Date:10/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/10/stories/2008051054681300.htm

National

DRDO readying design for 5,000 km-range Agni-V

It is to be equipped in the later stages with multiple warheads

— Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

FOR A STRONGER INDIA: Agni programme director and Advanced Systems Laboratory director Avinash Chander (centre), with his colleagues, displays a model of Agni-V at a press meet in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Riding on the success of the test-firing of the 3,500 km range, nuclear-capable Agni-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile, the DRDO scientists team involved in the Agni project is planning to complete the design for the first developmental flight of Agni-V ( 5,000 km) in two years. Besides, the team also proposes to equip Agni-V in the later stages with multiple warheads and anti-ballistic missile counter measures.

Talking to reporters here on Friday, Agni’s programme director and Advanced Systems Laboratory director Avinash Chander said, “We are getting ready for the 5,000 km system. Designs are in progress.”

With most of the inputs coming from Agni-III, the technological capability existed for developing a ballistic missile of 5,000 km range.

New design

Although developing Agni-V was an extension of the existing know-how, he pointed out that it would be per se a new design and a new product. Every package needed to be thoroughly evaluated for severe thermal environment and other factors which Agni-V would encounter.

Mr. Chander said that Agni-V would be a three-stage solid-fuelled projectile with the third stage made of composite rocket motor casing.

He said the just-tested Agni-III was a “truly deliverable version” and expressed confidence that no more developmental flights were required. For the first time, a strategic command network and all features of safety and security were integrated with the system. Referring to the maturity of the missile technology developed for Agni-III, he said “We have come to a stage where we can closely recreate all flight conditions on the ground for 600 micro-parameters… we have totally validated the design and manufacturing methodologies, ” he added.

Stressing that Agni-III was ready for induction, he said the user might require a familiarisation test in the next six to eight months.

He said the ring laser gyro-based Inertial Navigation System was among the state-of-the-art indigenous components used in the missile to enhance its accuracy.

V.G.Sekharan, project director (A3), D.P.Rao, project director (A1), Tessy Thomas, associate project director, and D.Lakshminarayana, project director (A2), were present.