Latest news with #Agni-5
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Nothing's safe anymore': Pakistani expert admits fear over India's 7,500-kg bunker buster missile that can strike 80m deep
India is reportedly developing a massive conventional missile based on its nuclear-capable Agni-V platform, designed to destroy underground enemy targets like Pakistan's nuclear command centres. The move, inspired by the US's bunker-busting strikes in Iran, has triggered alarm among Pakistani experts, who warn that it dangerously blurs the line between conventional and nuclear warfare. They argue that such a weapon could provoke miscalculation, spark unintended escalation and unravel the fragile logic that's kept South Asia from crossing the nuclear threshold. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A powerful new conventional missile under development in India has left Pakistan visibly uneasy. Designed to strike deep underground targets, the 7,500-kg Agni-V-based bunker buster, capable of reaching hardened nuclear command centres, is already provoking a reaction across the border. A top Pakistani strategic affairs expert has sounded alarm over what she sees as a 'dangerous shift' in India's military doctrine that could upend the region's fragile missile, reportedly under development by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is an advanced version of the Agni-V ballistic missile platform. Unlike the nuclear-tipped Agni-V, this version is designed to carry a massive conventional warhead capable of penetrating 80 to 100 metres underground, a weapon meant to target deeply buried command centres, missile storage facilities, and other hardened to Indian media reports, the missile will have a reduced range of about 2,500 km, compared to Agni-V's intercontinental reach, due to the heavy warhead. However, its destructive potential remains significant. Two variants are believed to be in the works: one that detonates above ground to strike surface targets, and another designed to bore deep into the earth before exploding — similar in function to the US GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Agni-5 missile, equipped with bunker-busting capabilities, is tailored to address regional threats. It provides a powerful conventional option to pre-emptively neutralise enemy targets. With the ability to strike deeply fortified underground sites, the Agni-5 helps India effectively counter strategic weapon, if operationalised, would be among the most powerful conventional missiles in the world. Its ability to deliver a devastating payload without crossing the nuclear threshold could offer Indian military planners a new option in the event of a high-stakes across the border, the development is being viewed with growing unease. Writing in Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, Rabia Akhtar, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lahore, warned that such a weapon risks a 'hazardous entanglement' between conventional and nuclear strategies. She argues that a missile capable of destroying command-and-control centres, which may also serve as nuclear command posts, could trigger unintended reported move comes in the wake of the United States' use of similar bunker-busting munitions against Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz in June this year. According to Rabia Akhtar, this demonstration of conventional firepower likely influenced Indian strategic thinking, pushing for a missile that could perform a similar role in the India has not officially commented on the new missile, several Indian defence experts have indicated that it could be aimed at deterring adversaries by holding their most secure military assets at risk, all without using nuclear however, sees a more scary picture. The very idea that a conventional missile could be used to neutralise strategic targets may prompt riskier calculations during a crisis. 'It creates uncertainty around intent,' Akhtar said, adding that Pakistan's early-warning systems might not be able to distinguish a conventional Agni missile from a nuclear one, increasing the chances of an overreaction.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India tests nuclear-capable Agni-1 & Prithvi-2 ballistic missiles
India test-fires Prithvi-II & Agni-1 ballistic missiles (ANI) NEW DELHI: India on Thursday conducted successive tests of short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, the Prithvi-2 and Agni-1, in what constitutes some strategic deterrence messaging to Pakistan soon after the intense cross-border hostilities under Operation Sindoor from May 7 to 10. The Prithvi-2 (350-km strike range) and Agni-1 (700-km) missiles were launched from the integrated test range at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, by the tri-service strategic forces command (SFC). 'The launches validated all operational and technical parameters,' the defence ministry said in a brief statement on Thursday night. An official described the tests as 'periodic routine trials' of already inducted missiles conducted by the SFC, which was established in 2003 to handle the country's nuclear arsenal. But it's possibly the first time that two such nuclear-capable missiles have been tested together on the same day. Both these missiles are Pakistan-specific, while the others like Agni-2 (2,000-km), Agni-3 (3,000-km) and the near ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) Agni-5 (over 5,000-km) are largely geared towards China. DRDO and the SFC have also been conducting 'pre-induction night trials' of the new-generation Agni-Prime ballistic missile, which has a strike range from 1,000 to 2,000-km, which will gradually replace the Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles in the country's nuclear arsenal. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Citadel by Mahindra – Homes with a Modern Edge Mahindra Citadel Enquire Now Undo The solid-fuelled Agni-Prime is the smallest and lightest among the entire Agni series of ballistic missiles and incorporates new propulsion systems and composite rocket motor casings as well as advanced navigation and guidance systems. The Agni-Prime, significantly, is also a canister-launch system like the Agni-V, which brings even the northernmost parts of China under its strike envelope, and the two together will add more teeth to India's nuclear deterrence posture. Both these missiles are in the process of being inducted into the SFC, with new regiments being raised for them, as reported by TOI earlier. Canister-launch missiles - with the warheads already mated with the missiles - give the SFC the requisite operational flexibility to store them for long periods, swiftly transport them through rail or road when required, and fire them from wherever they want. The Agni-5 was also tested with multiple warheads (MIRVs or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles) for the first time on March 11 last year. Once inducted in a few years more, this MIRVed missile will be capable of delivering three to four warheads at different targets separated by hundreds of kilometres. China, of course, is leagues ahead. It is adding around 100 nuclear warheads every year to its existing stockpile of 600 warheads, while deploying ICBMs like the DongFeng-5 and DF-41 with ranges over 12,000-km. India, in turn, has 180 warheads and Pakistan 170, as per the latest assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI).
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Why India's new hypersonic missile may outrun Israel's Iron Dome and Russia's S-500 and shift the balance in Asia
India has made a quiet but bold leap in missile technology. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has tested what it calls the country's most advanced missile system to date: the Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile ( ET-LDHCM ). Unlike the BrahMos, Agni-5 or Akash, this one goes further and faster. It was built under Project Vishnu , a classified programme meant to develop next-generation hypersonic weapons. Defence officials confirmed the missile can hit targets up to 1,500 km away at Mach 8. By comparison, the original BrahMos started with a range of 290 km. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management Design Thinking Data Analytics healthcare MCA Finance Degree Public Policy others Product Management Data Science MBA Cybersecurity Management CXO Data Science Project Management Others Artificial Intelligence Leadership Healthcare Technology PGDM Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details The heart of the missile: Scramjet engine A key part of the ET-LDHCM's power comes from its scramjet engine . Unlike older engines that carry oxidisers on board, the scramjet uses oxygen from the atmosphere. This keeps the missile lighter and lets it maintain high speeds for longer. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Only 2% Traders Know this Powerful Intraday Strategy thefutureuniversity Learn More Undo In November 2024, DRDO ran a 1,000-second ground test of this scramjet, proving it could handle the extreme heat and speed. The missile can withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, critical when you're tearing through the sky at nearly 11,000 km per hour. Ready for any platform Flexibility is part of the plan. The ET-LDHCM can be launched from land, ships or aircraft. This makes it useful for all branches of India's military. It can carry conventional or nuclear warheads weighing up to 2,000 kg. Because it flies at low altitudes, it stays harder to detect and intercept. Live Events Analysts say the missile's in-flight manoeuvrability is what sets it apart. It can adjust its course mid-air, something that makes life difficult for modern air defence systems. A message beyond borders India's timing is telling. The test comes as the region faces fresh friction. Russia and Ukraine remain locked in conflict. Israel and Iran are trading threats. Relations with China and Pakistan remain tense. Defence analysts suggest this missile could shift power balances in South Asia. It puts India alongside the United States, Russia and China — countries that have already fielded indigenous hypersonic missiles. Project Vishnu: Quiet but ambitious Project Vishnu is DRDO's biggest bet yet on hypersonic systems. It plans to deliver twelve different weapons, from offensive missiles to interceptors that can knock incoming threats out of the sky. In the words of a senior DRDO scientist: 'The first scramjet test in November 2024 ran for 1,000 seconds. That showed the engine could do what we needed.' Missiles like the ET-LDHCM are only the start. Hypersonic glide vehicles are expected to join service by 2027 or 2028. Full operational use of the ET-LDHCM could come by 2030. Made in India, built to last One thing sets this missile apart. It was designed and built entirely with home-grown technology. Small and medium enterprises and private contractors played a key part. This feeds into India's push for self-reliance under its defence manufacturing policy. Materials science has played its part too. Heat-resistant coatings, co-developed by DRDO and the Department of Science and Technology, keep the missile structurally sound in searing conditions. The same coatings protect it against oxidation for naval operations. With the ET-LDHCM, India is saying it's ready for new challenges. It can now match or outpace some of the world's top-tier missile systems. The country cuts reliance on imports, builds local know-how and signals it's not standing still as regional security shifts. As a defence analyst put it: 'This missile could be a tipping point for South Asian military dynamics. Its speed and survivability change the game.' The test flight might have been quiet. Its message is not.
News18
15-07-2025
- Science
- News18
Faster Than BrahMos, Deadlier Than Agni: How India's New Hypersonic Missile Changes The Game
India's DRDO has developed the ET-LDHCM, a hypersonic missile under Project Vishnu, capable of Mach 8 speeds and a 1,500 km range India has quietly pulled off a major breakthrough in missile technology with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) having developed what is now being called the country's most advanced missile system, the Extended Trajectory Long Duration Hypersonic Cruise Missile (ET-LDHCM). This new missile doesn't just outperform existing defence systems like BrahMos, Agni-5, and Akash but changes the game entirely. The ET-LDHCM, developed under the highly classified Project Vishnu, is capable of flying at Mach 8, eight times the speed of sound, and can strike targets up to 1,500 km away. That's nearly three times faster and more than three times the range of the original BrahMos missile. While BrahMos started with a range of 290 km and now stretches to 450 km, the ET-LDHCM enters an entirely different category of weaponry, combining speed, stealth, and long-range precision. What makes this missile particularly better is its use of a scramjet engine, a propulsion system that uses atmospheric oxygen and doesn't rely on rotating compressors like traditional engines. This allows the missile to maintain hypersonic speeds for longer durations. It can also carry conventional or nuclear warheads weighing between 1,000 to 2,000 kg, and fly at low altitudes, making it tough to detect and intercept. The ET-LDHCM is maneuverable in-flight, giving it an edge over many existing ballistic and cruise missile systems. It's also built to withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees Celsius, ensuring its structural integrity at hypersonic speeds. The missile is multi-platform compatible, it can be launched from land, sea, or air, making it a flexible weapon suited for targeting command centres, radar systems, naval fleets, or hardened underground bunkers. Its capabilities are so advanced that analysts say it could challenge high-end defence systems like Russia's S-500 or Israel's Iron Dome. India's test comes amid high geopolitical friction – the Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Iran tensions, and strained relations with China and Pakistan. The ET-LDHCM test places India in an elite group of nations alongside the United States, Russia, and China, with indigenous hypersonic missile capability. What Is Project Vishnu? Project Vishnu is DRDO's most ambitious hypersonic weapons programme to date. It involves the development of 12 distinct hypersonic systems, including both offensive missiles and interceptors capable of taking down incoming threats mid-air. The first successful scramjet engine test under this project was conducted in November 2024, where the engine ran for 1,000 seconds, establishing proof of concept. The ET-LDHCM is the first major missile to emerge from this programme. Notably, the missile has been entirely developed using indigenous technology, with significant input from MSMEs and private defence contractors. This not only strengthens self-reliance under the country's defence manufacturing policy but also boosts local innovation and employment. Defence analysts are calling ET-LDHCM a potential tipping point in South Asian military dynamics. It could alter the strategic balance with China in the Indo-Pacific and enhance deterrence against Pakistan, especially given its speed and survivability against interception. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
05-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Danger for Pakistan, China: India building its own 'Bunker Buster', can travel up to 5,000 km carrying..., hit underground target at hypersonic speed
Danger for Pakistan, China: India building its own 'Bunker Buster', can travel up to 5,000 km carrying..., hit underground target at hypersonic speed India's top defence research agency, DRDO, is now working on two upgraded versions of the long-range Agni-5 missile. These new versions will be able to carry a massive 7,500 kg warhead, known as a bunker buster, which can go as deep as 100 meters underground to destroy enemy nuclear systems, radar stations, weapon storage sites, and command centers. Why this matters now This news comes shortly after the United States used 14 powerful GBU-57 bombs on Iran's underground Fordow nuclear facility on June 21. That plant was buried 200 feet deep, and the GBU-57 bombs carried 2,600 kg warheads. What's new in the upgraded Agni-5? The current Agni-5 missile can travel up to 5,000 km carrying a nuclear warhead. The two new versions will have a shorter range of 2,500 km, but they will be specialised for underground targets. These will strike at hypersonic speed, between Mach 8 to Mach 20which is 8 to 20 times faster than the speed of sound. The warhead will weigh 7,500 kg, making it more powerful than America's GBU-57, which weighs 2,600 kg. If successful, this will bring India on par with the U.S., whose largest bunker buster, the GBU-57, weighs 13,600 kg (30,000 pounds). DRDO's new missile could make India one of the very few countries with such advanced deep-strike capability. Why these new missiles are important for India After Operation Sindoor, India has started focusing more on developing missiles that can destroy underground enemy bunkers. With rising tensions like India-Pakistan issues and the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, India is strengthening its defence systems to be ready for any future threats. What's the Threat? Pakistan and China have built strong underground military bases near their borders. These bases are often hidden deep under mountains or in high-altitude regions, making them hard to target with regular weapons. How Will These Missiles Help? These bunker-busting Agni-5 missiles will be able to destroy enemy command centers, weapon storage sites, and radar units located underground. They will be especially useful in hilly and mountainous areas, where traditional missiles may not work effectively. By developing these powerful missiles, India is making sure it can hit deep, hidden enemy targets quickly and accurately — a major step in securing its borders and staying ahead in regional defence. America's GBU-57: The World's Most Powerful Bunker-Buster Bomb On June 21, the U.S. carried out a major strike on Iran's underground Fordow nuclear site, using its most powerful bunker-buster weapon — the GBU-57 bomb. This was the first time the U.S. deployed this weapon in a real-world operation. The GBU-57 weighs 30,000 pounds (around 13,600 kg) and is specially designed to destroy deeply buried bunkers and underground targets. It can penetrate thick layers of rock or concrete before exploding. According to Lieutenant General Dan Kane, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, it took the U.S. 15 years to develop this bomb. When the Fordow site was discovered in 2009, the U.S. didn't have any weapon strong enough to destroy it. That's when the development of this powerful bomb began. India to launch 52 Defence Satellites in next 4 years Following Operation Sindoor, India is also planning to boost its space-based defence power. The Indian government has approved a plan to launch 52 special defence satellites by 2029. These satellites will act as 'eyes in the sky' to monitor the Pakistan and China borders 24/7. These satellites will be powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). They will orbit at 36,000 km altitude and communicate with each other to send signals, images, and messages back to Earth quickly and accurately. The project is being carried out under the Defence Space Agency, as part of the Space-Based Surveillance Phase-3 (SBS-3) plan. The government has approved a ₹26,968 crore budget for this mission. It was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security in October 2024.
