Sample essay on India Prepares for Her Defense

It is rather a pity that while advanced countries are removing their long and short range missiles from their borders third world countries are making efforts to acquire or manufacture them. India is no exception to it. With Pakistan and China as her neighbors who attacked India three times in the past it has become obligatory for her to strengthen her defences. Acquiring perfection in the manufacture of missiles is a part of her defence strategy.

Since short range missiles are being supplied to the militants in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir Indian Ordnance factories have not lagged behmd in supplying these to the armed forces. But in case a war breaks out or even if a cold war continues as it does in the Kashmir Valley it becomes necessary to have medium range missiles that may be effective in an area of 20 to 30 kilometers.

The first test in this direction was done in 1988 with ‘Trishul’. It was at an early experimental stage and was followed by ‘Akash’. It was a medium range surface-to-air missile. It was launched at Chandipur, Orissa in 1990 and has a range of 25 kilometers. It is rather a good achievement and is expected to be manufactured commercially in the ordinance factories.

India gave a fitting reply to Pakistan in the 1965 war by breaking her dream of tank superiority. There were no anti tank missiles with India. The need was long felt. ‘Nag’ the first anti tank missile was successfully tested fired on November 29, 1990 from Test Range at Chandipur. It has an attack range of 4 kms. It can be launched from land based missile carriers. It can also be launched from helicopters.

The middle range missile was not the answer to our defence needs. We should be in a position to give an apt reply to the evil designs of Pakistan and to the changing strategy of China. It became necessary to cover the remotest parts of Pakistan and strategic areas of China through the development of long range missiles.

Our scientists developed ‘Prithvi’ the surface-to-surface missile. The first test was carried on 25th February, 1988. But the final goal was achieved by launching Prithvi SS-250 on September 26, 1989. It has a range of 300 km and is accurate up to a range of 500 meters.

‘Prithvi’ can be compared to the missiles of its class in the USA and the former USSR. But it does not meet our requirement of covering long distances in the neighboring countries. A surface-to-surface missile alone is not sufficient. We required an intermediate range Ballistic missile. It is a missile that can be launched from its earth base to boom in the atmosphere. Bouncing back to earth it attacks its target. ‘Agni’ the first such missile was to be launched on April 22, 1989. It did not take off. But the scientists launched it successfully on May 22—-just a month after the first failure. The 19 meter tall missile has the capability of carrying a 2.5 tones high explosive warhead or a light nuclear one too. Its range varies from 1500 kilometers to 2500 kilometers. It depends upon its pay load. It bounces back at a speed of 2.5 kilometers per second—eight times the speed of sound.

Besides the western powers India has some other competitors in IRBM. China possessed 125 having a range between 2000 and 4000 kilometers. Israel too has perfected one with a range of 1450 kms. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan are other Afro-Asian countries that have developed IRBMs. The Indian Air Chief declared that ‘Agni’ would be under the control of Indian Air Force.

Besides the missiles India has developed Nishant, a remotely piloted vehicle. It can carry a 45 kg payload and can fly with a speed of 150 km per hour for 5 hours. Its control is programmed.

Pinaka is another weapon system having 12 solid propellant rockets. It is placed on a specially built wheeled truck. It has a range of 40 km and can deliver many types of warheads-pre fragmented, incendiary or sub- munitions.

Rajendra is a multi-function phased Army Radar. It is critical for the surface-to-air missile Akash and the third generation Nag.

The Arjun Tank is the state-of-the-art flagship of Indian armour. It can move in the battlefield at 72 km per hour. It has laser range finder, computer based firing system, 12.7 mm machine gun and thermal sighting equipment.

LCA is an eight tonne state-of-the-art multi-role combat aircraft. It would be engaging air battle in a 600 km combat zone. It would carry laser-guided bombs, IR and radar guided missiles, anti-ship missiles, cluster bomb dispensers and EW Rods.

With apprehension from our neighbors India just cannot afford to take the risk of stopping at a stage already achieved by them. Unless there is an understanding like that of G7 or EC countries this sheer wastage will continue in the third world countries.