It can deliver four or six warheads 6,000 km away
Agni-VI with multiple nuclear warheads, which can reach targets 6,000 km away, is all set to be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Only in April last, it carried out the maiden launch of Agni-V, which has a range of more than 5,000 km.
So far, all the strategic missiles developed by the DRDO — Agni-I, II, III, IV and V, and the submarine-launched K-15 and its land-based version Shourya — can carry only single nuclear warhead. The DRDO’s tactical missiles and supersonic cruise missile BrahMos can carry one conventional warhead each.
“We have started working on the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles [MIRV] version [Agni-VI]. It will carry four or six warheads depending upon their weight,” DRDO missile technologists said. “The constraint is the vehicle’s mass.”
Although the Union government is yet to sanction Agni-VI project, the DRDO has done all the enabling studies, finalised the missile’s design and started working on the engineering part. It had also figured out how to anchor four or six warheads in the vehicle, how to disperse them and the pattern of their dispersal. The warheads could be released in an order, one after another. If one warhead were to hit a place, another could fall 100 km away from it, the technologists said.
Both Agni-V and Agni-VI have three stages, all powered by solid propellants, and their diameter is two metres. And the comparison ends there.
While Agni-V weighs 50 tonnes and is 17.5 metres long, Agni-VI belongs to the 65-70-tonne class and will be 20 metres long. “Agni-VI will be a massive vehicle,” the technologists said. It was too early to say when its first launch would take place. It would be road-mobile and blast off from trucks with launching platforms.
Keywords: India's defence programme, DRDO, Agni-VI launch, nuclear warheads
What is more in Agni-6 than Agni-5.Only 500 km? .We know Agni-5 can go
5,500 km carrying 1.5 ton payload.While Agni-V weighs 50 tonnes and is
17.5 metres long, Agni-VI belongs to the 65-70-tonne class and will be
20 metres long.That means DRDO is adding more than 20 tonnes of weight
and 2.5mtr more length to get only 500 km more range.We need a real
icbm.Which can go atleast 10,000km of range.
I would like to congratulate DRDO for this marvelous work. We all are
keeping an eye for its trials. Once Agni VI missile test successfully
then it will be a lesson for Pakistan and China not to trespass the
border. We have very hostile environment across the border.
I object to those who till now believes that instead of spending money
in developing ICBMs, India should invest money in dvelopment of poors
in India.Firstly, if India can't protect herself and again occupied by
any foreign country,then there would be no development for poor
either.I think investment in both ICBM capabilities as well as in
developing better infrastructure and jobs for poor people should go
side-by-side simultaneously.Both are of same importance to India in
this century.And there is another important thing.Diplomacy always
depends upon your defense capability.China will never hear India's
demand in diplomatic level if India remains way behind of China in
defense capabilities in future.Long live India.
The parallels to the Cold War era are inescapable. Similarly, although it is very unlikely that such a weapon will actually be put to use - and one hopes such a necessity will never arise - the fact that we possess this capability provides a certain security cover and edge which we probably would not have garnered otherwise. Congratulations to the DRDO and its scientists.
On the other hand, while the security of the nation is important, so is development in other fields. So let's hope that this does not become a technology race which overdraws much needed money to cater to the development of basic necessities required for the decent living of every citizen of our country.
While DRDO's efforts need to be appreciated, it should work towards reducing the weight of the missile. The Chinese DF-41 ICBM with double the range and MIRV payload capability of Agni-VI weighs only half (30 tonnes) and is much shorter (15 m). Morover, if this missile needs to be adapted to our submarines, its length should be reduced to 10-12 meters.
@Rohit : i agree with you. But in today world political scenario,
a superpower is judged with both, its military(nuclear and long
range missiles which can target d enemy nations strategic
locations) and economic capabilities.
this would give us an arms length and greater space to flex our
muscles while we are on the negotiating table with our belabor
neighbours or the western super powers
n india spends around 2.6% (world share of 2.8%) while compared
to china (world share of 8%) and US (world share of 41%)
its the need of the hour to invest in these things :-/
USA is a super power because of it's defensive capabilities. If India
wants to become one, she has to have strong defensive power. That would
be a proud moment when such a warheads finally get developed. I am not
in favour of war but we need to have such type of warheads to protect
our nation from outside attack.
But why publicize it even before you have started to work upon it? Even
a launch date unknown,whole thing in concept stage.What is there to
prevent others from starting rival solutions?
We should not remain behind in any technological innovation, even if it is ICMB, in today's time we can take a laid back attitude especially in defense area. Keep it up DRDO, you have done commendable job in defense, such developments will keep our enemies realize that we aren't lagging, when it comes to missile technology. China has missile range of 2,000-11,000 km and when it comes to warheads we are lagging in numbers here too, with only about 80-100 as compared to Pakistan's 90-110 and China's 240. Our Agni I & II are still not fully operational and Agni III, IV and V are under development. We must keep up and make rest of the Agni series fully operational.
i have two queries....
first of all do we have the expertise to build a miniaturized nuclear
warheads to fit into the missile.. if yes then why are they not being
utilised to develop better nuclear submarines
secondly are our roads and bridges capable of taking such heavy(65-
70)tonnes of missile which is vehicle based to its deployment area
stealthily???
infrastructure development parallel to technology modernisation is also
very important.
Its good to see DRDO pushing the boundaries of missile technology. MIRVs may be
more important from a strategic than a tactical point of view and would be useful as
India widens its global footprint.
The lay public is not aware of DRDO's work in technology transfer for civilian
applications - I was reading about Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam's work on stents, which is not
well known. Agencies like DRDO ought to give more publicity to technologies that
can be used in civilian applications so that entrepreneurs can take advantage of
these and the government/its agencies can earn good royalty income.
Remarkable. Govt should really go ahead in completing this task in a
time bound fashion. Knowledge gained from this achievement can
definitely be implemented on other technical areas which has a direct
influence on the day to day public life. However the other non strategic
projects should also run on the war footings. As far as money is
concerned, Indian governments have a lot of it, as of now.
@Rohit
Securing only the boundaries hardly makes a difference, while our
counterparts are in the position to target anywhere in India, we should
be in the position to give them a good reply by advance modernization of
our arsenal.
Guns vs butter. Old discussion.
We have genuine ICBM capabilities since 1992. India has to field and make missiles with all ranges and capabilities , this is surely absolutely necessary.
I know that this is going to sound off the hook, but India should stop wasting money on such defense that it is never going to use. Even if some neighbouring country does attack us, all our representatives say is that, we are condemning these attacks and we vow to take strict action against those responsible. People treat us as mute spectators.
Rather the money should be used for developing infrastructure in the country.
I can't believe there is still a guns vs butter discussion still going on. There is no reason to rationalize that way. Security is the primary concern of a Nation. Security attracts wealth and investments. Wealth creation is what we should be involved in. Just because the government is utterly useless in a lot of administrational activities that does not mean we should not invest in defence. I mean 'agni' is probably one of the few good investments in DRDO
By stopping infiltration at our neighboring borders most of the security
threats can be mitigated. Instead of spending hard earned tax payers
money on long range ICBM(which has range > 5000KM), we could have
provided reliable and affordable health care services to the needy in
the country. When was the last time that we really used these ICBM
missiles in war time?
one comforting news after all.
And also Mr.Karan have said a valid point.
Theodore Roosevelt believed that a country should "speak softly and carry a big
stick" to wield its power on world stage. We are well known for speaking softly. Here
is our big stick. Congratulations to the scientists of DRDO!
Despite recent news reports that many of our eminent scientists quit their jobs, apparently attracted by lucrative offers abroad, the progress made in such a brief interval in conceiving Agni-VI is commendable. Wish our scientists all success.
Well done, also give more importance to regional issues and ensure TN
fishermen go safe fishing in and around katchatheevu and make much more
naval presence in tn seas to get more trust. Democracy, regional
trust,education, employment, health and development will sure make India
a super power soon.
Good. Parallel to all these projects, we should also work on ways to reduce weight and size of these delivery vehicle. Private companies must be allowed to enter the field of Defense. It is the only way to accelerate self-sufficiency and to achieve cutting edge technology.
I dont see the benefit of spending money on developing
ICBM. One could justify shorter range missiles on the ground
that one has to secure the country boundary. But why go beyond that
when money can be spent for scientific research for improving
lives of everyday people. India has many more ares to develop
scientific technology in. Its high time to develop country than
build missiles.
Please Email the Editor