Agni & Prithvi Ballistic Missiles : News & Discussions

@Abhay: The only source claiming the last test failed (or rather, a no test) was Manu Pubby. There wasnt even a NOTAM on the day that ``no test" happened. The same Manu Pubby was also claiming that the Nov 30 test was to be a K-4. He is not at all reliable when it comes to this (Hemant Rout is much more reliable, but hasnt said anything about the K-4). As for the Oct 23 postponement of the K-4 test, there was bad weather predicted for that whole window. That is not suitable for collecting test data efficiently. So, the test was postponed. As to what happened on Nov 8, nobody knows. There was a cyclone not too far away, but Vizag was not affected. No information ever comes out about the K-4 except for the first test in 2014. There was a different, more leaky, govt in charge at that time.

As for the A-III test, these things happen, especially if you test infrequently. Even France had a failure with its deployed M-51 slbm after five successful tests in a row between 2006 and 2010. This failure on the 6th test was in 2013. They fixed the quality control issues and had two successful tests in 2015 and 2016. The fully deployed Minuteman III has also had its failures, but the rate is low because a large number of regular tests always ensures minor issues with production, etc are settled. Hope this clarifies.
 
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Indian-made Agni-V ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic missile could enter in service in 2020

January 2020 Global Defense Security army news industry
Posted On Friday, 03 January 2020 15:09

The latest generation of Indian-made nuclear-capable ICBM Inter-continental Ballistic Missile Agni-V could enter in service in 2020 after a few additional firing tests. On December 10, 2018, India has successfully test-fired its ICBM Agni-V, according to a statement from the Indian Ministry of Defense (MoD).
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The last launch operations of the Agni-V were carried out and monitored by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in the presence of Scientists from Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and other associated officials.

Development of the Agni-V began in 2008. The ICBM features indigenously designed navigation and guidance systems including a ring laser gyroscope based inertial navigation system.

According to Indian military sources, the Agni-V ICBM is a three-stage solid-fueled missile with an approximate range of 5,500-5,800 kilometers. The exact range remains classified, but it is assumed that the missile could have a range from 6,000 to 7,500 kilometers, and can carry a 1,500 kg nuclear warhead. India has reportedly also been working on multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV) for the Agni-V in order to ensure a credible second-strike capability.

The Agni-V can be mounted on a launcher vehicle which is known as the Transport-cum-Tilting vehicle-5. It is a 140-ton, 30-metre, 7-axle trailer pulled by a 3-axle Volvo truck according to DRDO, Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation.

Indian-made Agni-V ICBM Intercontinental Ballistic missile could enter in service in 2020 | January 2020 Global Defense Security army news industry | Defense Security global news industry army 2020 | Archive News year
 
Gautam said:
I think those rods/spokes are part of the test rig not part of the motor. I've seen similar test rigs with ISRO's solid rocket boosters.
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there are rumours that Agni 5 3rd stage is based on Topol M. and Bulava SLBM used tech from topol itself and both were designed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology chief designer being YurySolomonov.
Only difference is that Bulava SLBM 3rd stage is bigger and uses liquid propellent giving it higher Isp and higher maneuverability, which is a must given its carrying MIRVs and it's an SLBM.

TRISHUL: Why Is This DRDO Official In Moscow?

@Gautam
 
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one can not simply brush aside similarities between Indian strategic weapons and that of russians. Here ASAT first and second stage, probably based of K-4 SLBM

IMG_20200411_123003.jpg


Russian SLBM ( R-27 )
WMRUS_R-27_pic (1).jpg


Bulava SLBM.

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images - 2020-04-11T105945.689.jpeg
 
screambowl said:
If you do the anatomy of Indian ICBM/SLBM a lot of things will be similar to Russian in mechanical and Israeli in avionics.
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not in ICBM/SLBM though, it's all russians there. India is a milking cash cow for both countries, US and west to are part of the great game, behind the curtains. If you know what I mean ;)
isn't that how really geopolitics and wealth transfer works globally :sneaky:. avg guys like us are just a mean to an end for the elites.
 
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Nikhil said:
there are rumours that Agni 5 3rd stage is based on Topol M. and Bulava SLBM used tech from topol itself and both were designed by Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology chief designer being YurySolomonov.
Only difference is that Bulava SLBM 3rd stage is bigger and uses liquid propellent giving it higher Isp and higher maneuverability, which is a must given its carrying MIRVs and it's an SLBM.

TRISHUL: Why Is This DRDO Official In Moscow?

@Gautam
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There are not rumours but figments of imagination

The DRDO approached the Russians regarding information relating to ejection validation and testing methodologies . DRDO had no prior experience with the same with an ICBM class missile.

There is no connection of Agni series missiles with topol , bulava etc

Are you that naive to assume that Russians will share technology from their primary deterrence systems on which their survival depends with another country. And neither is India stupid enough to expose her primary deterrence systems and technologies to another 3rd party country.
 
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Nikhil said:
one can not simply brush aside similarities between Indian strategic weapons and that of russians. Here ASAT first and second stage, probably based of K-4 SLBM

View attachment 15234

Russian SLBM ( R-27 )
View attachment 15235

Bulava SLBM.

View attachment 15236

View attachment 15237
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K4 1st stage those are guide blocks to ensure the missile is positioned precisely inside the canister. This is also required to ensure proper connection of the missiles onboard health , diagnostic , prelaunch sequencer ports to those of the cannister itself ( and inturn to the launch control module of submarine / TEL ) and proper interfacing of the missile to the obturator of the gas generator system of the missile cannister. Plus act as dampers.

It is a generic feature , nothing unique to Russian systems perse.

So there is no similarities perse between Indian and Russian systems other than generic features.
Same can be noticed for so called similarities between 5th gen fighters .
 
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hellbent said:
K4 1st stage those are guide blocks to ensure the missile is positioned precisely inside the canister. This is also required to ensure proper connection of the missiles onboard health , diagnostic , prelaunch sequencer ports to those of the cannister itself ( and inturn to the launch control module of submarine / TEL ) and proper interfacing of the missile to the obturator of the gas generator system of the missile cannister. Plus act as dampers.

It is a generic feature , nothing unique to Russian systems perse.

So there is no similarities perse between Indian and Russian systems other than generic features.
Same can be noticed for so called similarities between 5th gen fighters .
Click to expand...

Also k4 has fins as control surfaces unheard in SLBMs including russian ones.
 
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Anybody who has a eye for details and basic knowledge of rocketry will realise without doubt that Kfour is a unique SLBM which basically no similarities with other SLBMs around the world forget about russian SLBMs.

Kfour firing sequence in the video

3rd stage -> 1st stage -> 2nd stage -> ...... ( No idea after that since video ends )

The 3rd stage of Kfour must have pretty powerful motors to lift the entire missile.

Also if one watches the video closely , one will realise that drdo spliced together 2 different portions of video and took out the 1st stage firing portion.

For comparison

Normal SLBMs around the world firing sequence ( minute differences might exist in few exceptional cases )

1st stage -> 2nd stage -> 3rd stage .......
 
_Anonymous_ said:
Are these MIRV & if so how many warheads per missile?

What are the advantages of having them on an SLBM?
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I don't think current version of A5 has MIRV ( I might be wrong too ) , AFAIK they are looking to increase the throwaway weight in subsequent variants of A5 to allow for MIRV capability.

AFAIK only A3 has MIRV , 3 along with decoys. Conclusion is based on info I have collected over the years.

Control surfaces on Kfour helps to increase controllability , allow maneuverability and hence precision in a depressed trajectory.
 
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hellbent said:
Also k4 has fins as control surfaces unheard in SLBMs including russian ones.
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This is not true many old soviet SLBMs had grid fins for stabilization while nose fearing had other control surfaces for Maneuvering. Hell even many land based ICBM like Topol ICBM still has grid fins for stabilization and Maneuvering whole ICBM.
hellbent said:

Anybody who has a eye for details and basic knowledge of rocketry will realise without doubt that Kfour is a unique SLBM which basically no similarities with other SLBMs around the world forget about russian SLBMs.

Kfour firing sequence in the video

3rd stage -> 1st stage -> 2nd stage -> ...... ( No idea after that since video ends )

The 3rd stage of Kfour must have pretty powerful motors to lift the entire missile.

Also if one watches the video closely , one will realise that drdo spliced together 2 different portions of video and took out the 1st stage firing portion.

For comparison

Normal SLBMs around the world firing sequence ( minute differences might exist in few exceptional cases )

1st stage -> 2nd stage -> 3rd stage .......
Click to expand...
That's just not true. K 4 is using supercavitation which is used by Russian SLBMs to.
here RS-39 sineva using one.

Supercavitation has quite an advantage over conventional cold launch.. like firing from greater depths etc, etc.
.Similar problems exists with respect to existing submerged missile launch methods, wherein the missile is ejected "cold" from the launch tube, i.e., without its rocket motor providing any real thrust and, until the missile rises vertically through the water, exits the surface and fully ignites its rocket engine, the missile is simply a projectile. In a conventional cold launch, the ejection is typically performed by injecting high-pressure gas into the launch tube by means of a gas generator device, under the missile base, urging the missile upward in a piston fashion via expanding gases. The launch depth is limited, though, because the missile must be ejected with enough force to overcome the hydrodynamic resistance of the water and the missile weight, and to exit the water. Since all of the ejection force is applied in the launch tube, structural limits constrain the maximum launch depth. Another shortcoming is potential water seepage into the missile due, at least in part, to the extreme force at which water contacts the surface of the missile.
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WO2008105930A2 - Supercavitation weapons launcher - Google Patents
 
@Nikhil

Have you watched the k4 video i posted

And

Have you watched the R-39 video you posted

If no watch both of them carefully again , then again and again until you figure out the why you are wrong.

Self help is the best help
 
hellbent said:
There are not rumours but figments of imagination

The DRDO approached the Russians regarding information relating to ejection validation and testing methodologies . DRDO had no prior experience with the same with an ICBM class missile.

There is no connection of Agni series missiles with topol , bulava etc

Are you that naive to assume that Russians will share technology from their primary deterrence systems on which their survival depends with another country. And neither is India stupid enough to expose her primary deterrence systems and technologies to another 3rd party country.
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this is not how geopolitics or great game is played around the world. US transfer critical technology to its allies in Europe and East Asia while Russia do it to India and China given that it's paid and it's strategic interest are maintained. What do you think Adam Smith invisible hand is in reality and how wealth transfer works around the globe..... how the elites manage to maintain there fortune over generations around the world.
why do you think Canada give India CANDU reactor or for that matter France provided India FPA technology for seeker or Israeli helping us in radars etc etc. Its not just money.
are people here really naive to think Chinese somehow break into most secure US facilities to steel American trade secrets without American collusion.
hellbent said:
@Nikhil

Have you watched the k4 video i posted

And

Have you watched the R-39 video you posted

If no watch both of them carefully again , then again and again until you figure out the why you are wrong.

Self help is the best help
Click to expand...
What I mean was both uses same method. It's not unique to India alone.
 
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