New Philosophy Drives Indian Missile Programs

Hyderabad—India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has adapted a new philosophy for its missile programs, with the objective of combating time and cost overruns. The “Model Change” is expected to reduce cycle time from 15 years to around 6-7 years. Avinash Chander, the director of DRDO’s Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), told Aviation Week in Hyderabad that the new emphasis is the result of a collective reassessment conducted by top missile scientists and engineers. “Today the industrial base associated with India’s missile programs have grown and they are showing immense confidence to support more complex technologies,” Chander said. “We also felt the need to move away from the conventional sequential development plan to a concurrent mode.” Risk-Taking And Risk-Sharing The shift is expected to have a positive effect on India’s Agni-5 and Agni-II Plus missile programs. With 80% of India’s Agni missile program currently supported by various industries, DRDO now hopes to leverage increased risk-taking and risk-sharing. “This shift is also inculcating an aerospace quality culture among industries supporting India’s missile programs,” Chander said. ASL is currently the prime agency supporting DRDO’s long-range ballistic missile projects, in addition to providing solid propulsion and composite products for all missiles and systems. The lab also provides aerospace mechanisms to a variety of missile missions. As the prime installation responsible for Agni-class missiles, ASL is currently working on the Agni-V, with a range of more than 5,000 km. The missile is expected to have its first flight in 2011. Chander also said that when inducted, the Mark-II air-to-air beyond visual range (BVR) Astra missile will be one of the best of its kind in the world in the more than 100 km. range. “It will be compatible for multiple platforms, which signifies our capability and expertise in all segments,” Chander said. ‘Opportunities For Indigenous Solutions’ When asked about DRDO’s lessons learned concerning delays associated with most of its missile programs, Chander said: “We had to bear the brunt due to technological denials for many years. This resulted in DRDO creating opportunities for indigenous solutions. In many cases captive industrial infrastructure was created.” He said DRDO is currently involving Indian industry even at the prototype stage. “In the new scheme of things, the industry is acting as a strength multiplier. We are also banking on the core strengths of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and medium industries,” Chander says. DRDO is now putting its energy into making all-composite (80-90%) missile and airframe systems. According to Chander, this will provide more mobility and penetration, as well as increasing payload capabilities. “Augmenting the precision becomes the key. A missile which is faster [has] better strike abilities and precision in clinical operations,” he said. “Mobility is the key, and we are looking at developing a missile which is swifter in its reaction and virtually impossible to intercept.”