Agni-IV Missile

This article will cover detailed information about Section Agni-IV Missile

Key Points:

About Agni-4

It is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of around 4,000 km

Developed by: the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)

It can carry a 1,000-kg payload and can go as high as 900 km

It uses a two-stage rocket engine powered by solid propellants

Further, the Composite Rocket Motor which has been used for the first time in this missile is known to deliver excellent performance

Agni-4 falls under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which is operationally responsible for all of India’s nuclear assets

A Synoptic View: History of missile technology in India

At the time of Independence, India did not have any indigenous missile capabilities

The Government created the Special Weapon Development Team in 1958

This was later expanded and called the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), which moved from Delhi to Hyderabad by 1962

In 1972, Project Devil, for the development of a medium range Surface-to-Surface Missile was initiated. A large number of infrastructure and test facilities were established during this period

The development of components / systems for Project Devil formed the technology base for the future IGMDP Programme

By 1982, DRDL was working on several missile technologies under the Integrated Guided Missiles Development Programme (IGMDP)

India’s Missile Systems:

The two most important India’s Missile Systems are: Agni and Prithvi, both being used by the Strategic Forces Command.

Agni (range around 5,000 ) , is India’s only contender for an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is available with only a few countries
Prithvi, although a short-range surface-to-surface missile with a 350 km range, has strategic uses
India also tested a anti-satellite system in April 2019. A modified anti-ballistic missile named Prithvi Defence Vehicle Mk 2 was used to hit a low-orbit satellite. It put India only behind the US, Russia and China in this capability

Significance:

According to observers, Agni-4 test comes amidst the continuing military confrontation with China in eastern Ladakh, which has entered its third year now without showing any signs of de-escalation in the high-altitude region.

What is the difference between ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ and ‘Strategic Deterrence’?

Credible Minimum Deterrence: It is a composite posturing adopted by some nuclear-armed states (especially India and Pakistan) to convey a non-aggressive and defensive nuclear posture by projecting a nuclear arsenal that fulfils the bare needs of defence and security

Accordingly, it implies that the nuclear arsenals will be minimal enough to provide credible deterrence against adversaries

Strategic Deterrence: It has traditionally (especially during the Cold War) been associated with nuclear weapons – possession of capability to undertake unacceptable destruction and deterring the adversary by posturing the ability and intent to do so