Program | India's missile development program reflects technological advancement and strategic defence capabilities. |
Lead Agency | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) |
Program Launch | Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) launched in 1983. |
Key Objectives | Nuclear deterrence, precision targeting, land and sea defence. |
Threat Focus | Preparedness against threats from China and Pakistan. |
Missile Types | Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, anti-aircraft defence systems. |
Guidance Systems | Inertial Navigation, Active Radar Homing, Infrared Homing, Laser Guidance, GPS/NavIC based Guidance. |
Warhead Types | Conventional (high-explosive), Strategic (nuclear-capable). |
Key Missiles | Agni series, Prithvi series, BrahMos, Akash, Trishul, Shaurya, K-4, K-15 (Sagarika). |
First Indigenous Missile | Prithvi (surface-to-surface missile, liquid fuel technology). |
Astra Missile | Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile with a range of 80 - 110 km. |
BrahMos | Supersonic cruise missile developed in joint venture with Russia, range 290 - 500 km. |
Agni-V | Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), range 5000 - 8000 km, enhancing strategic deterrence. |
Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) | Sagarika (K-15) (range 700 - 1900 km), K-4 (range 3500 - 5000 km). |
Hypersonic Missile | BrahMos-II under development, range 300 km. |
Key Figure | Tessy Thomas, former Project Director of Agni-IV, known as the Missile Woman of India. |