Missile programme concluded, DRDO says it’s up to users now

A top DRDO scientist said the organisation will now adopt a “different model” for development of future missile systems and will rope in foreign technology and Indian private industry for new projects. “When the IGMDP was launched, things were different. Now, many countries want to partner us. The new model is to take industry along and use the collective power to develop new systems,” one of the country’s top defence scientists and Chief Controller at DRDO, Dr S Prahlada, said at a media interaction on Tuesday.

The IGMDP has been fraught with controversies primarily due to the delay in the development of crucial missile systems. The project was given a 10-year extension in 1995.

Out of the five missiles that had to be developed, the long range surface-to-surface Agni group of missiles and the shorter range Prithvi missiles had been inducted into active service.

A short range surface-to-air missile for the Indian Air Force — the Trishul — has more or less been given up. While Prahlada said the IAF will induct a “very small” number of the missiles as a stop gap arrangement before an Israeli system is developed, the IAF has made it clear that the missile did not meet requirements.

The long-range multiple target surface-to-air Akash missiles has undergone user trails by the IAF and been given in principle clearance for induction. However, the Defence Acquisition Council is still to decide how many squadrons of the system will be inducted.

The Army on its part has told the DRDO that the system is way behind time and is planning to float a global tender this year to fulfill its requirements of an air defence system.

The fifth missile—a fourth generation anti-tank missile called Nag — is still to satisfy the Army. The DRDO said the final user trials of the missile are scheduled this summer and the first system would be ready by the year end.