AGNIPARVA (THE ERA OF THE AGNI)

On Thursday, India created history by launching the Agni-5 missile, it's longest and the most potent missile to date. What sets Agni-5 apart is that it carries with several advanced technologies that is tested for the first time including ( Multiple Independently Re-entry  vehicles) was tested. In lay man terms what this means is that one Agni-5 missile can carry several warheads each one of which will be capable of Independently targeting  different sites. Further Agni-5 gibes India the potential to reach entire China. That in many ways lays ground for effective deterrence against Chinese designs against India.

THE GENESIS OF INDIA MISSILE PROGRAM

India initiated the Integrated Missile Development Program (IGMDP) in the year 1983 with the intention develop several missiles for different missions. These included Agni  Missile (Medium to Intercontinental family of Missiles), Prithvi Missile ( Short range Ballistic Missile), Akash ( Medium to long Range Surface to Air Missile), Trishul Missile ( Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile, the project capped and instead Israeli missile preferred) and Nag missile (quick reaction Anti Tank Missile). From a nascent development of liquid propelled Prithvi Missile with a range of 250 Km, India's missile program has come a long way is now so matured and advanced that India is now making several different verities of missiles. The Integrated Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was closed in the year 2007 with almost all the missile being developed and many entering services.  Now India pursues all development projects independently. Now India is fast developing several versions of missiles including The K Family of missiles (submarine launched nuclear capable missiles ), Nirbhay Missile ( Cruise Missile which can be termed as Intermediate Range Cruise Missile). With the successful launch of Agni-5 Missile and the same being successful in the first test itself, India has demonstrated it's technological advancement.

THE STRATEGIC OUTLOOK AND INDIA'S CHALLENGES

India's strategic calculus revolves around it's two principal rivals, Pakistan and China. While India developed Prithvi and Agni-1&2 were Pakistan centric, Agni-3& 5 has squarely China as it's target. For India, China is the real challenge, how to deal with a country which is bigger than your own country and more powerful and with whom you have unsettled boundary disputes? India had lacked the platforms to counter China. Even though India had tested successfully several nuclear weapons in the year 1998, the development of delivery platforms had not kept pace. At that time, the only platforms India had was Aircrafts. But planes has several defects that make them vulnerable and less effective. This enticed India to develop  a whole family of missiles to successfully counter China. India's nuclear doctrine envisaged deployment of nuclear weapons in land, in air and in sea. India is now entering that state where in India will have the capability to deploy nuclear weapons in all the three dimensions, in land, air and in sea with the upcoming deployment of India's first indigenous submarine, INS Arihant which will see India deploying nuclear capable weapons in sea which cannot be detected nor destroyed.

THE WAY FORWARD FOR INDIA

India has publicly stated that it does not envisage development of any missiles beyond 5000Km even though there are reports of several black projects for the development of ICBM's. Even if India caps the range of our missiles at 5000 Km, India ought to develop Technology demonstrators for ICBM's that can be translated to the development of ICBM missiles at the shortest possible time should the strategic equations change in the future. India enjoys good and deepening strategic relationships with almost all major powers in the world, notable among them being the USA, Russia, France and Israel.But as the old saying goes "In international relations, there are no permanent  friends nor foes. What lasts is only permanent national interests".

India should not be left wanting when and if the time comes and new strategic architecture arise which will force India to develop ICBM's beyond the range of 5000Km. Hence India should develop projects that can be translated to operational missiles in the shortest possile time

THE HEART OF AN INDIAN

I am not writing this blog as an analysis. What motivates me is the pride that I feel as an Indian in each and every stride that India makes in varied field which sets the stage for India's ascendancy as the world power. Even when we are flooded with news of corruption and the gimmicks of the chosen ones and the blue eyed boys who  try to take us for a ride, there are those unsung heroes who with out any gain work tirelessly in recess of night to make a strong India, an India of our dreams. It is these heroes on whose able shoulders that the future of this great country lie.

                              VANTE MATHRAM