Missiles of India - List and Types of Indian Missiles in Detail | UPSC Notes

Under the IGMDP, India developed five missile systems: Trishul, Akash, Nag, Prithvi, and Agni-I. These missiles, including air defense, anti-tank, and surface-to-surface capabilities, were designed for military purposes. In 1958, the Indian government formed the Special Weapons Development Team to research guided missile systems. In June 1961, this team was expanded into DRDL, a full-fledged laboratory on the campus of the Defence Science Centre in Delhi. In February 1962, the laboratory was relocated to Hyderabad, and thus the story of guided missiles in India began. Finally, the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983 by the Government of India to develop a range of missile systems in the country.

This topic of the "Missiles of India" is essential from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 3 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Science and Technology section of the UPSC Exam. In this article on the List of Missiles, we shall discuss what missiles are, their types, classification, essential features, and other vital details. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam. Join the UPSC coaching today and boost your preparation.

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Golden Dome Missile Defence System 

• About: It is an advanced multilayered missile defense system with space-based sensors and interceptors to protect the US from foreign missile attacks. 
  • Through satellite-based sensors, it is designed to counter hypersonic, ballistic, cruise missiles, and drones globally. 
  • Defence Force and former US President Reagan's 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars) inspired it. 
  • It will integrate components from existing US missile defense systems, including Defense batteries, THAAD, Aegis BMD, and Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD). 
• Functioning: Using a network of hundreds of satellites, it targets missiles in the boost phase, immediately after launch, intercepting them before or shortly after they enter space.

Key points of the Golden Dome Missile Defence System

• It is a multi-layered missile defense system that protects the United States from ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missiles, and drones.
• The system integrates space-based and ground-based components, including a global network of hundreds of satellites equipped with sensors and interceptors.
• It aims to intercept missiles during their "boost phase" shortly after launch, including shooting down missiles before entering Earth's atmosphere or early in space.
• Four layers of defense:
  1. Space-Defence centerceptors and sensors.
  2. Enhanced Ground-Based Midcourse Defense with upgraded land-based interceptors.
  3. Multiple land-based defence sites across the US, Alaska, and Hawaii.
  4. Limited Area Defense with new radars, a standard launcher, and integrated systems like Patriot missiles for protdefencepopulation centercentresncorporates existing U.S. missile defence technologies suDefenceatriot missile batteries, THAADefense is Ballistic Missile Defense, and Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD).
• The system also plans to use advanced tracking technologies and potentially directed energy weapons (lasers).
• Inspired by Israel's Iron Dome but on a much larger, national scale, with a projected weaponisation of 75 billion.
• The system raises concerns about space weaponization and adherence to international space law.
• AI and advanced sensor integration are expected to enhance real-time threat detection and defence.
• The Pentagon has started industry engagement with key defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, and Boeing.
• The project includes adding new missile fields and aims for rapid deployment capabilities.

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Global Missile Defence Systems

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What are Missiles?

Missiles are self-propelled flying weapons designed to deliver an explosive warhead quickly and accurately. They are often designed to be able to maneuver in flight and adjust their trajectory to hit a moving target, making them a potent weapon in military operations. Missiles come in various types and sizes, ranging from small, shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles to large, long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Missiles can be propelled by liquid or solid-fueled rocket engines. The most significant and complex component of the missile is its guidance system. A missile GUIDANCE system maintains the missile's flight path from launcher to target.

List of Missiles in India

India has developed and deployed several missiles for various military purposes. Here is an Indian Missiles List

• Agni I
• Agni II
• Agni III
• Agni IV
• Agni V
• Prithvi I
• Prithvi I
• Akash Missile (3 Variants at various stages of development) – Akash 1-S, Akash Mark-II, Akash-NG
• Trishul
• Dhanush
• Novator K-100
• Shaurya
• BrahMos
• Nirbhay
• Sagarika (K-15)
• Amogha
• Nag
• Helina
• Amogha
• Barak 8
• Astra Missile
• K- IV & V, etc.

About Various Types of Indian Missiles- In Details

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Indian missile defence system

India has developed a multi-layered missile defence system to protect against incoming ballistic missile threats. The Indian missile defence system includes; 

• Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) System
• Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System
• Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System
• S-400 Triumf

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) System (For high-altitude interception)

The PAD system is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at an altitude of up to 80 km (exo-atmospheric). It uses interceptor missiles to destroy incoming missiles before they reach their targets.

Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System (For lower altitude interception)

The Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System is a missile defence system that can intercept incoming ballistic missiles at up to 30 km (endoatmospheric). It is an essential component of India's integrated missile defence system for lower altitude interception.

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System

The BMD system combines the exo-atmospheric PAD and endo-atmospheric AAD systems to provide a double-layered defense against ballistic missile threats. It uses a combination of interceptor missiles and radar systems to track and destroy incoming missiles.

S-400 Triumph

India has also purchased five S-400 Triumph air defense system units from Russia. The first three S-400 Triumph reached India in December 2021 and April 2022, respectively, and the remaining two systems will be delivered by the end of 2023. This system intercepts and destroys various aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles.

List of Missiles (UPSC Science): Download PDF Here!

Conclusion

By detecting and thwarting incoming missile assaults, missile defense systems can reduce casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. More crucially, strategic deterrence is considerably aided by missile defense. India must constantly improve its missile ecosystem to address the growing security issues in the complex global scenario in the coming years.

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