Indian Missile List : BrahMos, Nirbhay, Prithvi, Nag, and Agni Series

Indian Missiles: BrahMos, Nirbhay, Prithvi, Nag, and Agni Series – India’s missile program, led by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), includes a range of ballistic, cruise, and anti-tank missiles developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and beyond. The missiles—BrahMos, Nirbhay, Prithvi, Nag, and the Agni series (I to V)—serve strategic, tactical, and defensive roles, with supersonic and hypersonic missiles representing advanced speed categories. This article details each missile’s specifications, capabilities, and recent developments, providing insights into India’s defense prowess.

1. BrahMos Missile

BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile, is the fastest in its class globally, developed by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture between India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya. Named after the Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers, it is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks missile.

Table 1: BrahMos Missile Specifications
Feature	Details
Speed	Mach 2.8–3.0
Range	300–700 km (up to 800+ km planned)
Warhead	200–300 kg
Platforms	Land, ship, submarine, air
Status	Operational; BrahMos-II in development

Key Highlights

Fire-and-forget with 99.99% strike accuracy, used in precision strikes (e.g., 2025 India–Pakistan conflict).
Deployed across all three armed forces; Navy uses ship and submarine variants.
March 2025: ₹20,000 crore approved for BrahMos-ER regiments (Financial Express).
BrahMos-II, a hypersonic variant (Mach 8, 1,500 km), is under development.

2. Nirbhay Missile

Nirbhay (Fearless) is India’s first indigenously developed subsonic cruise missile, designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment, complementing BrahMos with long-range, low-altitude strikes.

Table 2: Nirbhay Missile Specifications
Feature	Details
Speed	Mach 0.7–0.9
Range	~1,000 km (up to 1,500 km for LR-LACM)
Warhead	450 kg
Platforms	Land, ship, air, submarine (planned)
Status	Limited deployment; variants in testing

Key Highlights

Sea-skimming and loitering capabilities for evading radar.
Navy plans ship and submarine-launched variants (Financial Express).
Deployed in 2020 along the Line of Actual Control against China.
September 2024: Anti-ship variant testing planned within 12–18 months.

3. Prithvi Missile

The Prithvi series comprises short-range ballistic missiles developed under IGMDP, primarily for the Army and Air Force. The Navy uses the ship-launched Dhanush variant.

Table 3: Prithvi Missile Specifications
Variant	Range	Warhead	Platform
Prithvi-I	150 km	1,000 kg	Land (retired)
Prithvi-II	250–350 km	500 kg	Land, air
Dhanush	350–750 km	500–1,000 kg	Ship

Key Highlights

Dhanush enhances naval tactical strikes from ships.
Nuclear-capable, with 50 m accuracy.
Prithvi-I phased out; Dhanush remains active for Navy.
Uses liquid propulsion for Prithvi-I/II, solid for Dhanush.

4. Nag Missile

Nag (Cobra) is a third-generation anti-tank guided missile developed under IGMDP, primarily for the Army but relevant for coastal defense in naval contexts.

Table 4: Nag Missile Specifications
Feature	Details
Range	0.5–4 km (land), 7 km (HELINA)
Warhead	8 kg HEAT
Platforms	Land (NAMICA), air (helicopters)
Guidance	Infrared, command
Status	Operational

Key Highlights

Fire-and-forget with top-attack capability against armored vehicles.
Potential naval use in coastal defense roles.
HELINA (helicopter-launched) extends range to 7 km.
Developed indigenously at ₹3 billion.

5. Agni Missile Series

The Agni series consists of ballistic missiles for nuclear deterrence, primarily for the Army and Air Force. The Navy uses K-series submarine-launched ballistic missiles derived from Agni technology.

Table 5: Agni Missile Series Specifications
Missile	Range	Type	Warhead	Status
Agni-I	700–1,200 km	SRBM	1,000 kg	Operational
Agni-II	2,000–3,500 km	MRBM	1,000 kg	Operational
Agni-III	3,000–5,000 km	IRBM	1,500 kg	Operational
Agni-IV	3,500–4,000 km	IRBM	1,000 kg	Operational
Agni-V	5,000–8,000 km	ICBM	1,500 kg (MIRV)	Operational

Key Highlights

Agni-V achieves hypersonic speeds (Mach 24) during re-entry, with MIRV capability.
Navy’s K-15 Sagarika (700 km) and K-4 (3,500 km) SLBMs derive from Agni technology.
Solid-fuel propulsion and ring laser gyro ensure precision.
Agni-V covers China and parts of Europe, strengthening nuclear deterrence.

6. Supersonic Missiles

Supersonic missiles travel faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1–5), offering high speed and penetration compared to subsonic missiles.

Key Highlights

BrahMos is the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missile (Mach 2.8–3.0), with unmatched accuracy.
Uses ramjet engines for sustained high speeds.
Deployed across land, sea, air, and submarine platforms.
No other supersonic missiles in this list, but BrahMos dominates the category.

7. Hypersonic Missiles

Hypersonic missiles exceed Mach 5, offering extreme speed and maneuverability, challenging interception.

Table 6: Supersonic vs. Hypersonic Missiles in India
Missile	Type	Speed	Status
BrahMos	Supersonic cruise	Mach 2.8–3.0	Operational
BrahMos-II	Hypersonic cruise	Mach 8	Under development
Agni-V	Hypersonic ballistic	Mach 24 (re-entry)	Operational
HGV	Hypersonic glide	Mach 5+	Technology demonstration

Key Highlights

BrahMos-II will use scramjet propulsion, targeting Mach 8 in 7–8 years.
Agni-V achieves hypersonic speeds in its terminal phase.
India’s Hypersonic Glide Vehicle program is in early stages, trailing China and Russia.
April 2023: India requested Russia for 3M22 Zircon technology for BrahMos-II.

FAQs on Indian Armed Forces and Missile Programs

Who is the Missile Man of India?
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, former President of India and DRDO scientist, is known as the Missile Man for leading India’s missile programs, including Agni and Prithvi.

Does India have a hypersonic missile?
Yes, India is developing hypersonic missiles. The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) was successfully tested by DRDO in 2020, showcasing India defence capabilities for speeds above Mach 5.

How many ballistic missiles does India have?
Exact numbers are classified, but India’s arsenal includes over 100 ballistic missiles, such as Agni, Prithvi, and Dhanush, managed by the Indian Armed Forces’ Strategic Forces Command.

How many Agni-5 missiles does India have?
The exact count is classified, but India likely has 10–20 Agni-5 missiles, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with a 5,000+ km range, as part of its defence system.

Who is the Missile Woman of India?
Dr. Tessy Thomas, a DRDO scientist, is called the Missile Woman for her contributions to the Agni missile series, earning recognition in Indian defence news.

Conclusion

India’s missile arsenal, including BrahMos (supersonic cruise), Nirbhay (subsonic cruise), Prithvi (short-range ballistic), Nag (anti-tank), and the Agni series (ballistic, with Agni-V reaching hypersonic speeds), reflects a robust defense strategy. BrahMos excels in speed and versatility, while Nirbhay offers long-range precision. Prithvi (via Dhanush) and Nag support tactical roles, and the Agni series ensures nuclear deterrence. Supersonic missiles like BrahMos dominate operations, while hypersonic missiles like BrahMos-II and Agni-V position India as a rising power in advanced missile technology. Recent developments, such as BrahMos range upgrades and Nirbhay’s naval variants, underscore India’s focus on self-reliance and strategic deterrence.

India’s security framework is a robust network of forces protecting the nation from external and internal threats. The Indian Armed Forces, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and Special Forces work together to ensure safety, sovereignty, and stability. This article explores their structure, roles, and significance, offering insights for defence enthusiasts and UPSC aspirants seeking Indian defence news.

Indian Armed Forces: Defending the Nation

The Indian Armed Forces comprise the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, and Strategic Forces Command (SFC). With over 1.4 million active personnel, they form the world’s second-largest military, led by the President of India as Supreme Commander and managed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Indian Army: The largest branch, responsible for land-based operations, border security, and counter-insurgency. It has seven commands (e.g., Northern Command in Udhampur) and elite units like the Para Special Forces. Strength: ~1.2 million personnel.
Indian Navy: Protects India’s 7,516 km coastline and maritime interests. It operates three commands (Western, Eastern, Southern) and includes aircraft carriers like INS Vikrant. Strength: ~67,000 personnel.
Indian Air Force: Ensures aerial defence with fighter jets (e.g., Rafale) and air bases across India. The Garud Commando Force is its special unit. Strength: ~140,000 personnel.
Indian Coast Guard: Secures maritime zones, conducts search-and-rescue, and combats piracy. Strength: ~15,000 personnel.
Strategic Forces Command: Manages India’s nuclear arsenal, including missiles like Agni-V, ensuring deterrence.

The Armed Forces excel in conventional warfare, peacekeeping, and disaster response, making India a global security contributor.

Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs): Guardians of Internal Security

The CAPFs are seven police organizations under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), renamed from “paramilitary forces” in 2011 for clarity. They focus on internal security, border guarding, and law enforcement, with a combined strength of over 1 million personnel.

CAPF	Role	Strength	Key Area
Assam Rifles (AR)	Border security (Indo-Myanmar), counter-insurgency in Northeast	~66,000	Dual control: MHA (admin), MoD (ops)
Border Security Force (BSF)	Guards India-Pakistan, India-Bangladesh borders	~265,000	First Line of Defence
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)	Secures airports, nuclear plants, PSUs	~165,000	Critical infrastructure protection
Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)	Law and order, anti-Naxal operations, election security	~325,000	Largest CAPF
Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP)	Guards Indo-China border (3,488 km)	~89,000	High-altitude operations
National Security Guard (NSG)	Counter-terrorism, anti-hijacking	~14,000	Black Cats, special operations
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB)	Guards Indo-Nepal, Indo-Bhutan borders	~76,000	Prevents smuggling, cross-border crime

CAPFs support state police, assist the Army in crises, and participate in UN missions. Recent tensions along the India-Pakistan border have seen increased CAPF deployment, highlighting their critical role.

Special Forces: Elite Warriors

Special Forces are highly trained units for covert, high-risk missions like counter-terrorism and reconnaissance. They operate across the Armed Forces and CAPFs.

Para Special Forces (Army): Conducts behind-enemy-lines operations, counter-insurgency, and hostage rescue. Known for surgical strikes.
MARCOS (Navy): Marine Commandos specialize in maritime warfare, anti-piracy, and special ops. Often compared to US Navy SEALs.
Garud Commando Force (Air Force): Protects air bases, conducts search-and-rescue, and supports counter-terrorism.
National Security Guard (NSG): A CAPF unit, but a Special Force, trained for anti-terrorism and VIP protection. Comprises Army and CAPF personnel.

These units are critical for national security, often collaborating in high-stakes operations like the 2008 Mumbai attack response.

UPSC Relevance: Key Points for Aspirants

For UPSC exams (GS Paper III: Security), understanding the Indian defence framework is crucial. Key points:

Mandate: Armed Forces handle external threats; CAPFs focus on internal security; Special Forces tackle specialized missions.
Structure: Know the MoD (Armed Forces) vs. MHA (CAPFs) distinction and leadership (e.g., IPS for CAPFs, except AR).
Challenges: Modernization delays, state dependence on CAPFs, and morale issues (e.g., 432 CAPF suicides reported, 2020–23).
Recent Developments: CAPF modernization (₹94,665 crore budget, 2023–24), NSG’s role in counter-terrorism, and Army’s Agnipath scheme.

Aspirants should study official reports (e.g., MHA Annual Report) and recent operations for essay and interview prep.

Conclusion

The Indian Armed Forces, CAPFs, and Special Forces form the backbone of India’s security, ensuring protection against diverse threats. From the Army’s border defence to NSG’s counter-terrorism, each plays a vital role. Explore more defence news on indiandefencenews.org for updates on systems like the S-400 or INS Vikrant.

FAQs on Indian Defence Forces

What is the difference between CAPFs and Armed Forces?
CAPFs (MHA) focus on internal security and border guarding; Armed Forces (MoD) handle external defence and warfare.

Which is the largest CAPF?
CRPF, with ~325,000 personnel, is the largest, aiding law and order and anti-Naxal operations.

What are Special Forces?
Elite units like Para SF, MARCOS, and NSG, trained for high-risk, specialized missions.

How to prepare for UPSC questions on security forces?
Study MoD/MHA reports, recent operations, and organizational structures. Follow indiandefencenews.org for updates.

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Tuesday, May 13, 2025