MISSILE FLEXING

AKASH
The surface-to-air missile was scheduled for delivery eight years ago but it took DRDO over two decades to convince the IAF that the system can do what it has been designed for. The multiple target, long-range, surface-to-air missile is set to be inducted into the Air Force in limited numbers but the army has made it clear that the present version is not what it is looking for. The supersonic missile, which can target fighter aircraft and sub-sonic cruise missiles at a range of 25 km and will cost Rs 2 crore a piece, has not proved its ability to provide a credible air defence and needs to be tested more extensively, the army feels.

TRISHUL
Another air defence system8212;the short-range Trishul surface-to-air missile for the Indian Air Force8212;has already been buried. The anti-aircraft and missile defence system never really took off and failed to perform satisfactorily at all trials. Scientists have not been able to direct the missile accurately to destroy an incoming target and the IAF has conveyed that the missile has an unacceptable kill ratio.
As a face-saver, a 8216;very small number8217; of the missiles will be inducted into the air force later this year. Ironically, the DRDO has said that it is giving the missile to the IAF as a stopgap arrangement due to the delay in delivery of the Israeli Spyder missile systems. What is forgot to mention is that the Sypder was ordered due to frequent delays in the Akash and Trishul systems.

Prithvi
The nuclear-capable, short-range, surface-to-surface missile was first fired in 1988 but was inducted only in 1994 when its 150-km variant Prithvi I joined service. There have been reports of fuel leaks and storage problems in the single stage liquid fuelled missile since its induction.

Agni
The nuclear capable ballistic missile is one of DRDO8217;s successful projects and has already been inducted into service. Late last year, India signaled that it has fully operationalised its strategic delivery systems when the army conducted the first training trial of the 700 km Agni I.
The Agni II intermediate range ballistic missile IRBM, with a range of over 2000 km has also been inducted into the army but training trials for the system are yet to be conducted. However, the long range Agni III missile, which can hit targets at a distance of over 3,500 km, still needs to be tested 8216;several more times8217; before it can be made ready for induction to India8217;s strategic forces.

NAG
The smallest of the five missiles under the IGMDP is also the only one that DRDO concedes is not yet ready. The anti tank missile has been hit by persistent delays due to problems in its seeker that fails to home on to the target.
An optimistic DRDO asserts that the project is a success and final user trials of the missile are scheduled for this summer but what it fails to say unless the army approves it, the project will be a failure.
The summer trials will be the deciding point for the anti tank missile but the army will need to shrug off immense pressure from the MoD8217;s civilian setup to give the system a go ahead.

What next?
Learning from mistakes made in the project, DRDO has now decided to adopt a new model for development of future missiles systems. The organisation will rope in foreign technology and Indian private industry for al future projects. Only strategic systems will now be developed 8216;indigenously8217;. After the Indo-Russian BrahMos project, DRDO is looking at countries like France and Israel for joint development8217; of systems. On the cards is a quick reaction missile system to counter threats from low-flying missiles and fighters and a beyond-visual range air-to-air missile christened Astra.