Global InformationGuided missiles of India information
India has studied, produced and used various strategic and tactical missile systems since its independence. Decades long projects have realised development of all types of missile systems including ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, air-defence, air-to-air and anti-missile systems. India is one of seven countries in the world with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and one of four countries with anti-ballistic missile systems. Since 2016, India has been a member of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
The use of rockets for warfare in India has been recorded in as early as the 18th century. Mysorean rockets were the first iron-cased rockets in world that were successfully deployed for military use. Mysore's conflict with East India Company exposed British to the technology leading to development of Congreve rockets and introduction of rocketry in Europe.[1]
Research in missile technology resumed again after India's independence along with the weapons of mass destruction. Development of nuclear weapons was followed by various missile programs in 70s with development of various ballistic, cruise, surface to air, anti- ballistic missile and orbital launch systems. India conducted its first nuclear test and initiated with Project Devil as an attempt to reverse engineer Soviet surface to air missile SA-2 Guideline and Project Valiant to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile. However, it could not succeed and experience gained led to development of Prithvi series of short range ballistic-missiles.[2][3] In early 80s, India conducted its first successful orbital launch[4] and synchronized its research institutions under IGMDP and successfully developed a series of strategic missile systems.[5] The project began in early 1980s and ended in 2008, after these strategic missiles were successfully developed. The last major missile developed under the program was the Agni 3 intermediate-range ballistic missile which was successfully tested on 9 July 2007. Since then, India has developed, tested, operationalized, and is developing several missile systems that are limited to only a handful of countries including ICBMs, ASATs, SLBMs and hypersonic weapon systems. Threats posed by enemy missile systems led to the pursuit of Indian Ballistic Missile Defense Programme.
In 2017, India produced most of defined MTCR defined missile technologies required to be integrated to produce most missile systems.[6] As per G Satheesh Reddy, India achieved complete self reliance in missile technology.[7]
- ^ A. Bowdoin Van Riper (29 October 2007). Rockets and Missiles: The Life Story of a Technology. JHU Press. pp. 14–. ISBN 978-0-8018-8792-5.
- ^ "Defence Forces of India (Part III)" (PDF). time4education.com. August 2005. Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ Vishwakarma, Arun S. "Strategic Missiles". Indian Defence Review. 22 (1). Retrieved 17 July 2009.
- ^ Subramanian, T.S. "Silver jubilee of the first successful SLV-3". Frontiline. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "Integrated Guided Missile Development Program". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ "MTCR Annex Handbook - 2017 Edition" (PDF). Missile Technology Control Regime. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "India is completely 'atmanirbhar' in missile technology: DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy". Mathrubhumi. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2022.