India's Missile Programme

A missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon that is capable of self-propelled flight usually with the help of a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles of India is made of both ballistic and cruise missile systems with strategic and tactical importance. These missiles have been developed through various missile programs like Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (IBMDP), BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture and other Independent Projects.

1. Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) is a program designed by India to develop missiles of different categories indigenously. It is also a program of the Indian Ministry of Defence to achieve self-sufficiency in the missile field. The IGMDP program was started after the government gave its approval on 26 July 1983. The project, which was completed in 2008, developed Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash and Nag missiles. APJ Abdul Kalam was the head of IGMDP.

Missiles developed by IGMDP

◆ Prithvi: Surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile

◆ Agni: Surface-to-surface intermediate-range ballistic missile

◆ Trishul: Surface-to-air short-range ballistic missile

◆ Akash: Surface-to-air intermediate-range ballistic missile

◆ Nag: Third-generation anti-tank missile

2. Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme (IBMDP)

The IBMDP is India's programme to provide an air defence shield to protect India from ballistic missile attacks. The Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme is an initiative to develop and deploy a defence system. Two land-based and sea-based interceptor missiles were developed under this programme to counter ballistic missile attacks from enemy countries. They are the Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) and the Advanced Air Defence (AAD). With the successful testing of PAD/AAD, India became the fourth country after the United States, Russia and Israel to successfully develop an anti-ballistic missile system.

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD): Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept enemy ballistic missiles from outside the atmosphere. PAD has a range of 2000 km and travels at a speed of Mach 5+. It was tested in November 2006.

Advance Air Defence (AAD): Advanced Air Defence (AAD) is an anti-ballistic missile developed to intercept enemy ballistic missiles from outside the atmosphere that the Prithvi Air Defence missile cannot intercept. AAD has a range of 15 - 25 km and travels at a speed of Mach 4.5. It was tested in December 2007.

Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV): India has successfully tested the 'Prithvi Defence Vehicle' missile interceptor missile (interceptor), which is capable of intercepting enemy missiles in outer space. Prithvi is capable of destroying enemy missiles at an altitude of 50 to 100 km above the ground. The test was conducted off the coast of Odisha. Prithvi Defence Vehicle is part of the ballistic missile defense shield being developed by India. The first test of Prithvi Defence Vehicle was successfully conducted by DRDO on April 27, 2014. The second test of PDV on February 11, 2017 and the third test on February 12, 2019 were also successful.

3. BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture 

BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture was established in 1998. It is jointly developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India and NPO Mashinostroyenia of Russia. The Missile developed by BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture is BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile.

4. Independent Projects

The independent projects were started in 2008, after completion of IGMDP in the same year. The independent projects are Agni series, K-Missiles, Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (in process) etc.