13.11.08

Shaurya test fired


In a significant step towards boosting “secondstrike’’ capabilities, India tested a new 600-km range ‘Shaurya’ ballistic missile, which can fired from underground silos unlike the Prithvi and Agni missiles. The surface-to-surface missile, capable of carrying a one-tonne conventional or nuclear warhead, was successfully fired from a 30 to 40-foot-deep pit with an in-built canister to mimic an underground silo at 11.25 am. “The successful test-firing of the new state-of-the-art canisterised missile marks another milestone in the country’s missile programme,’’ said defence minister A K Antony.The Prithvi (150-350-km range), Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (2000-km-plus) missiles already inducted into the armed forces, as also the almost-ready Agni-III (3,500-km), are all transported on special vehicles or trains. Though this gives them flexibility in deployment, it also makes them vulnerable to enemy pre-emptive strikes. Conversely, Shaurya missiles can remain hidden or camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage-cum-launch canisters. “The Shaurya system will strengthen our second-strike capabilities,’’ said a top official. Silos are the primary basing system for land-based ICBMs of countries like the US and Russia. Defence scientists admit that given Shaurya’s limited range at present, either the silos will have to be constructed closer to India’s borders or longer-range canisterised missiles will have to be developed. “Wednesday’s test was part of the ongoing technology development work by DRDO. The Shaurya system will require some more tests before it becomes fully operational in two-three years,’’ he added. The composite canister makes the missile much easier to store for long periods without maintenance. It also houses the gas generator to eject the missile from the canister before its solid propellant motors take over to hurl it at the intended target. Defence scientists say Shaurya has “high manoeuvrability’’ that also makes it “less vulnerable’’ to anti-missile defence systems. The absence of submarine-launched ballistic missiles has long troubled the defence establishment, especially since India has a “no first-use’’ nuclear doctrine. It is, therefore, important to have nuclearpowered submarines armed with nuclear missiles remaining quietly under water to deter an adversary from striking first. The Shaurya project is intended to plug this gap. The Shaurya missile system has parallels with the under-development K-15 SLBM, as part of the overall secretive Sagarika project, with an initial 700-km strike range. The K-15 missiles will arm the nuclear-powered submarines being built in Visakhapatnam.

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