborateswiththeBhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC)andDefense
MetallurgicalResearchLaboratory(DMRL)todeveloptitaniumalloys.Evaluationtrialsareconductedon
tungstenmolybdenummaterialswithapplicationsinrocketmotorthrustvectorcontrolsystems.
Developasbestosphenoliccompositesforrocketnozzles.TheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre's(VSSC)fibre
reinforcedplasticsdivisiondevelopsmoldedscaleddownheatshieldsfortheSLV3.TheVSSCalso
developsfiberglasssoundingrocketchambers,including650mmdiameterSLV3stagefourmotorcases.
Phenolicheatresistantmaterialsfornozzlesaresuccessfullytestedforthefourthstage.
[Note1:Maragingsteelsaresteelalloyswithstrengthsuptoapproximately300,000psiincombinationwithahigh
fracturetoughness.Theterm"maraging"isderivedfromthefactthatthesealloysexistasrelativesoft,lowcarbon
martensites(asolidsolutionofironanduptoonepercentofcarbon,thechiefconstituentofhardenedcarbon
toolsteels)intheannealedconditionandgainhighstrengthfromagingatrelativelylowtemperatures.Maraging
steelalloyswereoriginallydevelopedbyInternationalNickelCompanyin1959.Designationofeachalloyrefersto
thenickel(Ni)content;forexample,thefourmaingradesare25%Nimaragingsteel;20%Nimaragingsteel;18%
Nimaragingsteel;and12%Nimaragingsteel.The18%Nimaragingsteelisthemostversatileandmostwidely
used.Strengthcanbecontrolledbytheagingtreatmentsandhardenercontent(titanium,cobalt,molybdenum,
andaluminum).Maragingsteelismachinedeasily,hasexcellentweldability,andfracturetoughness.The18%Ni
maragingsteelheattreatsatlowtemperatures,whichisimportantinmanufacturingverylargediametermotor
cases.
Note2:Tungsten,molybdenum,andalloysofthesemetalscanbeformedintomissilepartsbypouringthemintoa
moldandsubjectingthemtohighheatandpressure.Partsmadefromthesematerialsareveryhard,dense,and
strong.Theyalsohaveextremelyhighmeltingtemperatures.Thus,finishedpartsareresistanttoablationina
highheatandmassflowenvironmentsuchasthoseexperiencedinreentryorinmissileexhausts.Thesemetals
areusedtomanufacturereentryvehiclenosetips,nozzlethroatinserts,andjetvanes,whichareusedtosteer
engineexhaust.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19741975,p.13;GeorgeP.Sutton,"Components
ofSolidRockets,"RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontotheEngineeringofRockets(NewYork:JohnWiley
&Sons,1986),pp.326327;"CategoryIIItem8:StructuralMaterials,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnex
Handbook,pp.87.
1974
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)developsISROPolyolasasubstitutefortheimportedhydroxyl
terminatedpolybutadiene(HTPB).Italsodevelopscarboxylterminatedpolybutadiene(CTPB)forthethirdand
fourthstagesoftheSLV3.Inaddition,10chemicalresinsandadhesivesaresynthesizedforvariousother"national
agencies"underanimportsubstitutionprogram.[Note:HTPBisabinderandfuelusedinsolidrocketmotor
propellant.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19741975,p.12;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"
MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,p.411.
1974
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization's(ISRO)PropellantFuelComplex(PFC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)
becomesoperational.TrialrunsfortheproductionofHEF20polyesterVI1,polyesterPR6,phenolformaldehyde
resin,dicotyladipate,perbenzoicacid,andpolyurethaneresinaresuccessful.Specialpolysters,formaldehydes,
polyurethaneresins,andotherchemicalsareproducedinthecomplexinsampleandproductionquantitiesfor
utilizationinvariousrocketdevelopmentprograms.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:19741975,p.12;GopalRaj,"Developing
CompetenceinSolidPropulsion,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:
1974
IndiasignsanagreementwithFrancetosupplytransducersfortheFrenchArianeprogram.TheVikramSarabhai
SpaceCentre's(VSSC)PressureTransducerUnit(PTU)isexpectedtobeginproductionbySeptember1975.
1974
TheIndianAirForcelosesinterestintheDevilprogram(reverseengineeringoftheSovietSA2missile)andregards
itas"technologygathering"project.TheAirForce'swaninginterestispartlytheconsequenceofthepoor
performanceoftheSA2inthe1971BangladeshWar.AninternalAirForceinvestigativecommitteeconcludesthat
ofthe11missilesfiredduringthewar,almostallweredirectedtowardsthewrongtarget;therestmissedtheir
targetscompletely.TheAirForce'sskepticismwiththeprogramisalsolinkedtotheDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)failuretodevelopapowerfulgasturbineenginefortheHF24Marutcombat
aircraft.TheAirForcelobbiesthegovernmenttopurchasethesolidfuelPechorasurfacetoairmissile(SAM),
whichisonofferfromtheSovietUnion.[Note:DevelopmentofthePechora(SA3)SAMbeganin1956atthe
LavochkinOKBdesignbureau.ThePechorawasdesignedtocomplementtheSA2atlowandmediumaltitudes;
thefirstbatterybecameoperationalin1961.ThePechoraisatwostageweaponwithalargesolidpropellant
boosterandasmallersolidfuelsustainerrocketmotor.Theboosterisfittedwithfourlargerectangularstabilizing
fins.Themainbodyiscylindricalinshapewithfourclippeddeltashapedfinsaftofthemidpointandfoursmall
deltamovingcontrolfinsonthenosetaperandfourrectangularfinsontherear.Theoveralllengthofthemissile
is6.1m,thediameteroftheboosterstageis0.55mandthatofthemissileproperis0.37m.]
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.167168;"SA3'Goa'LowtoMediumAltitude
SurfacetoairMissileSystem,TonyCullenandChristopherFoss,eds.,Jane'sLandBasedAirDefence199293
(Coulsdon,Surrey),pp.261262.
1974
DuetofalteringprogressandinsufficientinterestintheValiantprogram,theunioncabinetrequeststhatDr.
NagchaudhuriexploreswhethertheliquidfuelenginedevelopedfortheValiantcanbeusedbytheIndianSpace
ResearchOrganization(ISRO)fortheciviliansatellitelaunchvehicle.DuringameetingoftheDefenceResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)andISROofficialsattheIIScinBangalore(Karnataka),ISROrejectstheliquidfuel
engine,citingitsowneffortsindevelopingsolidmotors.TheIISc'saeronauticaldepartmentalsoappraisesDRDL's
effortscriticallyandcitesinstabilityproblemsintheValiant'sliquidfuelengine.TheValiantprogramis
subsequentlyterminated.
December1973
AFrenchteamfromitsspaceagencyCNEStoursIndianindustrialestablishments.
Late1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)beginsworkonthedesignofvariouscomponents,subsystems,and
systemsfortheSLV3.
8,1989,p.683.
June1973
Duetointraorganizationaldifferences,S.L.BansalisremovedfromtheValiantprogramandappointeddirectorof
missilesattheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO)officeinNewDelhi.
May1973
FirstlaunchofaliquidfuelrocketfromTheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(Andhra
Pradesh).A3.5tonthrust"clusteredsolidgrainbooster"isusedfortherocket.
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.111112;DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),
AnnualReport:197374,p.18.
May1973
IntraorganizationaldifferencesintheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)hamperprogresson
theValiantballisticmissileprogram.TheleaderoftheValiantteam,S.L.Bansal,believesthatthelabdirectorV.S.
NarayananisfartoofocusedontheDevilprogram.
May1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)developsa600kgthrustliquidfuelengine;theengineisbasedona
storablebipropellantsystemusingredfumingnitricacid(RFNA)andaniline.Sufficientprogressismadetobuilda
flightworthyrocketstagebasedonliquidpropulsion.
January1973
FirstmeetingoftheISROCNESjointcommission(theIndianSpaceResearchOrganizationandFrenchspace
agency).
1973
FourfiberglassmotorcasesforthefourthstageoftheSLV3arebuiltbytheReinforcedPlasticsCentre(REPLACE)
andpressuretested.Qualificationtestsareplannedtobecompletedbytheendof1974.
1973
AccordingtotheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)AnnualReport,theVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)isseeking
designcompetenceandpilotproductionofdevicesneededfor:
Instrumentationtoevaluatetheperformanceofpropellantsandrocketmotorsduringstaticflighttests;
Inflightstabilizationandcontrolofrocketsandsatellites,and;
Controlandguidanceofmultistagevehiclesdesignedfororbitingsatellites.
Toachievethesegoals,VSSChasdevelopedaseriesoftransducerstomeasureparameterssuchasthrust,
acceleration,andpressureoveralargerange.Voltageandchargeamplifierstoprocessthesignalsofthese
transducersandvoltagecontrolledoscillatorstotelemeterthemeasurementshavealsobeendeveloped.These
instrumentshavebeenusedinstaticandflighttestsofMenakaI,MenakaII,RH125,RH300,andRH560rocket
motorsandtheirpropellants.VSSChasalsostandardizedthedesignofinertialsensorssuchas"rategyroscopes,"
"freegyroscopes,"and"highprecisionaccelerometers."Theinertialsystemunderdevelopmentwillbeusedfor
"attitudereference"aswellfortheinertialmeasurementsystemoftheSLV3.Aprototypesystemfor"RH300
rollcontrol,flightbyfintipcontrol"isunderfabricationandan"electrohydraulicfintipcontrolsystem"forthe
RH560soundingrocketwillbereadysoon.Successfulexperimentshavealsobeenconductedwith"strontium
perchlorateasasecondaryinjectantforthrustvectorcontrolofrockets."Anonboarddigitalcomputerhasbeen
designedforthecontrolandguidancesystemoftheSLV3.Themodulardesignofthecomputerpermitsitsuse
withboththe"stabilizedplatformtype"and"strappeddowntypeofinertialmeasurementsystems."Theground
modelofthiscomputerisnearingcompletionandpreliminaryexperimentshavebeenconductedtofabricatethe
computerusingmicroelectronicpackagingtechniques.
VSSC'sElectronicsDevelopmentDivisionhasalsodevelopedthefirstphaseofaPCMgrounddatarecoverysystem.
ThedivisionwillsupplyatelemetrysystemtotheSHAR,Sriharikota(AndhraPradesh),whichwillhavefacilitiesto
receivePCMandFMdatafromrocketsandsatellites.
[Note1:Atransducerisanelectronicdevicethatconvertsenergyfromoneformintoanother;inarocket,it
producesanelectricalsignalproportionaltoaforceorpressureinput.
Note2:Anoscillatorisanelectronicdeviceusedforthepurposeofgeneratingasignal.Oscillatorsarefoundin
computers,wirelessreceiversandtransmitters,andaudiofrequencyequipment.Anoscillatoremploysasensitive
amplifierwhoseoutputisfeedbacktotheinputinphase.Thusthesignalregeneratesandsustainsitself.
Note3:Thrustvectorcontrols(TVC)areusedtoachievedirectionalorattitudecorrectioninsolidrocketsby
vectoringordeflectingthethrustoftherocketmotors.Thetwoprimarymethodsofproducinglateralthrustwith
fixednozzlesincludemechanicalinterference(MITVC)andsecondaryinjectionthrustvectorcontrol(SITVC).
MITVCinvolveschangingthedirectionofthesupersonicgasesatthenozzleexitplanebyinsertingaheatresistant
bodyintotheexhauststreamtodeflectit.Devicesusedinthismethodincludejetvanes,jetavators,andjettabs.
SITVCisaccomplishedbyinjectingfluid(liquidorgas)intothemainexhauststreamoftherocketmotorthrough
portsintheexpansionsectionofthenozzle.Themotor'sthrustisdeflectedbytheforceoftheinjectedfluidand
bytheimbalanceofpressurecreatedinthenozzle.]
DepartmentofSpace,GovernmentofIndia,AnnualReport:19731974,pp.1617;Whatis.Com,
http://whatis.techtarget.com;"CategoryIIItem9:Navigation,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnex
Handbook,pp.94,9798;ThiokolPropulsion,"FlightDirectionControl,"RocketBasics:AGuidetoSolid
PropellantRocketry,www.thiokol.com,pp.2528.
1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsthefollowingadvancesinthedevelopmentoflaunch
vehiclerelatedmaterialtechnology,fiberreinforcedplastics,rockethardwaredevelopmentandfabrication:
CastingparametersandfabricationtechnologyofhighstrengthmagnesiumalloysoftheAz92seriesto
buildpropellanttanksforcontrolrocketsandsatellitecomponents.
Developmentofspecialpurposepolar,helical,andnozzle(filament)windingmachinesupto1,000mmin
diameter(onehelicalwindingmachineissuppliedtoan"outsideresearchestablishment").
Developmentofrockethardwaresuchasmotorcases,nozzles,fins,nosecones,andotherstructural
elementslikepayloadmounting,includingexperimentalworkin"explosiveforming"technologytobuild
250mmdiameterhemisphericaldomesofaluminumalloy.
ExpansionoftheRocketFabricationFacility(RFF)attheVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)in
Thiruvanathapuram(Kerela).
ProgressinsubstitutingthenozzleandsecondstageoftheCentaurrocketwithindigenousones.
[Note1:Motorcasesofasolidpropellantrocketserveas"acontainerforsolidpropellantfuel"and"avented
pressurechamberinwhichthefuelisburnedtoprovideforwardthrustwhenexpandedintotheexitconeofthe
nozzle."Themostcommonlyusedmaterialsusedtobuildmotorcasesareferrousalloys,includingconventional
"quenchandtemper"(hardenedbyheatingandthenplungingintoliquidtocoolquickly)steelsandnickel
precipitationhardeningalloysteels(e.g.,maragingsteel),nonferroustitaniumalloys,aluminumalloys,and
fiberglassreinforcedplastics.
Note2:Thenozzleisthe"devicebywhichtheinternalenergyoftheexhaustgasesisconvertedintokinetic
energy,therebyproducingthrust.Foranygivenpropellantsystem,thenozzleactsasameteringdevicetocontrol
therateofgasflow,thuscreatingapredictableamountofthrustoveraprogrammedtimeperiod.Theenergy
conversionisaccomplishedbycausingthegasmoleculestoacceleratetoextremelyhighvelocitiesastheyleave
themotor."Thematerialsusedinthefabricationofnozzlesincludestructuralmaterials(aluminumalloysand
fiberglassresincomposites),adhesives,sealantsandgreases(zincchromate,siliconegrease),thermalinsulators
(compositesofasbestosfibersandphenolicresins),coatingsofrefractorymaterials(e.g.,zirconiumdioxide),and
ablativematerials.
Note3:Afinisan"aerodynamicappendagefixedtothebodyofalaunchvehicle,typicallyatthebaseofthefirst
stage,whichprovidesstabilityduringflight."
Note4:Theterm"nosecone"referstothe"forwardendoftherocket;thesectionwhichgenerallycontainsthe
payload."
Note5:Explosiveforminginmetallurgyrefersto"theuseofexplosivesforcontrolledsheetmetalforming."
Althoughtherearereferencestotheprocessinthelate19thcentury,explosiveformingdevelopedintheUnited
Statesduringthe1950swiththegrowthoftheaerospaceindustry.Inexplosivefabrication,"anexplosivechargeis
detonatedinthevicinityoftheworkpiece,asaresultofwhichthemetalisgivenveryrapidaccelerationovera
veryshortperiodoftimeandisformedintoadieshape,mainlyasaresultofitsownkineticenergy.Thisprocessis
normallyusedfortheformingofaflatsheetorplateintoaformdie."Explosiveformingisusedfor"performing
operationsonverylargeparts[ofmetal]wheretheforcesrequiredarebeyondthecapacityofmostconventional
presses...forformingsheetmetalpartsindifferentmaterialsandtonewshapes,and...toproducesavingsinthe
productionofshortrunitemsandprototypeparts."]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,pp.1215;ThiokolPropulsion,"Cases,"
RocketBasics:AGuidetoSolidPropellantRocketry,www.thiokol.com,pp.1416;ThiokolPropulsion,"Nozzles,"
RocketBasics:AGuidetoSolidPropellantRocketry,www.thiokol.com,pp.2024;MarkWilliamson,Dictionaryof
SpaceTechnology(NewYork:AdamHilger,1989),pp.121,224;R.DaviesandE.R.Austin,"SheetMetalForming:
ExplosiveForming,"DevelopmentsinHighSpeedMetalForming(NewYork:IndustrialPressInc.,1970),p.184.
1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)commissionsapilotplantfortheproductionofliquidpropellants
suchasanhydroushydrazine(10kg/daycapacity).Productionofunsymmetricaldimethylhydrazinecontinuesona
laboratoryscaleandthedesignandfabricationofanitrogentetroxideplantiscompleted.[Note:Thehydrazine
familyoffuelsisusedinawidevarietyofliquidrocketenginesrequiringhighperformanceandlongstoragetimes.
Hydrazineismostoftenusedasamonopropellant(withoutanoxidizer)bydecomposingitintohotgaswitha
catalyst.Nitrogentetroxideisusedasanoxidizerinliquidrocketengines.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,p.12;"Category2Item4:Propellants,"
MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,pp.43,47.
1973
AccordingtotheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),theSTEXcomplexatTheSriharikotaHighAltitude
Range(SHAR)isnearingcompletion.Thefacility'sStaticTestStand,SpinTestFacility,VibrationTestFacility,Static
AccelerationFacility,DropandDestructionTestFacility,ExtinguisherWell,VerticalTestStand,MultipurposeTest
Stand,andInstrumentationFacility,areinanadvancedstateofcompletion.Workisalsocontinuingonsettingup
facilitiesformotorpreparation,motorstorage,mechanicalmaintenance,andadministration.
1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)saysthatitwillbeginconstructingaRocketSledFacilityatthe
SriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)shortly.Thefacilitywillsimulatetheconditionsofrocketflightina
laboratoryforthetestingofrocketmotorsandothersystems.Thefacilitywillconsistoffourtofivekilometersof
trackoverwhichasledbearingtherocketboosterwillrun;thetrackandalliedstructureswillbedesignedtocater
tovelocitiesuptoMach4.Instrumentationsrequiredtomeasurethedifferentparameterswillbedeployedonthe
groundalongwithtestvehicles.
1973
Workonthetelemetrysystem,trackingsystem,communicationsystem,computeranddataprocessing,closed
circuitTVanddatalink,rangetiming,andtelecommandsystemsattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)in
Sriharikota(AndhraPradesh)nearscompletion.Thetelemetryandtrackingsystemsaredevelopedincollaboration
withtheThumbaEquatorialRocketLaunchingStation(TERLS),theVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC)in
Thiruvanathapuram(Kerela),theBhabhaAtomicResearchCenter(BARC)inTrombay(Maharashtra),theTata
InstituteofFundamentalResearch(TIFR)inMumbai(Maharashtra),theElectronicsCorporationIndiaLimited
(ECIL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),andthemicrowavedivisionofSpaceApplicationsCentre(SAC)in
Ahmedabad(Gujrat).
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,pp.23,2627.
1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsthattheMenakaIsoundingrocket,whichiscapableof
carryingmeteorologicalpayloadstoaltitudesof55kmandhigher,willbecomeoperationalbytheendof1974.The
largestsoundingrocketoftheseries,theRH560,isundergoingflighttestsandwillhavethecapabilityofcarrying
a90kgpayloadtoanaltitudeof320km.Progresshasalsobeenmadeinthedevelopmentofrocketcases,pyrolytic
graphite,spraycoatingofrefractorymaterials,developmentofceramiccoatings,alloysforgyroapplicationsand
metallicmagnetsforcontrol,guidance,andinstrumentation.Specialpurposemachinessuchaspolar,helical,and
nozzlewindingmachinesupto1,000mmdiameterhavebeendeveloped.[Note:Pyrolyticdepositionisahigh
temperatureprocessusedtodepositathin,densecoatingofmetalorceramicontoamoldormandrelinorderto
formapart.Itcanalsobeusedtocoatanothermaterialinordertoachievestrongadhesionandbondingbetween
thecoatingmaterialandtheunderlyingsurface.Thepurposeoftheseprocessesistoimprovetheabilityofthe
coatedanddensifieditemstosurvivetheextremeenvironmentsinwhichthecriticalrocketsystempartsoperate.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,pp.34;"CategoryIIItem7:Pyrolytic
Technology,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,p.71.
1973
India'sspaceprogrambenefitsfromcollaborativeprogramswithFrance,WestGermany,Japan,UnitedKingdom,
UnitedStates,andtheSovietUnion.IndianengineersundergotraininginfacilitiesofferedbytheFrenchspace
agency,CNES,inthefieldsofsatellitelaunchersandcommunicationsatellites.IndianSpaceResearchOrganization
(ISRO)engineersalsotraininestablishmentsoftheWestGermanspaceagency,DFVLR,inareassuchas
environmentalsimulationtestfacilities,pulsecodemodulation(PCM)onboardsystemsandgroundoperations,
microelectronicsandpackaging,andremotesensingtechniques.
1973
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsthatitlaunched106rocketsfromtheThumbaEquatorial
RocketLaunchingStation(TERLS)in1973.Theseincludedsoundingrocketsforscientificinvestigations,
meteorologicalrockets,andflighttestsofrocketsunderdevelopment.Ofthesetests,44launcheswere
conductedtoevaluatetheperformanceofrocketsunderdevelopment.[Note:Duringtheperiod196373,atotal
of600rocketswerelaunchedfromTERLSforscientificandtechnologicalpurposes.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,pp.4,11,23.
1973
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)engineersbeginworkonthedesign,fabrication,assembly,and
calibrationofathreetonthrustliquidfuelengine;thefirsttestiscompletedwithsatisfactoryresults.
Developmentoftheturbopumpunit,gasgenerators,andassociatedsystemsisplanned.ISROalsoinitiatesstudies
anddesignworktodevelopcryogenicenginesinthefuture.A500kgthrustLoxkerosenesystemisbuiltinthe
ThumbaEquatorialRocketLaunchingStation(TERLS)area.Inaddition,engineersinitiatestudiesonthedesignand
developmentofpumpstomeetthelowtemperaturerequirementsofcryogenicenginesandturbinedevelopment
fortheturbopumpfeedsystem.Aprojectislaunchedtodesigna1,000kgthrustLoxkeroseneengine.
[Note1:Theturbopumprocketfeedsystempressurizesthepropellantsbymeansofpumps,whichinturnare
drivenbyturbines.Theturbinesderivetheirpowerfromtheexpansionofhotgases.Turbopumprocketsystems
areusuallyusedinhighthrustandlongdurationrocketunits;theyarelighterthanothertypesforthese
applications.Agasgeneratorisusedasthesourceofhotgas(fromcombustionofpropellants)fordrivingthe
turbinesorturbopumpsinaliquidrocketengine.
Note2:Cryogenicsreferstothescienceoflowtemperaturephenomenon.Cryogenicpropellantsareliquefied
gasesstoredatverylowtemperatures,namelyliquidhydrogenasthefuelandliquidoxygenastheoxidizer.
Becauseofthelowtemperaturesofcryogenicpropellants,theyaredifficulttostoreoverlongperiodsoftime.For
thisreason,theyarelessdesirableforuseinmilitaryrockets.Liquidhydrogenalsohasverylowdensityand
thereforerequiresastoragevolumemanytimesgreaterthanotherliquidfuels.Despitethesedrawbacks,the
highefficiencynatureofliquidhydrogenliquidoxygenmakesthesefuelsdesirableforuseincivilianrockets;liquid
hydrogendeliversaspecificimpulseabout40%higherthanotherrocketfuels.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,p.18;GeorgeP.Sutton,"LiquidPropellant
RocketFundamentals,"RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductionToTheEngineeringofRockets(NewYork:
JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.153;GeorgeP.Sutton,"LiquidPropellantRocketEngineSystems,"RocketPropulsion
Elements:AnIntroductionToTheEngineeringofRockets(NewYork:JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.243.
19721973
TheDepartmentofSpace(DOS)announcesplanstomanufactureammoniumperchlorate(AP)inIndiaandsays
thatacellforitsmanufacturewillbecommissionedsoon.TheprocessformanufacturingAPhasbeendeveloped
bytheCentralElectroChemicalResearchInstitute(CECRI)inKaraikudi(TamilNadu).Theexperiencegainedfrom
theoperationofthepilotplantwillbeusedtobuilda150tonperannumcapacityplant.[Note:Solidoxidizers
provideoxygenneededtoburnsolidrocketmotorfuel.Bycarryingfuelandoxidizertogether,therocketdoesnot
dependontheatmosphereforoxygen.Ammoniumperchlorate(AP)isanoxidizingagentusedbymostmodern
solidpropellantformulas.Itaccountsfor50to85%ofthepropellantbyweight,dependingontheformulationof
thepropellant.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.97;DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),
AnnualReport:197374,p.12;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnex
Handbook,pp.410.
November1972
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)recognizestheneedtofollowuptheSLV3withthedevelopment
oflargerandmorepowerfullaunchvehiclesdesignedtoplace800kgsatellitesingeostationaryorbit.Astudyteam
ofISROengineersrecommendsanintegratedlaunchvehicledevelopmentprogramusingamodular,buildingblock
approach.Furtherstudiesarecommissionedtoobtainimprovedperformanceestimatesandplanfortechnologies
andfacilitiesrequiredforbuildingsuchvehiclesinthefuture.[Note:Geostationaryreferstoasatellitethattravels
abouttheEarth'sequatoratanaltitudeof35,000kmataspeedmatchingthatoftheEarth'srotation,thereby
maintainingaconstantrelationtopointsontheEarth.]
October1972
DesignphaseoftheSLV3completed.
June1972
India'sunioncabinetmakesashowofturningdowntheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)
budgetaryrequestof160millionrupeestobeginworkontheValiantandDevilmissileprograms.However,Prime
MinisterIndiraGandhisecretlysanctionsfundsfortheprojectsusingtheprimeminister'sdiscretionarypowers.
Fundingforthemissileprojectissubdividedundervariousheadstodisguisethetruenatureandscaleofthe
missileprojects.
RajChengappa,"NotsoValiant,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.159.
1June1972
TheIndiangovernmentestablishesanindependentSpaceCommissionandDepartmentofSpace(DOS).TheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)isbroughtunderDOSjurisdiction.TheSpaceCommissionismodeledonthe
DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE).ProfessorSatishDhawanisappointedchairmanoftheSpaceCommission,
secretaryforDOS,andchairmanofISRO.In1972,ISROhasabudgetof100millionrupeesandorganizational
strengthof3,000people.[Note:TheDOSisresponsiblefortheexecutionofspaceactivitiesinIndiathroughISRO
intheareasofspaceapplications,spacetechnology,andspacesciences.TheheadquartersofDOSandISROare
locatedinBangalore(Karnataka)andprovideoveralldirectiontothetechnical,scientific,andadministrative
functionsofthefourISROcenters:SpaceApplicationsCentre(SAC),Ahmedabad(Gujrat);ISROSatelliteCentre
(ISAC),Bangalore;VikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC),Thiruvanathapuram(Kerela);andSHAR,Sriharikota
(AndhraPradesh).]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.62;Y.S.Rajan,"ManagementoftheIndianSpaceProgram,"in
R.NarasimhaandA.P.J.AbdulKalam,eds.,DevelopmentsinFluidMechanicsandSpaceTechnology(Bangalore:
IndianAcademyofSciences,1988),p.399;DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197879,
pp.45.
January1972
GroupCaptainV.S.NarayananisappointeddirectoroftheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL).
Underhisleadership,theDRDLlaunches"ProjectDevil,"aprojecttoreverseengineerandproducetheSovietSA2
surfacetoairmissile(SAM)indigenouslywithinsevenyears.Narayananisalsoaskedtosetupthetechnological
infrastructuretobuildaseriesofmissiles.PlansforProjectValiantarekeptsecret.TheDRDL'sbudgetisincreased
to160millionrupees,ofwhich50millionrupeesaresanctionedforProjectDevilforathreeyearperiod.Ofthe50
millionrupees,nearlyhalfisspentonimports.[Note:Indevelopingmissilesystems,theDRDLadoptedthe
philosophyofreverseengineeringor"onetoonesubstitution";thiswasincontrasttotheIndianSpaceResearch
Organization's(ISRO)strategyof"technologydevelopment"and"performanceupgrading."Thedecisiontoreverse
engineertheSovietSA2SAMwasregardedasameanstoacquiredetailedknowledgeofallthedesignparameters
ofaprovenmissileandtoestablishtheinfrastructureforthedevelopmentofmodernmissilesinIndia.The
necessaryinfrastructurefordesigning,developing,testing,andbuildingmissileswasdevelopedattheDRDL
between19721982.Thisincludedaerodynamic,structural,andenvironmentaltestfacilities,liquidandsolid
propulsiontestfacilities,fabricationandengineeringfacilities,control,guidance,rubber,andcomputerfacilities.It
shouldalsobenotedthatalthoughtheSA2isnominallyasurfacetoair"defensive"missile,itcanreadilybe
transformedintoasurfacetosurfacesystemfor"offensive"purposes.]
DefenceResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory,"HistoricalBackground,"www.drdo.org;RajChengappa,"NotSo
Valiant,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollins
PublishersIndia,2000),pp.152,159;A.P.J.AbdulKalamwithArunTiwari,"Creation,"inWingsofFire:An
Autobiography(Hyderabad:UniversitiesPress(India)Limited,1999),p.73.
1972
S.L.BansalandhisteamofscientistsandengineersproposeathreestagedesignfortheValiantballisticmissile.
Stageonewouldbecomprisedofaclusteroffour30tonliquidfuelengines;stagetwowouldbecomprisedoftwo
enginesforthecoastingphase;andstagethreewouldbecomprisedofprobablyoneengine.Thescientistshopeto
useascaledupversion(bynearly10times)oftheSA2liquidenginefortheValiant.Workbeginsonthedesign
anddevelopmentofthecombustionchamber,injector,andnozzlesfortheengine.Indianmissilescientistsfocus
ondevelopingagimbaledplatformtypeofinertialnavigationsystem.TheDefenseResearch&Development
Laboratory(DRDL)decidestoimportgyrosandequipmenttocalibratethemfromtheUnitedStates.Someofthe
inertialguidancesystemsbuiltinIndiaarelatertestedontheAirForce'sCanberraandAvroaircraft.
[Note1:Liquidpropellantrocketenginesburnfuelandoxidizer,whichisfedtothemintheproperratiofrom
tanksthroughpipes,valves,andsometimespumps.Theseenginesarefarmorecomplexthansolidpropellant
motorsandcontainmanyprecisionmachinedandmovingparts.Unlikesolidmotors,someliquidrocketengines
canbeshutoffandrestarted,andsomecanbereusedafterrefurbishment.Liquidrocketenginesaretypicallyfar
morethrustefficientthansolidrocketmotorsandareusuallypreferredfornonmilitarymissions.Buttheyare
difficulttomanufacture,requiremoremaintenance,andtakelongertopreparethansolidrocketmotors.Fueland
oxidizercanalsobemoredifficulttohandleandstorebecausetheyaretoxic,corrosive,orcryogenic.Oncea
commandtofireamissileisgiven,thefuelandoxidizertanksarepressurized.Fuelandoxidizerareforcedintothe
injectorhead,wheretheyareatomizedbypassingthroughsmallinjectors,andmixedinthecombustionchamber.
Uponignition,thehot,expandinggasesrushoutofthenozzleatveryhighvelocityandgivethemissilethrust.
Note2:Guidancesystemsareusedtosteeramissilealongatrajectoryorflightpath.Guidancesetsarecomposed
ofassembliesofsensitiveelectronicandmechanicalequipment.Theheartofanyguidancesystemistheinertial
measurementunit(IMU),whichcontainsthegyroscopesandaccelerometers.Beforelaunch,theguidancesetsare
calibratedandprovidedinformationonthemissile'sposition,velocity,andorientation.Afterlaunch,the
gyroscopesandaccelerometers,orinertialinstruments,sensemissileaccelerationsandrotations,andconvert
themintoelectricalsignals.Acomputationaldeviceconvertsthesesignalsintodeviationsfromtheprogrammed
partandissuescommandstosteerthemissilebackoncourse.
Note3:Inaninertialnavigationsystemofthegimbaledplatformtype,the"accelerometersaremountedinagyro
stabilized,threeaxisplatformthatisolatesitfromthevehicleangularmotionandallowstheaccelerometerto
operateinaverybenignconditionwiththegyrosproviding[the]onlymeasurementforanyangulardeviationfrom
thestabilizedcondition."]
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.169171;"CategoryIItemII:CompleteSubsystems,"
MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,pp.211212;Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"Inertial
GuidanceandSensors,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December1998),
pp.155156.
1972
ProfessorSatishDhawanconsolidatestheprogrammanagementofSLV3andappointsA.P.J.AbdulKalamas
projectdirector.
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.50,5457,6567.
1972
AspartoftheprojecttoreverseengineertheSovietSA2surfacetoairmissile(SAM),theDefenseResearch&
DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)subcontractsthecastingofthe350kgmagnesiumliquidfuelengineframeto
HindustanAeronauticsLimited(HAL),Koraputdivision(Maharashtra);thecastingofthesolidboosterrocketis
subcontractedtotheVishakapatnambasedBharatHeavyPlates&VesselsLimited(AndhraPradesh).
Power(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.164165.
1972
ProfessorSatishDhawaninitiatesimportantorganizationalchangesintheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization
(ISRO).HeunifiestheSpaceScience&TechnologyCentre(SSTC)inThiruvanathapuram(Kerela),theRocket
PropellantPlant(RPP)inThumba(Kerela),RocketFabricationFacility(RFF)inThumba,PropellantFuelComplex
(PFC)inThumba,andtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)intoasingle
entityVikramSarabhaiSpaceCentre(VSSC),withitsheadquartersinThiruvanathapuram.Similarly,allofthespace
department'ssatelliteapplicationsfacilitiesareconsolidatedunderanumbrellaSatelliteApplicationsCentre(SAC),
withitsheadquartersinAhmedabad(Gujrat).Dr.BrahmPrakashandProfessorYashPalareappointeddirectorsof
VSSCandSAC,respectively.
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.63,6566.
1972
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)beginstoaggressivelyrecruitscientistsandengineers
fromIndia'sacademicinstitutionstoparticipateintheDevilandValiantmissileprograms.Thelaboratory's
organizationalstrengthexpandsfrom400employeesto2,500by1974.TheIndianInstituteofSciences(IISc)in
Bangalore(Karnataka)servesasaprimesourceforrecruitingtalentedaeronauticalengineersandscientists.Work
beginsonsolidandliquidpropulsiontechnologiesandthedevelopmentofinfrastructuralfacilitiesforfabrication,
statictesting,qualification,andpropellantproduction.
p.182;RajChengappa,"NotSoValiant,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclear
1972
WorkbeginsontheconstructionoftheSTEXfacilityattheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota
(AndhraPradesh).
1972
Developmentandcompletionofapilotplantproductionforsolidpropellantsandrelatedchemicalsrequiredfor
variousstagesofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)andothermediumsizedrocketsattheVikramSarabhaiSpace
Centre(VSSC).ThisincludesthemanufactureofpolyurethanepropellantfortheRH300rocket,amonolithic
versionoftheSLV3firststage,polybutadieneacrylicacidacrilonitrile(PBAN)binderforthesecondstageofSLV
3,andcarboxylterminatedpolybutadiene(CTPB)propellantforthethirdandfourthstagesoftheSLV3.The
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)reportsthatthePropellantFuelComplex(PFC)willproduceavarietyof
polymericfuelbinderssuchaspolybutadienes,polyurethanes,polyesters,plasticizers,andcatalystsrequiredfor
highenergypropellants.Inaddition,certainadditivessuchascopperchromitearebeingproducedonasmall
scale.Ignitersandpyrotechnicdevicesdevelopedinthepyrotechniclaboratoryaresuccessfullytestedonthe
Centaurrocket.[Note1:PolymerssuchasCTPBandPBANarechemicalsusedasbindersandfuelinsolidrocket
motorpropellant.Note2:Additivesaregenerallyclassifiedaccordingtotheirfunctionsuchasfuel,oxidizer,
binder,curingagent,orburnratecatalyst.Copperchromiteisaddedasaburnratecatalystinsolidpropellants.
Note3:Ignitersinasolidpropellantmotorgeneratetheheatandgasrequiredformotorignition.Ignitersinclude
thepyrotechnic,electrical,torch,hypergolic,andcatalytictypes.Amongthese,thepyrotechnictypeisthemost
practicalandwidelyused.]
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,pp.3,12;GeorgeP.Sutton,"Solid
PropellantsandCombustion,"RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontotheEngineeringofRockets(New
York:JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.294;Sutton,"ComponentsofSolidRockets,"p.317;S.KrishnanandR.D.Swami,
CopperChromiteCatalystQualificationasCompositeSolidPropellantBurningRateEnhancer,47thAGMof
AerospaceSocietyofIndia(IIT,Madras),68January1996.
19711973
Atotalof19soundingrocketsarelaunchedfromtheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)between197174.
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)planstoexpandthecomplexbybuildingalargerlaunchpadto
handlelaunchesofmultistagerockets.Plansarealsoafoottoconstructalaunchpadtoaccommodateliquidfuel
boosterswithupto10tonsofthrust.
30December1971
ISROchairmanDr.VikramSarabhaidiesofaheartattack.ThedirectoroftheTataInstituteofFundamental
Research(TIFR)andsecretaryoftheDepartmentofElectronics,Dr.M.G.K.Menon,isaskedtoheadtheIndian
SpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)asatemporaryarrangement.
9October1971
TheSriharikotaHighAltitudeRange(SHAR)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)becomesoperationalwiththelaunch
ofanRH125soundingrocket.Acomplexforflighttestingsoundingrocketsiscompletedandplansaremadeto
augmentthefacilitytolaunchmultistagevehicles.Thesoundingrocketcomplexcanlaunchsingleandtwostage
rocketswithamaximumdiameterof560mmandweightofupto1.5tons.
DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,p.26;GopalRaj,"SLV3:India'sFirst
LaunchVehicle,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguin
BooksIndia,2000),p.49.
April1971
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)preparesafeasibilityreportonbuildingalongrange
ballisticmissile,codenamed"ProjectValiant."TheIndiangovernmentsanctionsDRDLafewhundredthousand
rupeestobeginworkontheproject.
RajChengappa,"NotSoValiant,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower
1971
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)sanctionstheestablishmentofaFibreReinforcedPlastics(FRP)
divisionandReinforcedPlasticCentre(REPLACE)tomanufacturecompositematerialsforIndia'ssatellitelaunch
vehicle(SLV)program.IndianscientiststraveltoSudAviationinFranceforathreemonthlongtrainingprogramto
learntechniquesformakingcompositenozzlesfortheCentaursoundingrocket.Theyalsotraveltoother
establishmentsinWesternEuropeandtheUnitedStates,includingfacilitiesofcompositematerialmanufacturers,
togainknowledgeandinformationaboutcompositemanufactures.[Note:Compositesarea"classofmaterialsin
whichthefibersofareinforcingmaterialaresetinthe'matrix'ofanothermaterial."Compositesandlaminatesare
usedtomake"missilepartsthatareoftenlighter,stronger,andmoredurablethanpartsmadeofmetalorother
material.Compositesandlaminatescanbeusedalmostanywhereinballisticmissilesorunmannedaerialvehicles,
includingcruisemissiles.Usesincludesolidrocketmotorcases,interstages,wings,inlets,nozzles,heatshields,
nosetips,structuralmembers,andframes."Examplesofcompositesarecarboncomposite,Kevlarcomposite,
ceramicmatrixcomposite,andmetalmatrixcomposite.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.102103;MarkWilliamson,DictionaryofSpace
Technology(NewYork:AdamHilger,1989),p.65;"StructuralMaterials:CategoryIIItem8,"MissileTechnology
ControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,p.81.
1971
DuringasabbaticalattheNationalDefenseCollege,NewDelhi,thejointdirectorofmissilesintheIndianAirForce
GroupCaptainV.S.Narayananpreparesaclassifiedstudyondevelopingarangeofmissiles,includingplansto
upgradetheSLV3toanintermediaterangeballisticmissile.
1971
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)sanctionsthebuildingofSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant
(SPROB)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)for80millionrupees.Theproposedplantwillbecapableofcastingsolid
propellantgrainsuptotwometersindiameterandweighing10tons.The10toncapabilitymeansthatitwillbe
abletocastthewholeSLV3firststageasasinglegrain,ratherthaninsegments.TheSPROB'sproductioncapacity
isfixedat500tonsannually,enoughtoproducemorethan30SLV3launchers.Thesolidpropellantplantandthe
statictestfacilityatSriharikotaareexpectedtocost157millionrupees.[Note:AccordingtoIndiandefense
journalistRajChengappa,SPROB's"abnormally"largecapacityisanindicatorthatIndianleadersprobably
intendedtouseitformilitarypurposes.TheSPROBnowhasthecapabilityofproducingsinglegrainsmeasuring3m
indiameterandcapableofcarrying2530tonsofpropellant.Indianscientistsclaimthatitcompareswellwith
othersimilarfacilitiesintheworldandIndiahasdevelopedsolidpropellantsthatareveryclosetofrontier
technologiesinpropertiessuchas"specificimpulse,burnrate,density,andmechanicalproperties."]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.7779;"AnnexureI:CostEstimatesoftheSpace
ResearchProgramme,"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(AtomicEnergy
Commission,1970);M.R.Kurup,V.N.Krishnamoorthy,andM.C.Uttam,"SolidpropellanttechnologyinIndia,"inR.
NarasimhaandA.P.J.AbdulKalam,eds.,DevelopmentsinFluidMechanicsandSpaceTechnology(Bangalore:
IndianAcademyofSciences,1988),p.341;RajChengappa,"NotsoValiant,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryof
India'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsIndiaPrivateLimited,2000),p.158;Departmentof
Space(GovernmentofIndia),AnnualReport:197374,p.12.
19701980
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)developsathreetonliquidpropellantengineforDevil
missile'ssecondstage.Thisthreetonclassengineusesapropellantcombinationof"RFNA[redfumingnitricacid]
asoxidizerandGfuel(XylidieneandTriethylamine)asfuel.AccordingtoDefenseResearch&Development
Organization's(DRDO)sources,thisengineisdesignedfor"fixedmodeoperation";theengine'sturbopumpis
drivenbya"monopropellantgasgenerator"andthe"durationofoperationislimitedto42seconds."TheDevil's
secondstageisnotprovidedwithanythrustvectorcontrolmechanism.
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"PropulsionSystems,"IndianDefenceTechnology:MissileSystems(DRDO,
MinistryofDefence,December1998),p.99.
19701980
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)developstwosolidboostersfortheDevilsurfacetoair
missile.Thesalientfeaturesofthesemotorsinclude:
Useofdoublebasepropellantwithaspecificimpulseof200seconds.
Propellantgrainsinmultitubularconfiguration;thesegrainsarefreestandingwithoutanyinhibition.
Nozzleswithvariablethroatareatofacilitateoperationsintemperaturesrangingfrom40Cto+40C
withoutvariationinburntime.
Useofhighstrength15CDV6steelforthemotorcasing.
Thesemotorsareflighttested,culminatinginthesuccessfuldevelopmentofboostersforsurfacetoairmissile
(SAM)applications.[Note:Thetermspecificimpulsereferstotheamountofthrustfortheweightoffuelburnt.]
p.183;GeorgeP.Sutton,"DefinitionsandFundamentals,"RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontoThe
EngineeringofRockets(NewYork:JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.21.
19691972
TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)developsa200kgthrustliquidpropulsionengine.Improvementin
thequalityoftheablativeliningusedintheengine(asbestosandphenolicresin)permitsanincreaseinthe
durationoftheenginefiringfrom10to45seconds.ThetestsarecarriedoutattheRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)
inThumba(Kerela).[Note:Asbestosfibersandphenolicresinsarecompositematerialsthatareusedasthermal
insulatorsbetweenthenozzleablative(erodible)andstructuralmaterialsfortheprotectionofthelatterfrom
hightemperatureexhaustgases.Theyarealsousedforprotectionfromaerodynamicheating.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.110111;ThiokolPropulsion,"Nozzles,"RocketBasics:A
GuidetoSolidPropellantRocketry,www.thiokol.com,p.23.
19701972
IndiaapproachestheUnitedStatesandFrancefortechnicalcooperationtobuildtheSTEXcomplexinSriharikota
(AndhraPradesh).TheUnitedStatesrejectsIndia'srequest.However,FranceagreestoassistIndiaindesigningand
buildingthefacility.TheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)signsatechnicalcooperationagreementwith
theFrenchcompanySocitEuropenedePropulsion(SEP).AnISROteamtravelstoFrancefortraining.French
scientistshelptheirIndiancounterpartsdesignthevarioustestfacilities,includingthecriticalsixcomponenttest
stand.MostofthefabricationofpartsforthefacilityisdoneinIndia.However,someofthecriticalmachinerysuch
asthe16tonvibrationtableisimportedfromBritain.
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.87,88.
19701971
ISRO'sPropellantEngineeringDivision(PED)headedbyV.Gowarikerbeginsdevelopmentofcarboxylterminated
polybutadiene(CTPB)resinfortheSLV3upperstages.DuetodifficultiesinobtainingresinsuppliesfromUS
companies,Gowariker'steamdecidestoproducetheresinindigenously.India'sindigenousCTPBproduction
processisprovenonalabscalebymid1971;theresin'schemicalstructureisslightlydifferentfromCTPBandthe
newresiniscalledHighEnergyFuel20(HEF20).HEF20issubstitutedforimportedCTPBpropellantformulations
intheSLV3'sthirdandfourthstages.[Note:Carboxylterminatedpolybutadiene(CTPB)isapolymerusedasa
binderandfuelinsolidrocketmotorpropellant.Itisaliquidthatpolymerizesduringmotormanufacturetoform
theelasticmatrixthatholdsthesolidpropellantingredientstogetherinarubberlikepolymericcomposite
material.CTPBalsoburnsasfuelandcontributestotheoverallthrustoftherocketmotor.PolymerssuchasCTPB
areusedintheproductionofsolidrocketmotors,hybridrocketmotors,smallerrocketmotorsusedtolaunch
unmannedaerialvehicles(UAVs),andcruisemissiles.Thesebindingingredientsgreatlyaffectmotorperformance,
aging,storability,propellantprocessing,andreliability.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.8990;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"Missile
TechnologyControlRegime:AnnexHandbook,pp.411412.
December1970
DuringameetingwithDr.B.D.NagchaudhuriinHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),Bansalrulesoutthepossibilityof
buildingan8,000kmrangeballisticmissileongroundsthatIndialacksthetechnologicalandorganizationalbaseto
buildlongrangesystems.Heoutlinesthefeasibilityofbuildinga1,500kmrangeballisticmissilewithinsixtoeight
yearsifgivenaccesstounrestrictedmanpowerandfinances.Thesuccessfuldevelopmentofa1,500kmrange
missileisalsoconsideredoverlyoptimistic.
RajChengappa,"BuildanICBMorI'llShutDowntheLab,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuestto
beaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.131.
November1970
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhiassignsDr.B.D.Nagchaudhuritoinitiateatopsecretfeasibilitystudyforbuilding
longrangeballisticmissiles.NagchaudhuridirectsS.L.Bansal,headofDefenseResearch&Development
Laboratory's(DRDL)rocketrydivision,toconstituteacoregrouptoprepareplansforbuildingan8,000kmrange
ballisticmissilecapableofcarryinga500kgpayloadwithinfouryears.
beaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.129131.
1970
FirsttestoftheMenakaIIsoundingrocket.[Note3:MenakaIIisatwostage,solidmotorrocketcapableof
carryinga5.5kgpayloadtoanaltitudeof75km.]
1970
IndiadesignsandtestsanewRH125rocketwithpolyvinylchloride(PVC)asthepropellant.Thenewrocket
weighing32kgcancarrya7kgpayloadtoaheightof10km.
1970
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)decidestobuildafourstagesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)witha
capabilitytoplacea40kgsatelliteina400kmnearcircularearthorbit.Thedesignanddevelopmentofthe
vehicle'sfourstagesisbrokenupintofoursubprojectsandassignedtoindividualprojectleaders.V.Gowarikeris
selectedtoheadtheDesignProjectStage1(DPS);A.E.MuthunayagamforDPS2;M.R.KurupforDPS3;andA.P.J.
AbdulKalamforDPS4.ThedevelopmentoftheSLV3isexpectedtocost35millionrupees.[Note:ISROoptsforan
allsolidfourstagerocket,asithasmoreexperiencewithsolidfuels.Further,theIndianSLVismodeledontheUS
Scoutrocket,whichhasanallsolidfuelconfiguration.SincetheScouthasflownsuccessfullyinthepast,and
knowledgeofitsdimensionsanddesignparametersareavailablepublicly,Indianscientistsbelievethatafour
stagesolidfuelvehicleisfeasible.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.50,54,5557;"AnnexureI:CostEstimatesoftheSpace
ResearchProgramme,"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(AtomicEnergy
Commission,1970).
1970
FranceofferstolicensetheproductionofSSIIBIantitankmissilestoIndia.IndiaacceptstheFrenchofferandsets
upBharatDynamicsLimited(BDL)inHyderabad(AndhraPradesh),toproduce1,000SS11B1antitankmissiles
annuallyforaperiodof10years.TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)antitankmissile
projectendsinfailure;almosthalfofDRDL'sscientistsarerecruitedtojoinBDL.[Note:BharatDynamicsLimited
(BDL)wasincorporatedin1970bysigningacomprehensivelicenseagreementbetweenM/sAerospatiale(Nord
Aviation)ofFranceandtheGovernmentofIndiafortechnologytransfertomanufactureSSIIBIafirstgeneration
antitankmissile.BDLwasnominatedastheprimeproductionagencywithacapitaloutlayof50millionrupees.]
beaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.142;69thReport:BharatDynamics
Limited,ParliamentaryCommitteeonPapers:RajyaSabha,13March1999.
1July1970
Dr.B.D.Nagchaudhuriisappointedscientificadvisortothedefenseminister.
Early1970s
TheWestGermanspaceagencyDeutscheForschungsundVersuchsanstaltfurLuftundRaumfahrt(DFVLR)
agreestohelptheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)inthedesignofahighaltitudetest(HAT)facilityto
simulatethenearvacuumconditionsinspace.Thisfacilitywillbeusedtotesttheperformanceofasatellitelaunch
vehicle'supperstages.[Note:Environmentaltestfacilitiessuchashighaltitudefacilities(HAT)areusedtoexpose
rocketormissilecomponents,subsystems,andentirevehiclestothelowpressures,highandlowtemperatures,
vibrations,andacousticsofpoweredflightinordertomeasuretheresponses.Thedatageneratedareusedto
confirmthecorrectdesignsandensureflightworthiness.Highaltitudetestingissimulatedbysealingtestobjects
intoruggedpressurechambers,whicharethenevacuatedwithvacuumpumps.Flighttemperaturesaresimulated
insidethermallyinsulatedchambersequippedwithheatersandrefrigerationequipment.Thesechambersare
equippedwithvibrationequipmentdesignedtoreplicatespecificvibrationandacousticenvironments.Vibration
equipmentaremotordriventablescapableofprovidingamplitudefrequencyspectratothelevelsrequiredfora
completerocketsystem,subsystem,orcomponentrequiredduringpoweredflight.Acousticchambersusea
combinationofelectrostaticallyorelectromagneticallydrivenhorns,likeloudspeakerstoprovideaspectrumof
soundpressureslikethosegeneratedbyarocketmotorexhaustandveryhighspeedaerodynamicflight.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.88;"CategoryIIItem15:TestEquipment,"Missile
TechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,pp.1591510.
1970
WorkbeginsonexpandingtheRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)inThumba(Kerela)tomeetthedemandsofthe
satellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)program.Facilitiesarebuilttomixandcastlargerquantitiesofpropellant.Inaddition,
ovensareacquiredto"cure"thebiggersolidpropellantmotors.Thetotalcostforbuildingandexpansionis
estimatedat15millionrupees.Dr.VikramSarabhaialsoapprovesV.Gowariker'sproposaltobuildaPropellant
FuelComplex(PFC)atthesitetobeusedforscalingupstudiestodemonstrateproductiononanindustrialscaleas
wellastomanufacturepolymersforuseintherocketprogram.[Note:Theproductionequipmentand
infrastructurenecessarytoproducesolidrocketpropellantarecomplexandspecialized.Facilitiesandequipment
arenecessaryforpreparingthevariouspropellantingredients,mixingandhandlingthepropellant,castingand
curingthepropellantinsidethemotorcase,andotherspecializedprocessessuchaspressing,machining,
extruding,andacceptancetesting.Solidpropellantisproducedbyoneofthetwoprocesses,eitherbatchmixingor
continuousmixing.Mostrocketprogramsusethebatchprocesstomakesolidrocketmotorpropellant.The
individualpropellantingredientssuchasthebinder,oxidizers,metalpowder,stabilizers,curingagents,andburn
ratemodifiers,aremixedinlargemixerstoformaviscousslurry.Theslurryispouredorcastintotherocketmotor
case,inwhichamandrelcreatesahollowchamberrunningdownthecenterofthemotor.Theloadedmotorcase
isplacedinalargeoventocurethepropellant.Duringcuring,theslurryistransformedintoahardrubbery
material,orpropellantgrain.Therocketmotorwiththecuredpropellantisthencooled,themandrelremoved,
andanyfinaltrimmingfinished.FinishedmotorsareusuallyXrayedtoensurethatpropellantgrainis
homogenous,bondedtothecase,andfreeofcracks.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.8384;"AnnexureII:ProvisionsIncludedintheIV
Plan(196974)ForSpaceResearch,"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(Atomic
EnergyCommission,1970);"CategoryIIItem5:PropellantProduction,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnex
Handbook,pp.5253.
1970
India'sspaceprofileforthedecade197080statesthatspecialattentionwillbepaidtowarddeveloping
sophisticatedcontrolandguidancesystemsformultistagesatellitelaunchvehicles(SLVs).Thisincludesthe
"...designofoptical,magnetic,andinertialtypesensorsandcontrolcomponentsofelectromechanical,magnetic,
pneumaticandhydraulictypesandassociatedspecialelectronics."Inaddition,"....fibreglass,stripwound,and
helicallyweldedrocketmotorsaswellasspecialmaterialsforaerospaceusearerequiredtobecarriedfrompilot
planttothestageoflargescalefabrication."IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)budgets25millionrupees
forthedevelopmentofinertialandinflightguidancesystemsandonboardminiaturizedcomputersforrockets.
"SpaceResearch,"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(AtomicEnergy
Commission,1970),p.31;"AnnexureI:CostEstimatesoftheSpaceResearchProgramme,"AtomicEnergyand
SpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(AtomicEnergyCommission,1970).
1970
AccordingtoIndia'sspaceprofileforthedecade197080,thelaunchoftheSLV3willbefollowedbythe
developmentofamorepowerfulsatellitelaunchvehiclebetween197579.Thenewvehiclewillbecapableof
placinga1,200kgsatelliteintosynchronousorbitat40,000km.
Commission,1970),p.28.
1970
Indialaunchesatotalof205soundingrocketsbetween196470andplanstolaunchanadditional75suchrockets
in1970.
19691965
19621970
Aspartoftheprojecttobuildantitankmissiles,DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)acquires
facilitiesformachining,toolmaking,injection,molding,assembly,inspecting,carpentry,andelectroplating.These
facilitiesgiveIndiathetechnologicalcapabilitytofabricateprototypesofgyroscopes,actuators,silveroxidezinc
batteries,boosterandsustainermotors,airframehardwaresuchasfiberglasswings,groundlauncher
mechanisms,andwirespoolwindingandreelingmechanisms,forfirstgenerationantitankmissiles.Between
1968and1970s,DRDLproducesnearly40missilesamonthforinhousetestingandusertrials.
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"FabricationandManufacturingTechnologies,"IndianDefenceTechnology:
MissileSystems(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December1998),p.77.
19621970
Thepropulsionsystemoftheantitankmissileisstaticandflighttestedextensivelybetween196270.Defense
Research&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)conducts476staticand500flighttests.Fivepercentofthe
propulsionunitsburstintheairdueto"sustainerpropellantdefects."Thesedefectsareattributedtothelackof
foolproofnondestructivetesting(NDT)techniques.[Note1:Staticrocketsystemtest(withcompletepropulsion
systemonteststand)refersto:"(a)simulatedrocketoperationforproperfunction,calibration,ignition,operation,
usuallywithoutestablishingfullcombustion,and(b)completepropulsiontestsunderratedconditions,offdesign
conditions,withintentionalvariationsinenvironmentorcalibration."Note2:Flighttestsrefertothe"testofa
rocketsystemonaspeciallyinstrumentedflighttestrangewithaspecialtestvehicleorproductionvehicle."Static
andflighttestsonrocketsystemsareusuallyperformedto"researchthedevelopmentoforimprovementofa
newrocketengineormotor;evaluatethesuitabilityofanewormodifiedrocketengineormotorforaspecified
application;andevaluateproductionandqualityassuranceofarocketsystem."Note3:Nondestructivetesting
(NDT)referstothe"examinationofanobjectwithtechnology(e.g.,radiography,ultrasonic,magneticparticle
crackdetection)thatdoesnotaffecttheobject'sfutureusefulness.NDTprovidesanexcellentbalancebetween
qualitycontrolandcosteffectiveness.Theterm'NDT'includesmethodsthatcandetectinternalorexternal
imperfections;determinestructure,composition,ormaterialproperties;andmeasuregeometriccharacteristics.
NDTisusedinallphasesofaproduct'sdesignandmanufacture,includingmaterialsselection,researchand
development,assembly,qualitycontrol,andmaintenance."]
p.183;GeorgeP.Sutton,"RocketTesting,"RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontoTheEngineeringof
Rockets(NewYork:GeorgeWiley&Sons,Inc.),p.344;"WhatisNDT?"AmericanSocietyforNondestructive
Testing,www.asnt.org.
19691970
IndiainvitesFrenchandAmericancompaniestosetuptheSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant(SPROB)at
Sriharikota(AndhraPradesh).However,afteranextensivetouroffacilitiesintheUnitedStatesandFrance,Indian
scientistsandengineersdecidetopurchasetheequipmentfromthesuppliersdirectlyandbuildthefacility
themselvesatafractionofthepricequotedbytheUSandFrenchcompanies.
19691970
IndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)decidestobuildaSolidPropellantSpaceBoosterPlant(SPROB)tocast
largesolidpropellantmotorsandaStaticTest&EvaluationComplex(STEX)inSriharikota(AndhraPradesh)totest
solidmotors.Thesefacilitiesareplannedtomeettheneedsofthesatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV)andotherbigger
launchers.ISROalsodecidestoexpandtheRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)inThumba(Kerela)andsetupa
ReinforcedPlasticCentre(REPLACE)atVattiyooorkavunearThiruvanathapuram(Kerela)todevelopadvanced
compositematerialsforupperrocketstages.Thesolidpropellantplantandstatictestfacilityareestimatedtocost
157millionrupees.[Note1:Statictestfacilitiesareusedfortestingthestagemotorsoflaunchvehiclesand
subsystemsinordertostudytheirperformancecharacteristicsandqualifythemforflightenvironments.Note2:
Compositesandlaminatesareusedtomakemissilepartsthatareoftenlighter,stronger,andmoredurablethan
partsmadeofmetalsorothermaterials.Compositesandlaminatescanbeusedalmostanywhereinballistic
missilesorunmannedaerialvehicles(UAVs),includingcruisemissiles.Usesincludesolidrocketmotorcases,
interstages,wings,inlets,nozzles,heatshields,nosetips,structuralmembers,andframes.]
Programme(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.7779;"AnnexureI:CostEstimatesoftheSpace
ResearchProgramme(197080),"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080(Atomic
EnergyCommission,1970);"CategoryIIItem8:StructuralMaterials,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnex
Handbook,p.8.
15August1969
DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE)createstheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO)astheapexbodyto
governIndia'scivilspaceprogram.
1969
TheIndianArmyopposesDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)antitankmissileproject.Asa
resultofnewtechnologicaldevelopments,theArmychangesitsGeneralStaffQualitativeRequirements(GSQR)
anddemandsthatDRDLextendtherangeofthemissilefrom1.6kmto3km;thenewspecificationsalsorequire
thatthehandheldmissilecurrentlyunderdevelopmentbecapableofbeingmountedandfiredfromamobile
launcher.
26February1969
IndialaunchesitsfirstindigenouslybuiltCentauresoundingrocket.TherocketislaunchedfromtheThumba
EquatorialRocketLaunchingStation(TERLS);itcarriesa31kgpayloadandreachesanaltitudeof145km.The
Centaure'smotorcasingsandothermetalpartsarefabricatedatthecentralworkshopoftheBhabhaAtomic
ResearchCentre(BARC),Trombay(Maharashtra).
February1969
IndiacommissionsitsRocketPropellantPlant(RPP)atThumba(Kerela).ThefirstIndianCentaurerocketfilledwith
propellantmadeatRPPflieson7December1969.
February1969
IndiadecidestobuildasecondrocketlaunchstationatSriharikota(AndhraPradesh).Thelaunchstationistobe
builtinthreephases.Inphaseone,asoundingrocketlaunchfacilitywillbebuilttoconductflighttestsofRohini
soundingrockets;inphasetwo,tobecompletedbyDecember1971,therangewillbedevelopedfurtherforflight
testinglargermultistagevehiclesandthenecessarytrackingandtelemetrysystemswillbemadeavailablefor
performancetests;inphasethree,thevariousfacilitiesrequiredforhandlingthesatellitelaunchvehiclesuchas
thelongrangetrackingradars,highpowergroundtelemetrystations,computationalfacilities,anda
communicationsandcontrolcenter,willbebuiltby197374.TheDepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE)budgets27
millionrupeesforbuildingtherocketlaunchingstationatSriharikota.Inaddition,thetotalcostforbuildinghigh
performancemissiletrackingradarsandpulsecodemodulation(PCM)communicationsystemsforthedecade
197080isestimatedat37.5millionrupees.[Note1:Telemetryrefersto"informationormeasurements
transmittedbyradiofrequencywavesfromaremotesourceto...recordingdevice(e.g.,fromaspacecrafttoan
earthstation).Atelemetrydatastreamisusuallytransmittedseparatelyfromanyothercommunicationchannel,
sinceitconcernsonlythestatusofthespacecraftsubsystems.Thedataareusedbothtocontrolthespacecraft
andestablishtheperformanceofthesubsystemequipment.Historically,telemetryhasbeenallocateditsown
frequencybandandbeentransmittedbydedicatedsubsystemequipment."Note2:Telemetry,tracking,and
commandreferstoa"spacecraftsubsystemincorporatingthethreefunctions:telemetry,whichisdownlinked
fromthespacecrafttotheground;tracking,wherebyanearthstationtracksthetelemetrycarrierorabeacon
carriedonthespacecraft;andcommand,wherebyinstructionsareuplinkedfromthegroundtothespacecraft."
Note3:Pulsecodemodulation(PCM)isadigitalschemefortransmittinganalogdata.ThesignalsinPCMare
binary.UsingPCM,itispossibletodigitizeallformsofanalogdata,includingfullmotionvideo,music,voices,
telemetry,andvirtualreality.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.49;"SpaceResearch,"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:A
ProfileForTheDecade197080(AtomicEnergyCommission,1970),pp.3435;"AnnexureI:CostEstimatesofthe
SpaceResearchProgramme(197080),"AtomicEnergyandSpaceResearch:AProfileForTheDecade197080
(AtomicEnergyCommission,1970);"PulseCodeModulation,"Whatis?.com,whatis.techtarget.com/whome/
0,,sid9,00.html;MarkWilliamson,DictionaryofSpaceTechnology(NewYork:AdamHilger,1989),p.341.
19641969
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)acquiresthecapabilitytofabricatea500kgregenerative
coolingliquidpropellantengineusingkeroseneasfuelandredfumingnitricacid(RFNA)asoxidizer.
Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,"FabricationandManufacturingTechnologies,"IndianDefenceTechnology:
MissileSystems(DRDO,MinistryofDefence,December1998),p.77;Dr.N.C.BirlaandB.S.Murthy,eds.,
"PropulsionSystems,"p.92;RajChengappa,"EndtheWinkandNudgeApproach,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecret
StoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000).
Late1968
TheIndianNationalCommitteeonSpaceResearch(INCOSPAR)beginsworkondesigningabipropellantliquid
propulsionsystemwithtwopropellants:anilineforfuelandredfumingnitricacid(RFNA)asanoxidizer.Thefirst
experimentwithaliquidpropellantmotorisdesignatedLPM0.[Note:Abipropellantrockethastwoseparate
propellants,anoxidizerandafuel.Theyarestoredseparatelyandnotmixedoutsidethecombustionchamber.
Anilineisoneofthemorecommonlyusedliquidfuels.UponcontactwithRFNA,itignitesspontaneously.Afuel
andoxidizerreactinginthismanneraresaidtobehypergolic.Anilineisanextremelydangerouschemical,
producestoxicsideeffects,andrequirescarefulhandling.RFNAisacommonlyavailablenitricacidoxidizerfavored
fortacticalmissilesandiswidelyusedinScudtechnologybasedmissiles.Itiseasilyobtainedbecauseofthelarge
quantitiesproducedforexplosivesandfertilizers.However,RFNAisextremelycorrosiveandtoxicandrequires
carefulhandling.Thisoxidizerhasbeensuccessfullyusedwithanilinegivingupnearly63.6%ofitsoxygencontent
forcombustion.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.107108;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"Missile
TechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,p.47;GeorgeP.Sutton,"LiquidPropellantRocketFundamentals,"
RocketPropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontotheEngineeringofRockets(NewYork:JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.
147.
1968
FirstflighttestoftheMenakaIsoundingrocket.[Note:TheMenakaIisasolidmotorrocketcapableofcarryinga
"dartpayload"(copperchaff)toaltitudesof55kmandhigher.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.41;AnnualReport:197374,DepartmentofSpace(GovernmentofIndia),
p.18.
1968
ThejointdirectorofmissilesintheIndianAirForceGroupCaptainV.S.Narayananproposesaprojecttoreverse
engineertheSA2surfacetoair(SAM)withinfiveyearsatacostof165millionrupees.
1968
India'sdefenseministryformsamissilepaneltodrawupplansfordevelopingmissilesinIndia.Thejointdirectorof
missilesintheIndianAirForce(IAF)GroupCaptainV.S.NarayananandA.P.J.AbdulKalamareinductedas
membersofthepanel.Thepaneldiscussesplansforbuildinglongrangeballisticmissiles.Narayananmakesacase
forusingthetechnologydevelopedfortheciviliansatellitelaunchvehicleformissilerelatedresearchand
development.
SeptemberOctober1968
IndianspaceandrocketengineersprepareapreliminaryreportonIndia'sproposedsatellitelaunchvehicleto
placea2040kgsatelliteina400kmorbit.TheirreportproposesthatIndiabuildafourstage,solidfuellauncher,
modeledontheUSScoutrocket.Y.J.Raoisaskedtoprepareamoredetailedstudy.Hesubmitsanadditionalfour
tosixconfigurations,alloftheminvolvingsolidstages,differingonlyintheirlengthanddiameter.[Note:TheUS
SolidControlledOrbitalUtilityTest(SCOUT)rocketprogramwasconceivedin1958andemergedasafourstage
vehiclecapableofbeingusedasasoundingrocketorlightweightsatellitelauncher.Scoutwasmanufacturedby
LTVAerospaceandwasAmerica'sfirstsolidfuelrocket.Scout'sfirststagemotorwasbasedonanearlierversion
oftheNavy'sPolarismissilemotor;thesecondstagewasdevelopedusingtheArmy'sSergeantsurfacetosurface
missile;andthethirdandfourthstageswereadaptedfromtheNavy'sVanguardmissile.ThestandardScout
launchvehicleisasolidpropellant,fourstageboostersystem,approximately23minlengthwithalaunchweight
of21tons.NASAdecidedthatallthefourstageswouldbesolidfuel,citingtherelativesimplicityandreliabilityof
previouslydemonstratedtechnology.TheScout'sfirststage,calledAlgol,burnedfor40secondsandproduceda
thrustof511kN.Itwascontrolledbyusingmoveableoutertipsoffourstabilizerfinsinconjunctionwithfour
exhaustdeflectorvanes.Thesecondstagewasstabilizedbyhydrogenperoxidejets;itburnedfor39secondsand
producedathrustof222kN.Thethirdstage,Antares,burnedfor39seconds,wasstabilizedbyhydrogenperoxide
jets,andcouldproduce60.5kNofthrust.Thefourthstageburnedfor38seconds,wasspinstabilized,andcould
produceathrustof13.34kN.Thethirdandfourthstageswereencasedinaglassfibershield,whichincludeda
payloadshroudandadevicetospinstabilizethefourthstage.TheScoutwasabletocarrya22.6kgpayloadona
ballistictrajectorytoanaltitudeof13,679kmoralternativelya68kgpayloadinlowearthorbit.
TheScoutguidanceandcontrolsystemprovidesattitudereferenceaswellasthecontrolsignalsandforces
necessarytostabilizethevehicleinpitch,yaw,androllaxes.Miniaturerategyrosdetectanydeviationfromthe
vehicle'sprogrammedpathandgenerateelectronicsignals.Thesesignals,alongwiththe"rateofmovement"
informationarethenfedintotheappropriatestagecontrolsystem.TheoriginalNASAScoutwasmodifiedfor
specificUSAirForceapplicationsunderthedesignationsBlueScoutI,BlueScoutII,andBlueScoutJunior.TheBlue
ScoutIIwasalsomodifiedbyNASAforuseintheMercuryprogramandnamedMercuryScout.]
(NewDelhi:VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.5051;"NASA'SScoutLaunchVehicle,"NASAFactsOnline
(NASAGoddardSpaceFlightCenter),www.gsfc.nasa.gov,www.gsfc.nasa.gov;CliffLethbridge,"ScoutProgram
BackgroundFactsheet,"Spaceline,www.spaceline.org.
30August1968
Indiasuccessfullytestsitsfirstindigenoustwostagesoundingrocket.TheMultiStageRocketProjectstartedby
A.E.Muthunayagamin1968consistsofamodifiedRH75fittedontopofanRH125.[Note:TheRH125isatwo
stage,solidmotorrocketcapableofcarryinga7kgpayloadtoaheightof10km.Incontrasttothe"doublebase
propellantsystemusedintheRH75,"theRH125usesa"PVCbased[polyvinylchloride]plasticolsystem...which
hashigherenergeticsresultinginhighercombustiontemperature."Becausethe"curetemperature"ofthePVC
plasticolisaround170C,itis"notamenableforcasebonding...andthepropellant[is]castinaPVCrestrictor
tube."Boththe"boosterandupperstagemotors[are]ofthesamediameterandseparatedinflightby
atmosphericdrag."ImportantinputsfromtheRH125programincluded"improvementsinpropellantformulation
andprocessing,handlingandchargingofflexiblepropellantgrains,andstagingandseparationtechniques."]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.3637,40;R.Nagappa,M.R.Kurup,andA.E.Muthunayagam,"ISRO's
SolidRocketMotors,"ActaAstronauticavol.19,no.8,1989,p.682.
August1968
IndianspaceofficialssubmitareportrecommendingSriharikotaforanewlaunchsite.Thelocationoftheislandon
India'seastcoastanditsclosenesstotheequator(Sriharikotais13northoftheequator)arecitedassomeofits
keyadvantages.The196869DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE)annualreportstates:"Duetoinsufficientspace
attheThumbarangeandduetolimitationsimposedbyrangesafetyconditions,asecondrocketlaunchingstation
isnecessarytocopewiththeincreasingrocketlaunchingschedule...astationlocatedontheeastcoastofIndiais
necessaryforfacilitatingasatellitelaunch.SriharikotaislandsituatednorthofPulicat(AndhraPradesh)hasbeen
foundmostsuitableforthispurpose."
Early1968
IndianspaceofficialsbeginsearchingforasuitablelaunchsiteforlargerrocketsalongIndia'seasterncoast.The
AndhraPradeshstategovernmentofferstheislandofSriharikota,whichislocated80kmnorthofChennai.
Sriharikotais170squarekilometersinarea,hasacoastlineof62km,andis8kmatitswidest.Itissparsely
inhabitedbyYanaditribals.
Early1968
Dr.VikramSarabhaibroachesIndianspacescientistsandengineersontheideaofconductingafeasibilitystudyfor
developingasatellitelaunchvehicle(SLV).
2February1968
PrimeMinisterIndiraGandhidedicatestheThumbaEquatorialRocketLaunchingStation(TERLS)totheUnited
Nations.
GopalRaj,"TheSarabhaiVision,"ReachfortheStars:TheEvolutionofIndia'sRocketProgramme(NewDelhi:
1967
IndiapurchasesthreesquadronsofSA2surfacetoair(SAM)batteriesfromtheSovietUnionfortheairdefenseof
NewDelhi.
19671969
TworivalteamsofIndianscientistsledbyV.GowarikerandA.E.Muthunayagamcompetetodevelopsolid
propellantsfortheRohinisoundingrocketprogram.Gowariker'sgroupselectsasolidpropellantformulation
basedonpolyester;Muthunayagam'sgroupbasesitssolidpropellantaroundanaturalrubberresin.ThefirstRH
75withthenaturalrubberpropellant,namedtheDynamicTestVehicle(DTV),isflighttestedin1968.Gowariker's
teamtestsitsDTVon21February1969.However,neitherofthesepropellantsisusedintheRohiniprogram.
Polyvinylchloride(PVC)remainsthemainstayofIndia'ssoundingrocketprogramuntilbettersolidpropellants
becomeavailable.
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.3637,39.
20November1967
Indialaunchesitsfirstsoundingrocket,theRohini75(RH75).The"75"referstotherocket'sdiameterin
millimeters.TheRH75hasalengthanddiameterof1mand75mm,respectively.ItusesCordite,whichisadouble
basepropellant;therockethasatotallaunchweightof7kg,ofwhichthepropellantcomprises2.5kg.The
propellantburntimeis2secondsandtherocketreachesaheightof7km.India'searliesteffortsinthe
developmentofsolidpropulsiontechnologyareoverseenbyA.E.Muthunayagam.[Note1:Thedevelopmentofa
75mmdiameterrocketwastakenup"forinitialpropulsiontechnologydevelopmentdemonstration.Thediameter
waschosentouseofftheshelfitemstotheextentpossibleandminimizedevelopmenttime.Doublebase,free
standinggrainsof67mmwerealreadyundermanufacturein[India]....Thepropellantgrainwaschargedintothe
aluminumchamberandbondedinplacewithapolyesterresinsystem."TheRH75useda"metallicheatsink
design"forthenozzlewith"polycrystallinegraphiteforthroatinsert."ThedevelopmentoftheRH75provided
Indianrocketscientistsandengineerswithusefulinformationon"designandperformance,propellantcharging
techniques,teststanddesignandtestingtechniques,andflighttesting."Note2:Doublebasepropellantsforma
homogenouspropellantgrain,usuallyanitrocellulosetypeofgunpowderdissolvedinagelatiniserorplasticizer
suchasnitroglycerinplusminorpercentagesofadditives.Boththeingredientsareexplosivesandfunctionasa
combinedfuel,oxidizer,andbinder.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.3234;GeorgeP.Sutton,"SolidPropellantsandCombustion,"Rocket
PropulsionElements:AnIntroductiontotheEngineeringofRockets(NewYork:JohnWiley&Sons,1986),p.292;R.
Nagappa,M.R.Kurup,andA.E.Muthunayagam,"ISRO'sSolidRocketMotors,"ActaAstronauticavol.19,no.8,
1989.
1967
IndiaobtainsSA2surfacetoair(SAM)batteriesfromtheSovietUnion.ThemissilesaredeployedaroundNew
DelhiandseveralkeyairfieldsinnorthernIndiatoprovideairdefense.[Note:TheSA2isaguidedmediumto
highaltitudesurfacetoairmissile(SAM)designedtoprovideairdefenseagainstnonmaneuveringtargetssuchas
bombers.DevelopmentoftheSA2beganintheSovietUnionin1953attheLovochkinOKBdesignbureau,andthe
firstmissilebatteriesbecameoperationalin1957.TheoriginalSA2awassubsequentlysupercededinthe1960s
and1970sbytheb/c/d/e/fmodels.TheSA2isatwostagemissilewithalargesolidpropellantboosteranda
storableliquidfuelsustainerrocketmotorthatusesredfumingnitricacid/kerosenefuelmix.Themissilehasaset
offourcroppeddeltashapedwingstowardsthemidsection,asecondsetofsmallfixedfinsatthenose,anda
thirdsetofslightlylargercontrolfinsatthetail.TheSA2a/b/c/d/e/fmodelsvaryfrom10.611.2minlength,have
aboosterdiameterof0.65m,andlaunchweightbetween2,2872,450kg.Thewarheadweighs195kg,130kgof
whichisHighExplosive(HE).]
(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),p.148;"SA2'Guideline'MediumtoHighAltitudeSurfacetoAir
MissileSystem,TonyCullenandChristopherFoss,eds.,Jane'sLandBasedAirDefence19921993(Coulsdon,
Surrey),pp.257260.
Late1960s
Indiadecidestodevelopafamilyofsoundingrocketswithdiametersrangingfrom125mm560mmwiththe
capabilityofcarrying10100kgpayloadstoheightsrangingfrom80350km.
8,1989,p.682.
19651940
1965
TheIndiangovernmentapprovestheestablishmentoftheSpaceScience&TechnologyCentre(SSTC)inThumba
(Kerela)withtheobjectiveofbuildingrockets,satellitepayloads,aswellastheirinstrumentationinIndia.TheSSTC
initiallyfocusesonbuildingsoundingrocketsandscientificpayloadsfortherockets.Dr.VikramSarabhailaunches
anaggressiveprogramtorecruitIndianscientistsforthespaceprogramfromtheUnitedStatesandWestern
Europe.RecruitsincludeA.E.Muthunayagam,S.C.Gupta,M.K.Mukherjee,Y.J.Rao,D.S.Rane,M.C.Mathur,andV.
Gowariker.
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.1718,2425.
19651969
AspartofthecontractwithFrance'sSudAviationtolicenseproduceCentauresoundingrocketsinIndia,asmall
groupofIndianscientistsheadedbyM.R.KurupissenttoFrancefortraining.Thegroupisputthroughsome
coursesinsolidpropulsionandgivenpracticaltraininginthefabricationoftheCentaureandincastingthe
polyvinylchloride(PVC)propellantusedintherocket.IndianscientistsarealsogivenatourofFrenchsolid
propellantfacilities.SudAviationdoesnotprovideIndiawithaturnkeyfacilityformanufacturingtherockets.
Instead,Indianscientistsaregivenalistoftheequipmentandmanufacturerstohelpthembuildtherocketrelated
facilitiesinIndia.TheCentaureprogramhelpsIndiagainanunderstandingoftheequipment,procedures,and
safetyprecautionsrequiredtobuildlargesolidpropellantmotors.ItalsoexposesIndianscientiststotheuseof
compositepropellants,15CDV6steel,andsophisticatedfabricationtechniques,whicharelaterusedtobuildmore
advancedtwostagerockets.[Note1:Asolidrocketmotorusessolidpropellantstoprovidethrusttopropela
vehicle.Althoughtheterms"motor"and"engine"aregenerallyinterchangeable,propulsiondevicesusingsolid
propellantsaregenerallycalled"motors"andthoseusingliquidpropellantstendtoreferredtoas"engines."A
typicalsolidmotorismadeupofthefollowingcomponents:amotorcasecontainingthepropellantgrain,a
surroundinginsulatingblanketorpropellantliner,anexhaustnozzle,andanignitionsystem.Inoperation,solid
motorsarelesscomplexthanliquidrocketengines.Note2:Compositeandcompositemodifieddoublebase
propellantsareheterogeneousmixturesoffuelsandsmallparticulateoxidizersheldtogetherbyarubbery
materialreferredtoasthe"binder."Theyprovideastable,highperformance,solidpropellantforrocketmotors.
Compositeanddoublebasecompositepropellantsareusedtoprovidepropulsiveenergytorocketsystems,kick
motorsforsatellites,andforboostermotorsforlaunchingcruisemissiles,andunmannedaerialvehicles.These
propellantsarealsousedintacticalrockets.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.3740;MarkWilliamson,DictionaryofSpaceTechnology(NewYork:
AdamHilger,1989),p.284;"CategoryIIItem4:Propellants,"MissileTechnologyControlRegimeAnnexHandbook,
p.41.
19641965
IndiasignsanagreementwithSudAviationofFrancetobuildtheFrenchtwostageCentaurerocketinIndiaunder
license.Indiasimultaneouslylaunchesaprogramtobuildsoundingrocketsindigenously;Indianscientistsbegin
experimentingwithvarioussolidpropellantcombinationsandembarkontheRohini(RH)soundingrocket
program.Theybuildsimplemotors,whichare50mmindiameter.ThefirstIndiansoundingrocketisnamed
Rohini00(RH00).
1964
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory's(DRDL)R.Gopalaswamiproposesbuildingathreetonthrustliquid
fuelengineatacost183,000thousandrupees.TheIndiangovernmentsanctionstheproject.However,inthe
absenceofanyuserrequirementsfromthearmedforces,theprojectturnsintoacompetencebuildingexercise.
1964
IndiasignsanagreementwithFrancetoproducetheCentauresoundingrocketunderlicenseinIndia.[Note:
Centaureisatwostagesoundingrocket.TheCentaureusesa280mmVenusboostertoboostaBeliersecond
stage.Itcancarrya60kgpayloadtoaheightof130km.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.17;JonathanMcDowell,"CNESSoundingRockets,"TheHistoryof
Spaceflight,26January2000,heawww.harvard.edu;"FromBeliertoEridan,"TheSatelliteEncyclopedia,www.sat
net.com.
21November1963
IndiaassemblesandlaunchesitsfirstNikeApacherocketsuppliedbyNASA.Therocketcarriesasodiumvapor
experimentprovidedbytheFrenchspaceagencyCNES.AmericanandFrenchtechniciansoverseethelaunch.
[Note:TheNikeApacheisasmallrocketalmostidenticaltotheNikeCajun,withwhichitwasinterchangeable
dependingonthepayloadandthealtitudedesired.TheNike'sApachemotorwasmanufacturedbyThiokol
Propulsion.TheNikeApachewasoneofNASA'smostcommonsoundingrockets;itcanlifta45.4kgpayloadtoan
altitudeof160km.FirsttestfiringfromNASA'sWallopsIslandfacilityoccurredon25May1961.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),p.16;WilliamR.Corliss,"AppendixA:ShortDescriptionsofMajorSounding
Rockets,"NASASoundingRockets,19581968:AHistoricalSummary(ScientificandTechnicalInformationOffice,
NASA,1971),p.82.
21January1963
IndianMinisterofStateforExternalAffairsLakshmiN.Menoninformsparliamentthatthegovernmenthas
decidedtoestablishasoundingrocketlaunchstationatThumba(Kerela).
19621963
IndiasendsasmallgroupofscientiststoNASA'sGoddardSpaceFlightCenteronWallopsIslandfortrainingin
assembling,launching,andtrackingsoundingrockets.Indianscientistsaretrainedinsafetyprocedures,assembly
ofscientificpayloads,andcollectionofscientificdataradioedfromtherocketsduringflight.Thegroupofscientists
includesR.Aravamudan,PramodKale,A.S.PrakasaRao,B.RamakrishnaRao,H.G.S.Murthy,A.P.J.AbdulKalam,
andD.Easwardas.
1962
DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE)chairmanDr.HomiBhabhapersuadesPrimeMinisterJawaharlalNehruto
increasefundingforIndianNationalCommitteeonSpaceResearch(INCOSPAR).
RajChengappa,"TheRedFunnel,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower
1962
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentOrganization's(DRDO)ChiefControllerMajorGeneralB.D.KapurtoursR&D
centers,missiletrainingsites,strategicaircommandbases,andNASAfacilitiesintheUnitedStates.Onhisreturn
triptoIndia,KapurstopsinSwitzerlandtomeetrepresentativesoftheZurichbasedfirmContraves.Indiaand
Switzerlandsignanagreementtodevelopanintermediaterangesurfacetoairmissile(SAM)underaprogram
called"ProjectIndigo."However,theIndiangovernmentoptsforthepurchaseofSovietSA2SAMbatteriesand
ProjectIndigo,aprogramtoactuallybuildamissilesystem,iscancelled.
TimothyV.McCarthy,"India:EmergingMissilePower,"inWilliamC.PotterandHarlanW.Jencks,eds.,The
InternationalMissileBazaar:TheNewSuppliers'Network,(Boulder:WestviewPressInc.,1994),p.202.
1962
TheUNCommitteeonthePeacefulUsesofOuterSpacepassesaresolutioncallingforthecreationofsounding
rocketfacilitiesintheequatorialregionandsouthernhemisphereunderUNsponsorship.Indiatakesadvantageof
theUNresolutiontostartitsownsoundingrocketprogramtostudytheequatorialelectrojetphenomenon.Indian
NationalCommitteeonSpaceResearch(INCOSPAR)signsanagreementwiththeUSNationalAeronauticsand
SpaceAdministration(NASA)forhelpinassemblingandlaunchingsoundingrockets.ItalsoseeksNASA'shelpin
trainingIndianpersonnelaswellasestablishingasoundingrocketlaunchcenter.Agreementsarealsosignedwith
theFrenchspaceagency,CNES,forthesupplyofradarandsoundingrockets.[Note:Soundingrocketsarerockets
usedtomakeobservationsanywherewithintheearth'satmosphere.Soundingrocketsderivetheirnamefromthe
nauticalterm"tosound,"whichmeanstotakemeasurements.Theserocketsaredividedintotwoparts:rocket
motorandpayload.Soundingrocketexperimentsprovideinformationonthechemicalcompositionandphysical
processestakingplaceintheatmosphere,naturalradiationsurroundingtheearth,anddataonsun,stars,and
galaxiesandotherphenomenon.Inaddition,soundingrocketsprovideeconomicmeansofconductingengineering
testsforinstrumentsanddevicesusedonsatellitesandotherspacecraftpriortotheiruse.]
VikingbyPenguinBooksIndia,2000),pp.910;NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration,"NASA'sSounding
RocketProgram,"www.wff.nasa.gov.
1962
IndiadecidestobuildasoundingrocketrangeonthegeomagneticequatoratThumba,nearThiruvanathapuram
(Kerela)tostudyofproblemsinaeronomyupto200km.Theplannedprogramwillbeconductedwithsounding
rocketsandthescientificresultsareexpectedtohaveadirectbearingonabetterunderstandingofmeteorology.
[Note:"Aeronomy"referstothestudyoftheupperatmosphere,especiallyofregionsofionizedgas.]
1962
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)obtains600,000rupeestobeginworkondevelopingawire
guided,solidmotor,antitankmissile.Flighttestsofthe1.6kmrangehandheldmissileatImaratKancha,near
Hyderabad(AndhraPradesh)arehamperedbythelackofadequatemonitoringandtrackingequipment.
p.182;RajChengappa,"BuildanICBMorI'llShutDowntheLab,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia's
QuesttobeaNuclearPower(NewDelhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.141142.
February1962
DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE)createstheIndianNationalCommitteeonSpaceResearch(INCOSPAR)under
thechairmanshipofDr.VikramSarabhaitooverseeIndia'sspaceprogram.
February1962
DefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)isshiftedtoHyderabad(AndhraPradesh)toworkonthe
designanddevelopmentofmissiles.
DefenceResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory,"HistoricalBackground,"www.drdo.org.
1961
TheDefenseResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory(DRDL)isformedasanextensionoftheSpecialWeapon
DevelopmentTeam(SWDT)onthecampusoftheDefenseScienceLaboratory(DSL),NewDelhi.GroupCaptainV.
GanesanisappointedasitsdirectorinDecember1961.IndianmissilescientistsaresenttotheCollegeof
Aeronautics,Cranfield(UnitedKingdom)toattendacourseonguidedmissiles.
DefenceResearch&DevelopmentLaboratory,"HistoricalBackground,"www.drdo.org;RajChengappa,"Buildan
ICBMorI'llShutDowntheLab,"WeaponsofPeace:TheSecretStoryofIndia'sQuesttobeaNuclearPower(New
Delhi:HarperCollinsPublishersIndia,2000),pp.137139.
1961
ThePhysicalResearchLaboratory(PRL)inAhmedabad(Gujrat)becomesanautonomousinstitutionunderthe
DepartmentofAtomicEnergyDAE.TheDAEroutesfundsforthespaceprogramthroughPRLuntiltheformationof
anindependentDepartmentofSpace(DOS)in1972.
1961
TheIndiangovernmentassignsthesubjectofspaceresearchandthepeacefulexplorationofouterspacetothe
DepartmentofAtomicEnergy(DAE).
16October1958
IndianDefenseMinisterV.K.KrishnaMenonandhisscientificadvisorDr.D.S.Kotharisetupaguidedmissilestudy
teamunderB.N.SinghattheDefenseScienceLaboratory(DSL)inNewDelhi.Thedefenseministrysanctions
200,000rupeestobeginworkondevelopinganantitankmissile.Forreasonsofsecrecy,themissileteamis
namedSpecialWeaponDevelopmentTeam(SWDT).
1958
India'sUnionCabinetapprovesthesettingupofamissilestudygroupunderDefenseResearch&Development
Organization(DRDO)toadvisethearmedforcesonguidedmissiles.PrimeMinisterJawaharLalNehruinstructsthe
scientificadvisortotheDefenseMinisterDr.D.S.Kotharitoensurethatforeignexchangeoutflowiskepttoa
minimum.
1January1958
India'sMinistryofDefense(MOD)consolidatesalldefenserelatedresearchanddevelopmentactivitiesinthe
countrybymergingtheIndianArmy'sTechnicalDevelopmentEstablishmentandtheDirectorateofTechnical
Development&ProductionwiththeDefenseScienceOrganizationintoaneworganization,DefenseResearch&
DevelopmentOrganization(DRDO).In1958,DRDOisasmallorganizationwith10laboratoriesunderits
jurisdiction.MajorGeneralB.D.KapurisappointedasitsfirstChiefController.
DefenceResearch&DevelopmentOrganization,"DRDO:Genesis&Growth,"www.drdo.org;MajorGeneralB.D.
Kapur,"TheInitiationofDefenceResearchOrganization,"BuildingaDefenceTechnologyBase(NewDelhi:Lancer
International,1990),p.31.
1947
Dr.VikramSarabhaiestablishesthePhysicalResearchLaboratory(PRL)inAhmedabad(Gujrat)topursueresearch
oncosmicrays.ThePRLlaterbecomesthenucleusofIndia'scivilianspaceprogram.
15August1947
IndiagainsindependencefromBritain.

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