The Hindu Business Line : `India has tech to go beyond Agni-III'

INDIA has the technological capability to build long-range missiles beyond Agni-III, whose first test flight is slated for the end of 2005, according to Dr Ram Narain Agarwal, Programme Director of Agni and Director of the Hyderabad-based Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL).

Agni-III, the long-range surface-to-surface missile, is targeted to have a range of 3,000-3,500 km. It would have a total of three test flights, including one with the user. It can carry a payload (warhead both conventional and nuclear) of 1-1.2 tonnes.

The new system integrated Agni-III version should be ready for production and induction into the defence forces during 2007-08, said Dr Agarwal, who has led Project Agni when it was launched as a "re-entry test vehicle-technology demonstrator for long-range missiles" in 1983.

Speaking to newspersons on the occasion of being honoured with a lifetime achievement award by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr Agarwal expressed confidence that longer- range missiles beyond Agni-III could be built within 3-4 years, with the expertise already attained by scientists and industry under the country's missile programme.

Missile scientists have developed a host of critical technologies that include re-entry, guidance and control, mission sequencing, all carbon composite re-entry heat shield, mobile launch systems and modern launch complex.

Long-range missiles are generally defined as Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles, in which the longer-range Agni class missiles fall; and the Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles with ranges of 4,500-10,000 km.

The ASL has already handed over Agni-I (range of 2,000 km) and Agni-II (shorter range version of 700-800 km) to the defence forces, which have inducted them as per their requirement, Dr Agarwal said.

The Project Agni has been able to meet not just rigorous technology demands, but also meet schedules with a high degree of accuracy. The Agni missile system would cost anywhere between one sixth and one eighth of an equivalent system developed by advanced countries, he said.

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