{"id":4005,"date":"2026-09-25T16:30:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T11:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2026-09-25T17:30:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T12:00:34","slug":"types-of-missiles-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/types-of-missiles-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Missiles of India, Features, Significance, Types of Missiles in India"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Missiles in India<\/strong> include both ballistic and cruise missile systems with strategic and tactical importance. These missiles have been developed through various missile programs since independence, with the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) being the most important and successful. The development of these missile systems signifies India\u2019s aim to maintain the balance of power and strategic stability in the Asia-Pacific region and attain great power status.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi, Akash, Agni, BrahMos, Sagarika, etc., are the missiles that have been developed to counter the geopolitical challenges and potential threats to India. They aim to strengthen both offensive and defensive capacities during any conflict scenario.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missile Meaning<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A missile is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight, usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have five system components:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Guidance system<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Targeting system<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Flight system<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Engine<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Warhead<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/strapi\/missile_components_d8c1c42670.jpg\" alt=\"Missile Components\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles of India Features<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India include diverse types like ballistic, cruise, and surface-to-air missiles, with advanced guidance systems, varying ranges, and capabilities for both conventional and nuclear payloads.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Accuracy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> India's missiles incorporate advanced guidance technologies like inertial navigation systems, satellite navigation, radar, and optical seekers to achieve pinpoint accuracy. Missiles like Agni-V and BrahMos have consistently hit targets with high bull's-eye precision.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Quick Deployment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Most of India's missiles use solid fuels, lending them quick reaction capability. Shorter preparation and launch times give flexibility to armed forces for a faster response. Prithvi and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/agni-missile\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Agni<\/span> <\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">missiles in special transport-erector-launcher vehicles can fire in under 15 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>High Lethality:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Powerful indigenous propulsion systems give Indian missiles extended ranges and heavy warheads to inflict major damage. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/brahmos-missile\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrahMos Missile<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, with its supersonic speed, is one of the deadliest cruise missiles globally.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missile in India Programs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missile Programs of India began with the formation of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/defence-research-and-development-organisation-drdo\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and the initiation of the<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/integrated-guided-missile-development-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in 1983. It aimed to develop a range of indigenous missiles for India's defence needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Missile Programs of India<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Features<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Key products<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Integrated Guided Missile Development Program<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Started in 1983, under DRDO, completed in 2008.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><b>Objectives:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To establish indigenous missile development capabilities and<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To produce a comprehensive range of missiles needed by the defence forces<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Trishul and Agni (1, 2 and 3)<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>BrahMos Aerospace-Joint Venture<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Established in 1998<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Jointly developed by India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/indian-ballistic-missile-defence-programme\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme<\/b><\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Started in 1999<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Two-tiered system: endo- and exo-atmospheric interception<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) \/ Pradyumna Ballistic Missile Interceptor, Advanced Air Defence (AAD) \/ Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Independent Projects<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- Since 2008, after the completion of IGMDP.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Agni series, K-Missiles, Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (in process),<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">etc.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India Types<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles in India are categorised based on launch mode, range, propulsion, warhead, and guidance systems, reflecting the country\u2019s diverse and advanced missile development capabilities for both defensive and strategic purposes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/wp\/upsc-exam\/2025\/12\/Artboard-2-map.png\" alt=\"India&#039;s Ballistic &amp; Cruise Missiles\" title=\"India&#039;s Ballistic &amp; Cruise Missiles\" class=\"my-image my-image-size-full my-image-align-none\" style=\"width: auto; height: 606px;\" \/>\r\n<figure><\/figure>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Speed<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles in India Based on speed, refer to the classification of missiles depending on how fast they travel, categorised into subsonic, supersonic, and hypersonic missiles, each serving different strategic purposes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Subsonic Missile:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Missiles that travel slower than sound are known as \"subsonic.\"<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Supersonic Missile:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Missiles that travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1) but less than Mach 5 are called \"supersonic.\"<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Examples: Indian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hypersonic Missile:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> The term \"hypersonic\" means that the speed of missiles should be at least five times faster than the speed of sound (over Mach 5).\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Examples: Shaurya\/Sagarika missiles of India (Max speed - 7.5 Mach), etc.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Trajectory<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Trajectory refer to the classification of missiles depending on their flight path, which includes ballistic missiles that follow a curved trajectory and cruise missiles that fly at low altitudes.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ballistic Missiles:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ballistic missiles have a ballistic lofted trajectory and work on the principle of unpowered free-fall flight after the boost phase. Examples are<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India's Agni and Prithvi series of ballistic missiles.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hypersonic Glide Vehicle:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ballistic missiles attaining hypersonic velocities during the re-entry phase<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">are hypersonic ballistic missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Examples of HGVs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> China's DF-17 missile mounts a hypersonic glide vehicle; Russia's Avangard boost-glide system.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India is in the \u201cTechnology demonstration\u201d stage of HGVs.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Cruise Missiles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It is a guided missile used against terrestrial or naval targets that remains in the atmosphere (unlike ballistic missiles) and flies the major portion of its flight path at an approximately constant speed before hitting the target.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Subsonic Cruise missiles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These cruise missiles travel at less than Mach 1.\u00a0 Examples: U.S. BGM-109 Tomahawk<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">long-range subsonic cruise missile, Indian Nirbhay subsonic cruise missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Supersonic Cruise missiles:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Cruise missiles travelling at supersonic speeds are called supersonic cruise missiles. Joint Indo-Russian BrahMos is the fastest supersonic cruise missile, reaching close to Mach 3 speed.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Hypersonic Cruise missiles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cruise missiles powered using scramjet engines to realise speeds greater than Mach 5 are designated as hypersonic cruise missiles. BrahMos Aerospace is working on the BrahMos-II variant to attain hypersonic cruise speeds above Mach 8.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/strapi\/fractional_orbital_bombardment_system_df6bf67f64.jpg\" alt=\"Fractional Orbital Bombardment System\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><strong>Fractional Orbital Bombardment System (FOBS):<\/strong>\u00a0It is a warhead delivery system that uses a low Earth orbit towards its target destination. Just before reaching the target, it deorbits through a retrograde engine burn.\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Instead of ICBMs which follow a probable trajectory, FOBS can avoid early warning systems by approaching from the south polar region without the revelation of targets.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong>Example<\/strong>: Russia developed this technology in the 1960s. Recently, China has tested this system too.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on the Launch Mode<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on the Launch Mode refer to the classification of missiles according to their point of launch and intended target platform, such as air, surface, or sea-based offensive and defensive operations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<table>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Launch Mode<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Description<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td class=\"tb-color\">\r\n<p><b>Examples<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Surface-to-Surface<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Launched from land-based platforms to strike ground targets<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi, Agni, and BrahMos<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Surface-to-Air<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Launched from land to intercept aerial threats like aircraft, helicopters, and drones<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Akash, MRSAM<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Air-to-Surface<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Air-launched to attack ground-based targets<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Helina anti-tank missile fired from Rudra helicopter<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Air-to-Air<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Launched from aircraft against hostile aerial targets<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Astra BVR air-to-air missile fired from Tejas<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Ship-to-Ship<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Naval anti-ship missiles launched from warships\/submarines<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrahMos anti-ship cruise missile fired from ships<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Ship-to-Air<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Naval surface-to-air missiles for fleet air defence<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Barak-8 LR-SAM deployed on ships<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Submarine-launched<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fired from submerged submarines<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">K-15 submarine-launched ballistic missile<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><b>Shoulder-fired<\/b><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Man-portable missiles fired from launchers carried by infantry<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<td>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">FIM-92 Stinger and Igla shoulder-fired SAMs<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Strategic Importance<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Strategic missiles encompass missiles that give a strategic edge over an opponent or provide credible deterrence to a country. In India and other powerful countries, these missiles are part of the nuclear triad.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These missiles are long-range missiles that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads across continents. It is a part of India\u2019s Nuclear Triad.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Agni-V is India's first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), with a range of around 5000-8000 km. It brings the entire Asia-Pacific region within its reach.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mission Divyastra successfully tested the Agni-V missile using MIRV\u00a0 (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle)<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">technology, capable of striking multiple targets hundreds of kilometres apart with a single missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>Sub-surface Ballistic Nuclear (SSBN): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0A nuclear-powered submarine carrying and launching ballistic missiles armed with nuclear weapons.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">K-15 Sagarika (750 km) and K-4 (3500 km, in development) are the Submarine-launched ballistic Missiles (SLBMs),<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">that<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">complete India's nuclear triad by enabling second-strike capability from underwater locations.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">K-15 Sagarika has been deployed in the Arihant-class SSBN.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Tactical Importance<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tactical missiles are employed in the battlefield and frontline combat situations to strike and neutralise enemy assets and capabilities. India boasts an array of tactical missiles.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><b>Prithvi Missiles: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Prithvi series includes short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi-I (150km) and Prithvi-II (350 km) for battlefield roles and hitting strategic targets close to the border.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi-III<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">naval variant (350 km) to boost coastal and seaborne deterrence from warships.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li><b>BrahMos Missile: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrahMos is the fastest supersonic missile in the world. It is a Mach 3 \"fire-and-forget\" missile, inducted in all three services of the Indian Armed Forces.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Its variants include land, ship, submarine, and air-launched missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BrahMos II, the hypersonic cruise missile, is currently in the development phase. <\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/vajiramias.sgp1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/strapi\/brahmos_19c680b7c5.webp\" alt=\"Brahmos\" width=\"377\" height=\"251\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Propulsion<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles utilise different types of propulsion and guidance systems based on their range, launch platform, and targets. Key missile propulsion systems are:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Solid Propulsion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It uses solid propellants like Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) fuel. It is simple, low-cost, and reliable.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Agni Prime, Parlay Missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Liquid Propulsion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It employs liquid fuels (Hydrazine - N2H4, liquid hydrogen, etc.) and oxidisers (Nitrogen tetroxide - N2O4, liquid oxygen, etc.). It has higher efficiency and throttle ability.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Prithvi missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Ramjet\/Scramjet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Air-breathing engines are used for hypersonic ballistic and cruise missiles.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Under development (India\u2019s HGV and\u00a0 Brahmos-II).<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Guidance Systems<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Types of Missiles Based on Guidance Systems refer to how missiles are directed toward their targets, using technologies like wire guidance, inertial systems, laser tracking, command control, GPS, or radio frequency signals.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Command Guidance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: External commands guide missiles through radio\/wire links.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Akash missile system.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Inertial Guidance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Onboard computers and motion sensors provide autonomous course correction.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Agni ballistic missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Terrain Mapping<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: This compares onboard terrain maps to radar altimeter data for accuracy.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example:<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Prithvi missiles.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Laser Homing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: It guides towards a target illuminated by a laser designator.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Helina anti-tank missile, Anti-Tank Guided Missile for MBT Arjun, etc.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Radar\/GPS: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This updates position using satellite navigation and matches it to targeting data.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Example: Brahmos cruise missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles of india List<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India possesses an advanced indigenous missile arsenal developed primarily by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Agni Series:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Strategic nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.<\/span>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Agni-I: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Range of 700\u2013800 km (Short-range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Agni-II \/ Agni-Prime: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Range of 1,000\u20133,000 km (Medium-range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Agni-III &amp; Agni-IV:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Range of 3,000\u20134,000 km (Intermediate-range).Agni-V: Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a range of 5,000+ km.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Prithvi Series:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles (150\u2013350 km range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>K-Series (Submarine-Launched): <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Includes Sagarika (K-15) (750 km) and K-4 (3,500 km).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>BrahMos:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> World-class supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8 to 3) developed jointly with Russia, with a range around 290\u2013400+ km.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Nirbhay:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Long-range subsonic cruise missile (1,000\u20131,500 km range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Akash: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Indigenous medium-range surface-to-air missile system (25\u201330 km range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Barak-8 (MR-SAM \/ LR-SAM):<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Jointly developed medium\/long-range air defense system for land and naval fleets.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) \/ Ashwin: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two-tiered ballistic missile interceptor system.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Astra:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile (~110 km range).<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Nag &amp; Helina:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) for ground and helicopter deployment.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India Significance<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India play a crucial role in national security by providing strategic deterrence, boosting tactical strike capabilities, securing coastal areas, and enhancing air power through advanced air-to-air and air-launched cruise missile systems.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Strategic deterrence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Long-range ballistic missiles like Agni provide minimum credible deterrence and give India a retaliatory second-strike capability against nuclear attacks.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Tactical battle capability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Short-range Prithvi and BrahMos missiles allow deep tactical strikes against enemy airbases, logistics, and other targets to gain a battlefield edge.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Coastal defence:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Anti-ship versions of BrahMos and surface-to-air missiles guard India\u2019s vast coastline against hostile warships and aircraft.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Enhanced air power<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: Air-to-air missiles like Astra enhance the capability of Indian Air Force (IAF) jets for air combat and strikes. Air-launched cruise missiles turn fighters into potent missile carriers.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India Challenges<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India faces several challenges in its missile programs, including dependence on imports for critical components, DRDO project delays, technology transfer issues, funding constraints, and the need for enhanced domestic production capabilities and infrastructure development.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Technological Complexity: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India\u2019s missile programs, including ballistic missile defense and tactical systems, face significant technological hurdles such as integrating advanced sensors, guidance systems, and reliable propulsion, often resulting in developmental delays and modest success rates.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Dependence on Imports:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Despite progress in indigenization, India still relies heavily on foreign imports for critical components like RF seekers and propulsion systems, which hampers self-sufficiency and exposes the programs to export control restrictions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Funding Constraints: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missile development is capital-intensive, requiring sustained and substantial financial investment; limited resources and the need to balance offensive and defensive priorities often slow down research, production, and modernization efforts.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Operational and Manufacturing Issues: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Programs like Akash and Agni have faced setbacks due to radar, sensor, and manufacturing flaws, with live test failures highlighting persistent quality and reliability concerns.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Rapidly Evolving Threats: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India must continuously upgrade its missile systems to counter fast-advancing adversary technologies and multi-vector threats, demanding constant innovation and adaptation to maintain credible deterrence.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India Way Forward<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">India\u2019s missile capabilities have strengthened strategic deterrence, defence preparedness and technological self-reliance. Going forward, the focus should be on strengthening indigenous research, manufacturing and supporting technologies while maintaining responsible defence policies. DRDO identifies self-reliance in critical defence technologies as a core objective.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Deepen Indigenisation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Reduce dependence on imported components, especially in propulsion, seekers, sensors, electronics and advanced materials.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Strengthen Private-Sector Participation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Expand collaboration among DRDO, DPSUs, private firms, MSMEs, start-ups and academia to accelerate development and production. Recent policy measures have increased technology-transfer opportunities for domestic industry.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Invest in R&amp;D:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Increase sustained investment in advanced guidance, propulsion, materials, electronics and testing technologies to maintain technological competitiveness.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Promote Civil\u2013Military Innovation:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Use programmes such as iDEX and the Technology Development Fund to bring innovative solutions from start-ups and academic institutions into defence applications.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Build Resilient Supply Chains:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Develop domestic manufacturing capabilities for critical components to reduce vulnerabilities arising from external supply disruptions.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Missiles in India UPSC PYQs<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p><b>Q1:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0 Consider the following statements:\u00a0 <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2023)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahmMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Which of the statements given above is\/are correct?<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) 1 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) 2 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) Both 1 and 2<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) Neither 1 nor 2<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Answer: (d)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Q2: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is\/are correct? <\/span><b>(UPSC Prelims 2014)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is a surface-to-surface missile.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.<\/span><\/li>\r\n\t<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Select the correct answer using the code given below.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(a) 1 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(b) 2 and 3 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(c) 1 and 3 only<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">(d) 1, 2 and 3<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><b>Ans: (a)<\/b><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Missiles in India include various missiles such as ballistic and cruise missile systems with strategic and tactical importance. Check more about Missiles of India.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38,31],"tags":[536,40,652],"class_list":["post-4005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-notes","category-upsc-science-and-technology-notes","tag-missiles-of-india","tag-quest","tag-upsc-science-and-technology-notes"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4005"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30358,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions\/30358"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}