A low-weight Man Portable Anti Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) will shortly be cleared for induction with Indian Army infantry and para-commando units, the missile now being in final phase of development. It weighs less than 15 kg and with its high-resolution IIR seeker, this DRDO-MPATGM can precisely target AFVs at ranges between 75m to 2500m.
Akash Missile System (photo: Vayu)
With the induction of the ramjet-powered Akash Mk.1 surface-to-air missile, the substitution of legacy Russian-origin systems has already begun. Alongside the Nag, the Akash is amongst the five IGMDP missile programme. The Army’s Akash SAM battery comprises three radar systems (3D CAR, 3D Rajendra and 2D Battery Surveillance Radar) with four launchers, each having three missiles, capable of engaging multiple aerial threats at velocity of Mach 2.5and range of 30 km,at 18,000 meters altitude. As of now, two regiments ofAkashMk.1s have been formed with considerable more numbers of the Akash entering Army Service. Meanwhile, the DRDO has recently tested a more advanced variant of the missile (Akash-1S)fitted with new indigenous active terminal guidance and better subsystems.
The DRDO has begun work on an extended-range (between 45-50 km) canister-launched Akash-NG SAM that which will have faster reaction time, better reliability, longer range and accuracy, and will integrate advanced new-gen components including a low-weight dual-pulse rocket-motor like the LR-SAM, with multi-function AESA radar and a new seeker. First test-firing of the Akash-NG could take place by end of the year.
Alongside, development of the ‘MR-SAM’ is underway this joint programme between the DRDO and Israel’s IAI. This system is essentially for the Indian Air Force, but can be adapted for the Indian Army.
DRDO’s Defence Research & Development Laboratories (DRDL) at Hyderabad, in conjunction with RCI, BEL and BDL are developing the mobile, compact Quick Reaction Surface to Air Defence System to replace the Army's decades-old Osa-AK missile systems, planned from 2021. It is credible that within thirty-months, the DRDO has completed development testing of this canisterised system.
Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (photo DRDO)
The QR-SAM is fitted with a new-generation indigenous active RF seeker, robust ECM and mid-course inertial navigation system having with two-way data-links, and capable of search-on-the-move and track-on-the-move and firing at short halts, engaging multiple aerial threats at supersonic speed (300-500 m/s) at ranges of between 25-30 km and 30m-6000m altitude. Two 360-degree active array sensors with IFF (Battery Multi-functional Radar and Battery Surveillance Radar) and IRDE’s Stabilised Electro-Optical systems empower the QR-SAM. These indigenous air-defence systems of the Army will provide robust Network Centric Warfare (NCW) capabilities, alongside the IAF’s air-defence complex, within the proposed Integrated Air Defence Command an announced by Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat.
Cruise Missiles and Tactical Weapons
Cruise missiles are regarded as lead weapons of choice in high-intensity conflict because of their accuracy, lethally and reliability. Here, the Indian Army has a major advantage with the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile which can neutralize targets at ranges it up to 300-km with pinpoint accuracy. In recent test-firings, the Army has validated the vertical steep dive variant which is vital in mountain warfare.
BrahMos Land-based Units (photo BAPL)
Range of the BrahMoshas been increased from the current 300-km to 450-km while an Indian-made X-band anti-ship seeker has been validated on the missile. In the future, a 500-km range version with boosted speed (more than the current 2.8-3 Mach) is also in development, as confirmed by BrahMos Aerospace; initial trials of the hypersonic version of Indo-Russian missile, ‘BrahMos-II’ would take place in the next decade.
ADE Nirbhay Cruise Missile (photo MoD)
Beyond the BrahMos, the Indian Army may soon get an additional land attack cruise missile, having significantly greater range. The Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of DRDO has been working on a cost-effective, all-weather and subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay, with a range of over 1000-km. Developmental trials of the Nirbhay have already begun and next phase of testing will begin in 2020, integrating a mini-turbofan engine (‘GTRE-Manik’)with an indigenous-seeker to be validated on the missile in this phase. The 1500-kg indigenous missile is capable of operating at very low altitude (5 metres), having startlingly sharp loitering manoeuvres. The Indian Army could be the first Service to induct the Nirbhay even as the Indian Navy is considering a missile with 1500-km range. The Nirbhay will eventually supplement the BrahMos, in bolstering long range strike power of the Indian armed forces.
In addition, the Army is planning more tactical weapons for massive conventional warfare. The SRBM Pralay which is a refined and significantly faster surface-to-surface version of the Prithvi with 350-400 km range, is to be test-fired shortly, this mobile and canister-stored missile capable of delivering a 1000-kg warhead at some 10m CEP.
Prahaar SRBM (photo MoD)
The DRDO has also begun testing the Prahaar, a420 mm lightweight, supersonic tactical ballistic missile for the Army. This 1.3 ton heavy mobile canisterised tactical weapon with 150-km range, is being developed for the Army’s Strike Corps, providing cost-effective, quick reaction, with accurate firepower compared to current rocket artillery systems. The Prahaar mobile launcher of contains six missiles which can be fired in the salvo mode. Eventually, the combination of Prahaar and Pralay SRBMs will supplement systems like the Shaurya (land-variant of K-15 with hypersonic speed), these highly accurate battlefield support tactical systems becoming formidable force-multipliers for the Indian Army.
Atul Kumar