India too can sell missiles, says Kalam

“Trishul (surface-to-surface missile), Akash (air-to-air missile) and Nag (surface-to-air missile) can be sold depending on political friendships, but the Government will not allow sale of Prithvi,” Kalam said while speaking about the Indian missile systems at a press conference on the second day of the Aero India 98′ show being held here.

He said Prithvi, which can be loaded with nuclear warheads, cost India only $60 million. “It takes at least $ 620 million for any Western country to develop such a missile,” he added.

India has displayed models of the Prithvi, the anti-aircraft missile Akash, tank-buster Nag and the Trishulat its largest airshow here which has attracted 117 aeronautical companies from 17 countries.

“We want everyone to know that certain types of our missiles are marketable and our aerospace and military technology is comparatively cheaper,” Kalam said.

He, however, did not say if the Government planned to market the locally-developed Agni, a 1,500-km range ballistic missile which also carries a nuclear warhead.

He said Agni’s mass production was awaiting Government clearance. But it has permitted development a longer range Agni. “The re-entry technique has now been developed and our scientists are working on Agni-II,” said the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister. India had last tested the Agni in 1994 to acquire the know-how for an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). The technology demonstration phase has been followed by an official decision to develop a longer range weapon.

Kalam said India’s arsenal of tactical and strategic missiles would be battle-ready within two years. Theyear 2000 would be a landmark year for India because the military scientists would not only complete work on the missiles, but also develop armour, Electronic Warfare Systems (EWS) and other strategic weapons’, he added.

Replying to questions on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), he said of the five Kaveri engines to be fitted into the LCA, four were in test bed and would be fitted into LCA by 2000.

Asked if the US sanctions came in the way of the LCA project, Director of the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) K G Narayan, who was also present, said the engine was a co-product with a US company. While the software was developed by India, the hardware was a joint effort and major work has been completed. So, the sanction may not have an impact on this, he added.