Question

Write a detailed understanding about the history, current trends and future research of 'Ground Support Vehicles for Guided Missile Programme' pertaining to India and also the international scenario. Include case studies.

Answer 1

Ground Support Vehicles for Guided Missile Programme in India is headed by DRDO and Ordnance Factories Board under the program IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme). IGMDP was an Indian Ministry of Defence program for the research and development of the comprehensive range of missiles. This project was started in 1982-83 headed by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.

Thus, four projects, to be pursued concurrently, were born under the IGMDP:

• Short-range surface-to-surface missile (code-named Prithvi)
• Short-range low-level surface-to-air missile (code-named Trishul)
• Medium range surface-to-air missile (code-named Akash) and
• Third-generation anti-tank missile (code-named Nag)

The Agni missile development was as a technology demonstrator project in the form of a re-entry vehicle and was later upgraded to a ballistic missile with different ranges.

But after India successfully tested the first Prithvi missile in 1988, and the Agni missile in 1989, the Missile Technology Control Regime (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) decided to restrict access to any technology that would help India in its missile development program. To counter the MTCR, the IGMDP team formed a consortium of DRDO laboratories, industries, and academic institutions to build these sub-systems, components, and materials. Though this slowed down the progress of the program, India successfully developed indigenously all the restricted components denied to it by the MTCR. That's what today India has its own indigenously developed system.

Currently, India is predominantly evolving in Ground Support Vehicles indigenous technology and equipment are continuously being deployed to purposes. The successful development of Launcher Platforms for AGNI variants namely A-I, A-II, A-III, and A-V has been completed.

Some of the Carriers are:-

AGNI-I :- ROAD MOBILE LAUNCHER (RML)

AGNI-II:- The launcher is installed at LC-IV, Dhamra for test launches of AGNI-2 missile carried out by the users regularly

AGNI-III:-The Launcher for A3 consists of a Tilt beam mounted on Rail Wagon, the support systems, and outriggers for leveling of the wagon, Article Integration device, and the Hydraulic system for tilting. It also consists of a pneumatic actuation system for retraction of the First Stage Support Arm Assembly.

Akash Airforce Launcher (AAFL):- A mobile launcher for the launching of AAD surface-to-Air Missile has been successfully developed and realized. AAFL is to carry, support, orient, and launch three AKASH articles from an inclined firing position.

Prahar Launcher:- It is a deployable launcher for a surface-to-surface mode of AAD Missile. The role of Prahaar missile launcher is to transport, erect, emplace & launch Six Canisterised AAD Missile.

Launchers for Brahmos Cruise Missile:- Government of India and Russia has entered into a joint venture for the development of a Supersonic Long Range Anti Ship Cruise Missile system. DRDO & NPOM, Moscow are the development agencies.

India is a country which has vast terrain region like a mountain in north, plain and marine in south Penisula.

To cover all-terrain and highly complex missile systems, highly developed Support Vehicles are required which India has achieved up to some extent and is developing. Similar trend is seen across the world where it is land locked country or a penisula country every country is developing to modernise their defences and reach. Highly developed countries US Russia Japan Helps other small under developing country to develop their Ground Support Vehicles. Example is Russia Helping India to develop mobile Launcher for Mrahmos Missile.