Missile Programme
Defence GK · मिसाइल कार्यक्रम
📋Quick Overview
India's missile programme was revolutionised by the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), launched in 1983 under the guidance of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. The IGMDP developed five missiles: Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag (mnemonic: A-PANT). India today possesses one of the world's most comprehensive missile arsenals including intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and submarine-launched missiles.
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Mnemonic for IGMDP missiles: A-PANT — Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Trishul. Agni-V is India's first MIRV-capable ICBM with range 5,500+ km.
📖IGMDP Missiles — Complete Details
| Missile | Type | Range | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agni | Surface-to-Surface Ballistic (SRBM/IRBM/ICBM) | 700–10,000+ km | Nuclear-capable; longest range in Indian arsenal |
| Prithvi (I/II/III) | Surface-to-Surface Tactical | 150–750 km | India's first ballistic missile; liquid fuel |
| Akash | Surface-to-Air (SAM) | 30–70 km | Air defence; Mach 2.5; 18 km altitude |
| Trishul | Surface-to-Air (low altitude) | 9 km | Short-range quick reaction SAM; now decommissioned |
| Nag | Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) | 4–7 km | Fire-and-forget; thermal imaging seeker |
📖Agni Series — Full Range
| Variant | Range | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agni-I | 700–1,200 km | SRBM | Operational |
| Agni-II | 2,000–3,000 km | MRBM | Operational |
| Agni-III | 3,000–5,000 km | IRBM | Operational |
| Agni-IV | 3,500–4,000 km | IRBM | Operational |
| Agni-V | 5,000–8,000 km | ICBM (MIRV-capable) | Operational — first tested May 2012 |
| Agni-VI (Prime) | 10,000+ km | ICBM | Under development |
📖Other Key Missiles
| Missile | Type | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| BrahMos | Supersonic Cruise Missile | India-Russia JV (BARC+NPO); Mach 2.8–3.0; named Brahmaputra+Moskva; 290–800 km range; fastest cruise missile |
| Nirbhay | Subsonic Cruise Missile | India's Tomahawk equivalent; 1,000 km range; DRDO developed; terrain hugging |
| K-15 Sagarika | Submarine-launched Ballistic | 750 km range; SSBN-based; first tested 2008; part of nuclear triad |
| K-4 | Submarine-launched Ballistic | 3,500 km range; for INS Arihant class SSBN |
| Astra | Air-to-Air BVR Missile | Beyond Visual Range; Mach 4.5; 80–110 km range; indigenous; on Su-30 MKI, Tejas |
| Helina / Dhruvastra | Helicopter-launched ATGM | 7 km range; for ALH Dhruv; variant of Nag |
| S-400 Triumf | Long-range SAM (Russia) | 400 km range; India bought 5 units for ₹35,000 crore; delivery from 2021 |