The Hindu Business Line : Agni-4 moves into design stage

Hyderabad, Dec. 14 Buoyed by the recent successes of Agni-3 and ballistic missile defence shield trials, Indian defence scientists have set their eyes on long range missile Agni-4, whose range would be beyond 3,500 km.

“We are ready with the capability to build and demonstrate Agni-4.

“The Agni-3 success has shown that the infrastructure is in place and the interaction with industry strong,” said Mr Avinash Chander, Programme Director of Agni and Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Hyderabad.

In the development of long range missiles, the turnaround cycles have been shortened to two-three years from the earlier eight-15, hence the confidence to deliver the project, once the green signal is given, he told presspersons, here on Friday.

Agni-4 is at design stage and given the fact that in long range missiles, the basic building blocks for design and development are in place it is possible to take up the challenge and build the missile, asserted Dr V.K. Saraswat, Chief Controller R&D and Strategic Missile Systems of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

ICBMs ruled out

Clarifying that he did not mention the range of Agni-4 as 6,000 km, Dr Saraswat said the development of long range missiles would depend on threat perception. In this context, he ruled out building Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), based on the current threat perception.

Stating that Agni-3, which failed in its first flight in July 2006, but succeeded in the next during April this year, would be put through two more tests before induction, Dr Saraswat placed his confidence on the synergy established with Indian industry for the missile programme.

On-board computers

Today there are 10 to 15 industries than can develop and manufacture on-board computers for missiles, satellites and aerospace applications. Indian industry is able to build high quality sub-systems and not just components, he added.

The DRDO has, under its prestigious project Agni, developed Agni-I, with range of 700-800 km and Agni-II reaching targets up to 2,000 km. Both are in the induction stage into the defence forces.

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