HSTDV Story-1: Missile scientists encountered multiple challenges developing complex technologies

 

Link to the report here:
https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nation/2020/11/18/hstdv-hypersonic-missile-challenges-technology.html

Medium range missile has successful twin strikes

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Bengaluru, June 30: India on Thursday successfully test-fired the Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missile (MRSAM) for the first time from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), off Odisha coast.
The missile, jointly developed by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was test-fired from LC-III (Launch Complex) of ITR situated in Chandipur at around 8.15 am. The MRSAM is being developed for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Interestingly, the missile was test-fired for the second time today, successfully. 

Full report, here: http://bit.ly/292xBBY

BVR missile Astra test-fired successfully again today

Ahead of Agni-V’s canister launch, India conducts missile ejection test

Agni-V is expected to launched
from a canister later this year.

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Scientists carried out a canister-based launch of a 50-tonne dummy missile in a simulated environment at an undisclosed facility near Hyderabad on Saturday. Sources confirmed to Express that the exercise, termed as MET-2 (Missile Ejection Test), was the second in the series conducted in the last six months.

The successful result of MET-2 has given the confidence to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists to go ahead with the critical canister launch of India’s big ticket 5,000 km-plus range nuclear-capable Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V later this year. The Agni-V has been successfully test-fired twice in the last two years from a conventional launcher. V G Sekaran, Director General (Missiles and Strategic Systems), DRDO, too confirmed the launch, but refused to give any details.

A senior scientist, part of the launch team, said that during Saturday’s mission all interfacing elements of the missile were tested. “The weight and other features (minus the warhead and propulsion system) matched that of an Agni-V and the results are really satisfactory. High-speed cameras and onboard telemetry systems captured the sequence that lead to the ejection of the missile from the canister. The dummy missile went to a height of 30 meter and fell apart 15 meter away from the launch point. With this launch, we have proved the maturity in offering a canister-based launch system for a missile weighing 50 tonnes,” the scientist, requesting anonymity, said.

Canisterised missiles are normally preferred by the users as they can be transported at ease and also are simple to handle. “The gas generator inside the canister ejects the missile up to about a height of 30 meter and then the motor can be ignited to fire the missile. Hence, we need not add a jet deflector on the launcher. The strength of the surface of the launch pad is not a critical factor either,” he said. In addition to giving the user more flexibility, a canister-based missile offers the option to launch it at a very short notice and with less manpower.

DRDO kept the launch activities under complete wraps with the officials refusing to divulge the details of the facility as well. “The launch site is near Hyderabad and it was commissioned a year back. It is now being developed as an exclusive facility for such trials. We are planning to conduct some more missile related tests from this facility in the months ahead,” the official said.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

K-15 SLBM is a beast loaded with gen-next tech: Scientists

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: The scientists at Defence Research and Development Organisation’s (DRDO) Missile Complex in Hyderabad are an inspired lot, thanks to successful test (14h one) of the 750-km range submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), K-15. The missile (codenamed B-05), was tested for its full range from a submerged pontoon, off the coast of Vishakapatanam on January 27, 2013.

Sources in the Missile Complex tell Express that K-15 was launched from an underwater vehicle with an approximate depth of 50 meters. But, what adds more teeth to the killer missile is the array of gen-text technologies that are embedded onboard, a majority of features till kept under wraps. “The medium range missile, with a capacity to be launched from multiple platforms has so far undergone many trials. It is primarily employed against land targets. The missile is incorporated with very-high accuracy navigation systems with completely different and specific schemes, that can steer the vehicle towards the target with single-digit accuracy,” sources said.

The scientists have designed special alignment techniques with most modern algorithms which are specific to underwater missions. “We have used most modern computing and actuating systems for the missile. It has a two-stage booster, with one being employed under water and the other above the surface. The underwater dynamics are totally different from the aerodynamic environment. Here the hydro-dynamics come into picture and you got to take into account factors like water pressure, wave speed, its direction and many more,” sources said.

The K-15 missile is a ballistic one, but travels through the atmosphere all through the mission. It is being controlled and guided all through by onboard guidance computer system. The missile now enters probably its most-critical phase, when it will be integrated with India’s first home-grown N-powered submarine INS Arihant, which is warming up for its maiden sea-acceptance trials.

“We will have more number of trials on the naval platform, but parallely the missile will get into the production mode. Once the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) goes live next year, all our future missions will have pin-point navigation support,” sources said.

Speaking to Express from Hyderabad, Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) Director and K-15 Programme Director A K Chakrabarty said his team had a challenging job on hand. “When you execute underwater missions, the rules of the game changes. While launching the missile (from a submarine) nothing should happen to the platform, considering it's a manned one. Hence, it was a huge challenge to our designers,” Chakrabarty said.

Over 200 scientists and officers from five DRDO labs, including DRDL (Hyderabad), Research Centre Imarat (Hyderabad), Advanced System Laboratory (Hyderabad), R&D Engineers (Pune) and Interim Test Range (Balasore) are involved with the K-15 project. More than 50 per cent of scientists who worked on the project are said to be youngsters holding Sc-B and Sc-C ranks in DRDO.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

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Made in India: Anti-satellite (A-SAT), all-composite, intelligent missiles next target: Avinash Chander

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore: Thursday's 5,000-km-plus sky part of Agni-5 missile might have put India among a select-group of countries having ICBM-capabilities. But, the icing on the cake is the confidence shown by DRDO's tech-gurus in developing systems which were denied to India. With Agni-5 turning a blockbuster, DRDO has set its eye now on bigger and bolder missions.

During a telephonic interview with Express from Wheeler Island, Avinash Chander, DRDO's Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems) and Agni-5 Project Director was as cool as a cucumber, despite the smashing hit. “Our next aim is to put satellites to orbit at very short notice using missiles. We can launch low-cost micro-satellites into the orbit with a payload of 60 kg. It can be used for intelligence-gathering purpose and  launched within few hours of notice,” Avinash said.

According to him, the next big challenge for DRDO is to master the MIRV (Multiple independently-targeted re-entry vehicles) and MaRV (Manoeuvring re-entry vehicles (MaRV) technologies. “Our next aim is maneuvering warheads for long-range missiles. We want to develop intelligent missiles with highly-accurate warheads for future. Missiles that could counter an incoming missile, by predicting its trajectory is the key,” Avinash said. He said that DRDO is hovering around the idea of developing missiles with anti-satellite capabilities too.

He said the scientists are already on a mission mode to develop an all-composite missile for the future. “A full composite missile with a high-degree of precision. We are moving faster and now we have the technologies to boot. We will have missiles with less radar cross sections soon. The user is part of our thought-process right from the word go. The user has become an integral part and hence the ownership has gone up many folds with all our new projects,” Avinash said.

Among the new technologies used onboard Agni-5 are Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RINS), Micro Inertial Navigation System (MINS), high speed onboard computer based on power-PC design, light-weight composite motors and 100 per cent home-grown software. “The INS worked in dual redundancy configuration. Agni-V uses a three-stage propulsion system and it has onboard less cabling, multi-sensors among others. Around 80 per cent of Agni-5 is made in India, making it a truly value-for-money-weapon,” Avinash said.

Copyright@The New Indian Express 

AGNI-V A SMASHING HIT ON TARMAK007 TOO!
Blog records all-time-high 35,224 visitors on single day

Tracking Agni-V was like watching a 20:20 thriller: Scientists | Missile Complex in Hyderabad erupts in celebrations

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: Scientists in Hyderabad's Missile Complex tracked every moment of Agni-5's 20-minutes flight with bated breath on Thursday. Scientists who couldn't make it to the Wheeler Island, watched the missile's historic test-flight with prayers. “We were naturally tense as each one of us knew what systems were onboard the missile. It was like watching a 20:20 match. We didn't get up from our seats,” a scientist with ASL said.

Sources tell Express that up to the last command (release of the payload) of Agni-5 was monitored through various internal networks of DRDO. “The radars positioned at various parts of India (part of the Air Defence project) too helped us track the missile. We couldn't have asked for more seeing Agni-5 doing exactly what we wanted,” sources said.

Hyderabad houses all the major labs of DRDO involved directly with India's missile programmes with ASL, RCI and DRDL leading the pack. “It was a great sign to see that the missile met all mission parameters. We are waiting for our team members to return and the celebrations will continue for a long time for sure,” a navigational expert with RCI said. Sources said that inside the Missile Complex posters congratulating the Agni team have up at many places.

At the Hyderabad airport, the Agni team members were taken by surprise when hundreds gathered to welcome them soon after they landed from Bhubaneswar at 8.50 pm. “This was something that we haven't experienced before. We were lifted like heroes and offered garlands, bouquets and sweets,” a senior DRDL official said.

Sources said that DRDO brought all the non-officer cadre staff from Bhubaneswar to Hyderabad in two AN-32 aircraft. “This was a special gesture as we wanted all the DRDO team members to be back in Hyderabad on the same day to be with their families and celebrate,” sources said.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

Big Daddy warms up for target Thandavam | Agni-V enters last lap | Final tests on propulsion stages over | Flight system integration underway

A clear picture on India's longest missile Agni-V will emerge in the coming days with scientists shifting gears to put the beast closer to the first-strike zone. Photo: Tarmak007

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Kuttemperoor (Kerala): Agni-V, the Big Daddy of Indian missiles is warming up for a possible ‘first strike,’ in February or March. Sources associated with Independent India’s longest kill-toy project told Express that all propulsion stages of the 5,000-plus-range, nuke-capable and near-Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) have been tested. As this piece is fired to the print, the flight systems are being integrated with final tests on getting underway.

The launch is scheduled from the Wheeler Island, off Orissa Coast, and sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) confirm that the campaign has entered the near-mission mode phase. Notwithstanding the Red Dragon’s uneasiness over India’s killer-instinct moves with A-V’s pre-test propaganda, missile scientists are inspired by New Delhi’s desire to see the Big Daddy’s first target-Thandavam. (Note: The word Thandavam comes from Shiva Thandavam, a dance form linked to Hindu God Lord Shiva. It is widely believed that Thandavam represents both destruction & creation of the Universe and reveals the cycles of death and birth. The usage of target-Thandavam is to depict the possible destruction depths of the missile and should be seen as an innovative coinage of a phrase for convenient writing and not making light of the might of Lord Shiva as believed by His followers. |akm|)

The missile can be launched from anywhere in Indian in any direction at any time. It does not require any pre-planning and computes its own path once the launch point and target are specified. “The course of the missile changes depending upon in-flight estimation of system performance. It has several very strong built-in safety features. The US, Russia and China have missiles of ranges higher than A-V. However, in the Indian threat scenario, it meets all the requirements. There are no exact equivalents,” claim sources. 
With composite propulsion motors for stages two and three, the A-V boasts of many new first-time technologies. The Stage-3 is a conical motor -- first of its kind in the country. The electronics systems are highly integrated with digital connectivity to minimise cabling. “What used to be tens of kilometres of cabling has been reduced considerably. It uses highly accurate navigation system integrated in a multi-sensor environment, a completely closed missile fired from a canister are some other features,” say sources. 
It will be a ready-to-use-weapon. The heating during re-entry is much more severe in this system with temperatures going beyond 4000 degrees Celsius. “It also carries multiple instrumentation systems and is designed to carry single payload. Like all other Agni-series missiles, this is also nuclear capable. It is a road mobile system with range of more than 5000 km,” sources said. 
Most of the technologies onboard A-V (ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation system [RINS], micro-navigation system [MINGS], redundancy management, composite motor and closed inter-stage) have been tested in Agni-IV. “The composite motors are 2-m diameter carrying considerably higher propellant. The flight duration of this system is also longer. The thermal environment during re-entry is considerably more severe which will be tested during the first flight,” sources said. 
The core strength of A-V comes from DRDO’s key installations in Hyderabad including Advanced System laboratory, Research Centre Imarat and Defence Research Development Laboratory. Many industries and academic institutions are involved with A-V project. The core team consists of about 100 scientists. In addition, over 1000 engineers, technicians and scientists have been roped in from 15 DRDO labs for the design of various sub-systems. 

[Copyright@The New Indian Express]

Helina ready for full-range ground-based trials in Pokhran | MoD-team evaluating PARS 3 & Spike |

 Rare grabs of Helina's ground-based & chopper trials.  Photos: Special Arrangement

By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore/Hyderabad: Helina, the helicopter version of anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Nag, being developed indigenously for Rudra – the Advanced Light Helicopter's Weapon System Integration version (ALH-WSI) -- will undergo full range trials next month. During this lock-on-after-launch (LOAL) mode trials, to be conducted from a ground-based launcher, Helina's capability to establish  full range in excess of 7 km will be tested. (In the LOAL mode, the gunner can correct the course of the missile mid-way after it is fired, update the target position and lock on to it through a two-way RF data link.)

Around 60 scientists, including 12 directly associated with the project, are gearing up at various critical labs of the Missile Complex in Hyderabad for this crucial ground trials, to  to be held at the Chandan firing ranges in Pokhran. Sources claim that this could be the last trials for the air-to-ground missile Helina from a ground launcher. "We will have guided flight tests from Rudra against a tank-size later. Integration of the Helina's Fire Control System (FCS) on Rudra is planned during the second half of 2012," sources said.

Helina  has been taken up as a fast-track mission mode project by Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) to extend the range of Nag from 4 km to in excess of 7 km. The Rs 55-crore project started in 2008 April, will initially help Army Aviation form one Squadron of Rudra choppers with Helinas in LOAL configuration.  So far two missiles have been fired from ground launchers over a range of 4.2 km (K K Ranges in Ahmednagar, near Pune). At Pokhran, one Helina was fired from the out-board weapon station location on Rudra for the first time. The chopper was hovering at an altitude of approximately 25-meter above ground.

A stand-alone FC for Helina has been developed by Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Hyderabad and proven during the ground firing.  The two-way data link has also been developed for the first time by RCI in association with  Astra Microwave, Hyderabad.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) sources told Express that, they as the system and other armaments integrators for Rudra, are part of a Ministry of Defence-appointed team,  which is currently evaluating MBDA's PARS 3 missile and Rafael's Spike. "The team has visited the Rafael facility and witnessed the trials. They will now head for MBDA installation. The final call will be taken by the Defence Procurement Board, based on the team's recommendations," sources said.
HAL says that the pilots' report of Helina's Rudra trials have been sent to DRDL. "These are crucial inputs that will help the DRDL to fine-tune the missile. Services want proven platforms first and hence PARS 3 and Spike were short-listed. Helina will continue as an alternate and parallel ATGM programme as we are very keen to have an indigenous missile onboard," HAL sources said.

|To be continued | Copyright@The New Indian Express |

(CRACKING INDIA'S MISSILE CODE is an exclusive series currently on in The New Indian Express. In the days ahead, you will get to read a mix of news-breaks and tech-upgrades on current and futuristic missile programs of India, in addition to some human-interest pieces. Email your thoughts on this long-range series to anantha.ak@gmail.com and point out factual errors, if any, that might have crept in despite my best efforts.)

PART-X

Nag waits for sweetheart NAMICA | Emotional DRDL for final orders | Stubborn Army for quality spitfire sys | Climax in Pokhran during carrier re-validation trials

 By Anantha Krishnan M

Express News Service

Bangalore/Hyderabad: This is the gripping love story of anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) Nag and its system sweetheart NAMICA (Nag Missile Carrier), that went awry. The climax of probably the longest story of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), will finally unfold during coming Summer. Who will wed Nag? Will it be the NAMICA being re-groomedd by Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) or the one being nurtured by Larsen and Tubro (L&T)? Adding twist to the tale is the possibility of the best of both systems being taken and rolled into a single macho carrier. 

The wait has put Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) into an emotional spin, considering that the Indian Army had earlier placed its Acceptance of Necessity (AON) for 443 Nag missiles 13 NAMICAs in 2005. The Army had made it clear then that a firm commitment will only be given once all trials are successful and the system is fit for induction. The Army also projected in their perspective plan the need for 7000 Nag missiles and around 200 NAMICAs.

“As a complete weapon system (Nag + NAMICA) a final commitment will be given only after the Pokhran trials in coming summer. After the user trials in 2010, we had accepted Nag as an ATGM, but wanted integration with launcher improved,” Army sources told Express.  The electro-mechanical systems of the two NAMCIAs used during trials (both made by BEL) were found to be below Army's expectations in tough dessert terrain conditions, including reliability concerns propping-up.

Work on Nag weapon system began in 1987 and the day version of the missile proved its mettle in 2000. Then the Army and DRDO top brass wanted the missile to have day and night capabilities, which is said to have developed in 2002. Later, the need for dual sensors was felt, including IR sensor for day/night and CCD (charged coupled device) for day. Finally, in 2007, the development of missile was completed along with NAMICA and user trials in phases were held during 2008-2010, until the NAMICA became DRDL's Nag-ging niece. “We have hence decided to go for two companies (BEL, L&T) and the best NAMICA will be selected after comparative studies and re-validation trials. The competitive evaluation of reconfigured NAMICA is possibly the last hurdle before the Army places the order,” sources said.

The upgraded NAMICA boasts of an advanced fire control system (FCS), advanced sighting system for both gunner and commander and compact auxiliary power unit (APU) which operates inside the hull compartment. “The carrier will offer a better launcher drive mechanism, reduced weight, smooth mobility and amphibious capabilities. Earlier the Army wanted eight missiles on the launcher and four in the stowage. Now, this has been reduced to six ready-to-fire missiles on the launcher only,” sources said.

DRDL claims that the missile can hit target up to 4 km in favourable conditions and up to 3 km in adverse conditions. “It is a very potent warhead which can pierce in excess of 850 mm of armour. A new seeker being developed in-house will take the range to 4.5 km, and guaranteed 4 km under all conditions. So far the project has cost over Rs 300 crore and a total of 80 missiles were developed in the pre-production phase by Bharat Dynamics Ltd. Around 50 missiles were used during trials,” sources said.

So will it be BEL, L&T or best of both going to be the winner?  In love and war, seldom you get a second chance. Stay tuned!

|To be continued| Copyright@The New Indian Express | 

(CRACKING INDIA'S MISSILE CODE is an exclusive series currently on in The New Indian Express. In the days ahead, you will get to read a mix of news-breaks and tech-upgrades on current and futuristic missile programs of India, in addition to some human-interest pieces. Email your thoughts on this long-range series to anantha.ak@gmail.com and point out factual errors, if any, that might have crept in despite my best efforts. Thanks Radha Raman for keeping a very close watch on the series.)

PART-IX