Agni-V shows India's intention to become major power: report: Beijing: As India gears up to test its 5000 km range Agni-V missile in February next year, Chinese official media here said that the "killer" missile with potential to reach several cities in China showed New Delhi's intention to become major power in the region. “Indian officials and scientists claimed that their Agni-V missile is the 'killer' for a certain country, which obviously shows the intention of seeking regional balance of power,” said an article in the state-run People Daily titled 'Risks behind India's military build up'. It added that India has strategic ambitions and hopes to play an important role in world affairs, "so it cannot tolerate these internal and external security environment constraints". “It is the Indian goal to continue to strengthen the military and possess a military clout that matches its status as a major power,” said the write-up in the daily, which is the official organ of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC). “However, how many missiles is enough is a question for all governments in the missile era,” it said. Chinese media reported the last month's successful test flight of the 3000 km range Agni-IV missile. DRDO Director-General V K Saraswat had announced that Agni -V will be test fired in February. Defence analysts say that the two together has the potential to reach several top Chinese cities, though far off regions could still be out of range for Indian missiles. Analysts say that while short range missile Agni-I and II are regarded as Pakistan-specific, Agni-III, IV and V are perceived to be China-specific. For its part China already has a variety of long and medium range missiles which according to US media reports were deployed in Tibet and Xinjiang provinces. US Department of Defence Report on Chinese military said last year that China has now replaced older liquid-fuelled, nuclear capable CSS-3 IRBMs with more advanced and survivable solid-fuelled CSS-5 MRBMs. The People's Daily also carried a similar write up last month terming India's decision to beef-up defence preparedness at borders with China with one lakh troops as a 'sensitive move'. "It will result in a tense situation in the region and harm India's own interests. Increasing troops on the border area is always a sensitive move and it is especially sensitive to increase troops on a disputed border area," it said. "In an era when precision-guided weapons are developing rapidly, everyone with common sense knows that concentrated troops could be eliminated easily," it said. Today's write up referred to India's plan to spend USD 8. 2 billion equipment from foreign countries to improve its defence capabilities in the 11th plan. "The Sweden Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a recent report hat India has become the world's largest arms importer, a veritable arsenal made up of imports from many different countries," it said. Courtesy: Indian Express, India develops Agni-VI nuclear-capable ballistic missile: After Agni-V missile's strategic success, India is currently developing another long-range nuclear- capable Agni-VI
a ballistic missile that has the range to reach Beijing and Shanghai. The WSJ's Deborah Kan speaks with editor Margherita Stancati on what it means for China-India relations. Courtesy: Wall Street Journal: Signs of an Asian Arms Buildup in India’s Missile Test: New York Times- By launching the Agni 5, a ballistic missile capable of reaching Beijing and Shanghai, India joined a small club
of nations with long-range nuclear capability, including China, Britain, France, Russia, Israel and the United States. Courtesy: Nytimes, India displays new long-range missile in parade: NEW DELHI, Jan 26, 2013 - India wheeled out a new long-range nuclear missile that can hit anywhere in China and warned rival Pakistan not to take its friendship "for granted" as it celebrated its Republic Day with a big parade Saturday. India successfully tested last April the Agni V missile, which has a range of 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles) and can strike across the Chinese mainland and even hit targets as far away as Europe. The first appearance in the annual parade of the Agni V -- seen as marking a significant upgrade of India's nuclear deterrent -- came along with the display of other military hardware acquired as part of a massive modernisation drive costing tens of billions of dollars. The parade along New Delhi's ceremonial Rajpath, or
King's Avenue, also included floats marking India's rich diversity and a tableau marking 100 years of Indian cinema wrapped in reels of film and embossed with movie names. Large areas of the capital were sealed off for the celebrations -- a traditional show of patriotic fervour -- where Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was the chief guest. India's shorter-range Agni I and II were developed with rival Pakistan in mind, while later versions reflect India's focus on China as well. India and China have prickly ties and a legacy of mistrust stemming from a brief border war in 1962. On the eve of Republic Day, marking proclamation of India's constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan in his annual nationwide televised address that New Delhi's hand of friendship should "not be taken for granted". His speech, aired again on Saturday, came amid a ceasefire which took hold last week in disputed Kashmir after the nations agreed to halt cross-border firing that has threatened to unravel a fragile peace process. "We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship... but this hand should not be taken for granted," he said. Before the ceasefire, Pakistan said three of its soldiers died in firing by Indian troops along a de facto border dividing Kashmir between the two nations. India, in turn, accused Pakistani troops of killing two of its soldiers, one of whom was beheaded, and the Himalayan region remains on edge. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since partition in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, a territory which both claim. Snipers manned rooftops along the route of the parade in New Delhi while helicopters monitored the area from above. Tens of thousands of security forces were deployed in the capital and country for the holiday celebrated across India to mark when the nation's constitution took effect. In his speech, president Mukherjee also said it was time for India to "reset its moral compass" following the gang-rape and murder of a student last month that ignited nationwide demonstrations to press for better safety for women. The death of the 23-year-old woman, "who was a symbol of all that new India strives to be", had shattered the nation's complacency, he said. "We lost more than a valuable life -- we lost a dream" and "we must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered", he
King's Avenue, also included floats marking India's rich diversity and a tableau marking 100 years of Indian cinema wrapped in reels of film and embossed with movie names. Large areas of the capital were sealed off for the celebrations -- a traditional show of patriotic fervour -- where Bhutan's king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was the chief guest. India's shorter-range Agni I and II were developed with rival Pakistan in mind, while later versions reflect India's focus on China as well. India and China have prickly ties and a legacy of mistrust stemming from a brief border war in 1962. On the eve of Republic Day, marking proclamation of India's constitution, President Pranab Mukherjee told Pakistan in his annual nationwide televised address that New Delhi's hand of friendship should "not be taken for granted". His speech, aired again on Saturday, came amid a ceasefire which took hold last week in disputed Kashmir after the nations agreed to halt cross-border firing that has threatened to unravel a fragile peace process. "We believe in peace on the border and are always ready to offer a hand in the hope of friendship... but this hand should not be taken for granted," he said. Before the ceasefire, Pakistan said three of its soldiers died in firing by Indian troops along a de facto border dividing Kashmir between the two nations. India, in turn, accused Pakistani troops of killing two of its soldiers, one of whom was beheaded, and the Himalayan region remains on edge. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since partition in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, a territory which both claim. Snipers manned rooftops along the route of the parade in New Delhi while helicopters monitored the area from above. Tens of thousands of security forces were deployed in the capital and country for the holiday celebrated across India to mark when the nation's constitution took effect. In his speech, president Mukherjee also said it was time for India to "reset its moral compass" following the gang-rape and murder of a student last month that ignited nationwide demonstrations to press for better safety for women. The death of the 23-year-old woman, "who was a symbol of all that new India strives to be", had shattered the nation's complacency, he said. "We lost more than a valuable life -- we lost a dream" and "we must look deep into our conscience and find out where we have faltered", he
said. Courtesy: Washington-News ‘Agni-V has 8,000-km range’ Chinese military experts feel: Beijing (IANS): Chinese military experts feel that there is more to India's successful long-range nuclear-capable missile Agni-V than what New Delhi is saying. A Chinese researcher said the missile "actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away". Du Wenlong, a researcher at China's PLA Academy of Military Sciences, told the Global Times that the Agni-V "actually has the potential to reach targets 8,000 kilometers away". Du added that "the Indian government had deliberately downplayed the missile's capability in order to avoid causing concern to other countries". India on Thursday test-fired the Agni-V missile that it said can accurately hit targets more than 5,000 km away. With this launch, India entered an exclusive club of nations that have this capability. Zhang Zhaozhong, a professor with the People's Liberation Army National Defense University, told the Global Times that according to China's standard, an ICBM should have a range of at least 8,000 km. "The Agni-V's range could be further enhanced to become an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile," he said. Global Times, a state-run daily, said Thursday India may have missiles that can reach most parts of China but stands "no chance in an overall arms race" with the country. The article, "India being swept up by missile delusion", noted that India has moved rapidly in developing missile technology. Criticising India, it said the country "is still poor and lags behind in infrastructure construction, but its society is highly supportive of developing nuclear power and the West chooses to overlook India's disregard of nuclear and missile control treaties". It stressed that India "should not overestimate its strength". "Even if it has missiles that could reach most parts of China, that does not mean it will gain anything from being arrogant during disputes with China. India should be clear that China's nuclear power is stronger and more reliable. For the foreseeable future, India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with China," it warned. Courtesy: The Hans India, India successfully test fires Agni-V, takes a giant stride Says: Hindustan Times, PTI, Dhamara, India on Thursday conducted the maiden test of its indigenously developed nuclear capable Agni-V ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8:05am, defence sources said. Soon after the maiden launch took place, Agni-V witnessed a smooth and perfect vertical lift-off from the launcher and analysis was done to assess its health parameters after retrieval of date from all the sophisticated wide range of communication network systems, they said. The test-fire of the first of its kind missile, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, had to be postponed at the last moment due to bad weather marked by rains and heavy lightning, the sources said. The trial of Agni-V, considered to be of the category of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrates giant strides taken by India in its integrated missile development programme. Only the United States, Russia, France and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM at present. "The sleek missile, within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch pad roared majestically into the sky leaving behind it's trajectory, a trail of thin orange and white smoke before disappearing," said an eyewitness to the launch, conducted amid light drizzle. The surface-to-surface Agni-V is capable of striking a target more than 5,000 km away. It is about 17 meter long and two metre wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The sophisticated missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. After achieving successful results from the first development trial of Agni-IV, which has a strike range of more than 3,500 km, from the same launch pad on November 15, 2011, preparation for Agni-V test had gathered momentum. Scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) associated with this project were busy for a couple of years to test launch the new missile in a possible suitable time. Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one - Agni-V - is the most advanced version having several new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine. India has at present in its armoury of Agni series, Agni-I with 700 km range, Agni-II with 2,000 km range, Agni-III and Agni-IV, with 2,500 km to more than 3,500 km range. Thursday's trial was aimed at putting India into an exclusive club of nations possessing such long-range ballistic missile technologies. DRDO chief VK Saraswat had recently said the missile was being integrated at various facilities for the test launch. The maiden test-fire was witnessed by military officials, scientists and other agencies which participated in its development. DRDO plans to conduct more such tests of the missile over the next one year after studying and analysing the parameters achieved in each subsequent trial. On the timeline fixed for fully developing Agni-V, Saraswat had said another year of testing would be involved. Courtesy: Hindustan Times DRDO: Agni-V is a nuclear-capable inter-continental ballistic missile: Agni - V is a solid fueled intermediate - range ballistic missile under development by DRDO of India. It will greatly expand India's reach to strike targets up to 5,000 km away. Missile tests are expected to begin in February 2012. Courtesy: World Defence News: Agni-V Missile is on Fire, Capable of Reaching China: India joined the elite list of nations with intercontinental nuclear weapon capabilities when Agni-V was successfully test-fired. This success means a great deal for Indians. With a strike range of over 5000 kms, this ballistic missile is capable of reaching deep into China and Europe. The Agni-V uses a guidance system consisting of a Ring laser gyroscope and an inertial navigational system, optionally augmented by GPS. Courtesy Satguide, The ‘Missile Woman’ behind India’s test launch, By Pratap Chakravarty: The ‘Missile Woman’ behind India’s test launch Tessy Thomas juggles domestic duties with her day job — as India’s top ballistic missile expert Hailed as a trail blazer in male-dominated India, Tessy Thomas juggles domestic duties with her day job — as the country’s top ballistic missile expert. Ms Thomas was project director for the Agni V long-range nuclear-capable missile which was test-fired last week in a major military advance that will enable India to hit all rival China’s cities for the first time. Celebrated as "Missile Woman" in the local media, she has lent a new and unusual face to the secretive world of India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation. But while the woman from southern Kerala state has changed perceptions of her profession and challenged tradition along the way, she says she remains a doting wife and mother at home. "In Indian culture, we feel women are also supposed to be taking care of the home, so a little bit of challenges are there," she says. "But all my lady colleagues are doing the same. It was slightly tough, but I could do it by balancing my time between home and work. Although i t was tough when my son was in school." Not all of her female colleagues have risen to such a position of prominence, though. The Agni V was a prestige project for India. Its 5000km range is seen as vital for national defence and another demonstration of the nation’s rising power. Indian President Pratibha Patil, another woman in a prominent position, commented after the launch that "the work of Thomas in the Agni programme would hopefully inspire more women in choosing careers in science". In January, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Ms Thomas was an example of a "woman making her mark in a traditionally male bastion and decisively breaking the glass ceiling". Ms Thomas joined the Defence Research and Development Organisation in 1988 and went on to work for APJ Abdul Kalam, the architect of the national missile programme who later became India’s president. Her initial focus was on guidance systems, and the first Agni variant was flight-tested in 1989. Her stewardship of the Agni V came after the first launch of the 3500km -range Agni III in 2006. Ms Thomas insists there is no gender discrimination in the predominantly male organisation, where about 200 female colleagues work in its dozens of ordnance factories and research facilities: "I always felt like a scientist and (the organisation) never made me feel otherwise. Besides, science does not recognise who is making the inputs." Ms Thomas says she decided to go into missiles — for her they are instruments of peace due to their deterrence value — after watching rocket tests from a launch centre near her home. "As school children we used to go on picnics to watch the rocket tests and I would be fascinated. Besides, I was always interested in science and mathematics." Such is her passion that she named her college-age son Tejas — after India’s indigenously built light combat aircraft. Between her kitchen at home in the southern city of Hyderabad and poring over complex telemetry data at work, Ms Thomas, who holds an engineering doctorate, has now set herself another challenge. "I am currently working on mission and guidance (systems) of the multiple independent re-entry vehicle," referring to proposed new technology to deliver multiple warheads. Courtesy: BusinessDay, Agni-V – a ticket to the
