Since independence India has taken long steps forward in the field of science and technology. This advance is to be noted in the fields of agriculture, medicine, electronics and many others. But India’s achievement has been most spectacular in the field of defence.
The main objective or aim of India’s defence policy is promoting and sustaining durable peace in the sub-continent and equipping the defence forces adequately to safeguard against foreign aggression.
It was April 11, 1999 when India successfully testified to extend the range of AGNI-11; AGNI-1 was successfully launched on May 22, 1989. The then Defence Minister said Agni-11 was perfectly launched at 9.47 a.m. from a new launching site (lc- 4 at Wheeler Island) on the Orissa coast. The two stage missile, carrying a substantial payload, reached the point of impact in 11 minutes as scheduled, he said.
It is surface to surface, intermediate range ballisticmissile (IRBM). The salient features of the test firing are demonstration of mobile launch capability, solid-solid propulsion system, range in excess of 2000 kilometers, features designed to carry special pay-load; state of art navigation, guidance and control systems and sophisticated on-board packages including advanced communication interface.
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The most significant aspect of the test-firing is the usage of solid fuel as a propellant. Launched exactly 11 months after the Shakti series of nuclear tests in Pokhran last May, Agni-11 is said to have a one-tonne pay- load. It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons. The Agni technology demonstrator was last tested in 1994 with solid liquid fuel configuration.
The missile is equipped global positioning system (GPS) in order to improve its accuracy or reduce the circular error of probability in military parlance. It means that the missile’s on the board computer during its flight gets inputs from the satellites to home in on the designated target.
After the multiple nuclear tests at Pokhram, India needed a delivery system with a range of 2000 km. and beyond to complete its credible minimum nuclear deterrent profile the second flight of Agni-11 has resolved this issue to some extent and for once India’s minimum deterrent concept looks credible.
Now we have reached the point of operationalisation of Agni- 11 as a weapon system. According to analysis Agni-11 is now ready for production and that no more tests are needed. Now India has become a firm member of world missile club. Our country situated between two nuclear countries makes us to be strong to defend our countrymen. So we must increase our capacity of defence more and more.
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The launching of Agni-11 shows that India will not stop taking steps to safeguard her national independence. Thus, in the field of defence research, India has achieved great success and owing to defence scientists, India, today is in the short list of some developed nations of the world who have capabilities to produce modern defence arsenals.