The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was launched in 1982-83 by the Indian Government which saw the projects of:

  • Prithvi (Short range surface to surface missile)
  • Trishul (short range surface to air missile)
  • Aakash (Medium range surface to air missile)
  • Nag (Third generation anti-tank missile)
  • Agni-I (Agni missile was later separated from the IGMDP due to its strategic importance)

 

The Prithvi-I is an Indian short-range ballistic missile with a range of 150 km. It is the first in a lineage of indigenous land and sea-based missiles which includes the Prithvi-II, the ship-launched Dhanush, and the Prithvi Air Defense interceptor. The Indian Army has withdrawn the Prithvi-I from service and replaced it with the Prahaar missile.

 

Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km (160 mi). It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004. This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.

According to news sources the range is now increased to 350 km (220 mi) and the payload capacity now ranges between 500 – 1000 kg. On June 2, India successfully test-fired its indigenous nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile

Prithvi III class is a two-stage SURFACE-to-SURFACE missile. The first stage is solid fueled with a 16 metric ton force (157 kN) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid-fueled. The missile can carry a 1,000 kg warhead to a distance of 350 km (220 mi) and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 km (370 mi) and a 250 kg warhead up to a distance of 750 km

 

Dhanush is a variant of the surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship Prithvi III missile, which has been developed for the Indian Navy. It is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads with pay-load capacity of 500 kg-1000 kg and can strike targets in the range of 350 km.

Range- 350km, naval variant of the Prithvi II

 

Trishul is the name of a short range surface-to-air missile developed by India as a part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It has a range of 12 km and is fitted with a 5.5 kg warhead. Designed to be used against low-level (sea skimming) targets at short range, the system has been developed to defend naval vessels against missiles and also as a short-range surface-to-air missile on land.

 

Akash is a medium-range surface-to-air missile with an intercept range of 30 km.

 

Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) and tested in 1989. After its success, Agni missile program was separated from the IGMDP upon realizing its strategic importance. It was designated as a special program in India’s defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development. As of November 2019, the missiles in the Agni series are being inducted into service.The family comprises the following:

 

Missile Project Type Warhead Payload (kg Range (km) Dimension (m) Fuel/Stages Weight (kg) In service CEP (m)
Agni-I IGMDP Strategic Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, cluster munition, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon 1,000 700–1200 15X1 Single stage solid 22,000 2009 25
Agni-II IGMDP Strategic Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, sub-munitions, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon 820–2,000 2,000–3,500 20X1 Two and half stage solid 26,000 2006 30-40
Agni-III IGMDP Strategic Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon 2,500 3,000–5,000 17X2 Two stage solid 44,000 2011 40
Agni-IV Agni-IV Strategic Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon 800–1,000 3,500–4,000 20X1 Two stage solid 17,000 2014 10
Agni-V Agni-V Strategic Strategic nuclear weapon 1,500 5,000–8,000 (Speculated) 17X2 Three Stage solid 50,000 2019 >10 – <80
Agni-P Agni-1 Prime Strategic Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon Unknown 1,000–2,000 Unknown Two stage solid Unknown In trial 10
Agni-VI Agni-VI Strategic Strategic nuclear weapon 3,000 (10 MIRV) 11,000-12,000 40X1.1 Four Stage solid 55,000 Under development