NEW DELHI: India is set to, quietly continue its strategic missile development program despite US pressure to abort development and deployment of these missiles.
Eight to nine more prototypes, of the intermediate range ballistic missile Agni are to be developed, signaling the Government’s resolve to consolidate the success achieved in this 2500 kms range missile. While clearing the technology demonstration phase, Indian scientists and technicians are still a Jong way off from “standardization and product ionizing of the Agni class of missiles.
An Indian Air Force station is to be set up in Balasore. the interim test range center, for the crucial co-ordination between the scientists, technicians and the users, As the missile program enters the stage of standardization” over the next couple of years. the inputs from the users will become critical.
User trials l0r the surface to surface missile, Prithvi, have begun in the Army with the first batch expected to be deployed tater this year, The army has ordered 75 of these 150 to 200 kms range missiles in the first go, while 25 of the longer range 250 kms will go to the Air force. With a minimum of three of these deadly missiles rolling out of select defense factories each month, there is a quiet confidence in the defence establishment of “taking on” the Chinese supplied M-11 missiles to Pakistan, or the US delivered F-16s to the PAF.
Finally, if only to send a signal, the Government proposes to continue A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam’s association with the integrated guided missile development program, after his retirement as scientific ad- visor to the Defense Minister later this year. The brilliant scientist who is likely to take up the vice chancellorship of Madras University, is understood to have been offered a “scientific emeritus” position with the specific responsibility of guiding the missile pro- gram he fathered.
Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao’s forthright declaration at the Army commanders conference, earlier this week, that India would continue to keep its nuclear options open, in the wake of nuclear proliferation in Pakistan and else- where has served notice of an over- all stiffening of postures.
And on the missile program, the normally reticent Minister of State for Defense Malikarjun let the cat out of the bag last week when he asserted that induction of Agni into the Armed forces was a “technical decision,” and not up to the political leadership.
US pressure on the Government to slow down the missile program intensified immediately after the third testing of Agni, which carried a payload of 1000 kg. The payload was far higher than the normal load of conventional weapons, triggering off suction in Western capitals of India’s intention to mount a nuclear warhead on the long-range missile.
Prime Minister Rao preparing for his US trip next month, is all most certain to come presure, principally on account of the Agni. US Deputy Secretary Strobe: Talboutt made it clear during his visit to both Delhi and Islamabad that the proliferation of nuclear weapons as well as missile in the south-cast Asian region had to stop.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 22, 1994
