DRDO- Agni- II Ballistic Missile

Recently, DRDO ( Defence research and Development Organization ) has test fired surface-to-surface Agni- II ballistic missile successfully from the Abdul Kalam Island, off Odhisa coast.

Agni-II is two-stage nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile developed indigenously by DRDO. It is 21-metre long and weighs 17 tonnes. It has strike range of 2000 kilometres, which can also be increased to 3000km by reducing the payload. It is propelled by the solid rocket propellant system. It can carry a nuclear payload of 1 thousand kilograms. It is one of the sophisticated weapons that can act as a deterrent against nuclear-armed neighbours. It is equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system. It is guided by a novel scheme of state of the art command and control system. It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers and it takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing.

What is Ballistic Missile

A ballistic missile is a missile which follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver one or more warheads on a predetermined target. These weapons are only guided during relatively brief periods of flight—most of their trajectory is unpowered, being governed by gravity and air resistance if in the atmosphere. Shorter range ballistic missiles stay within the Earth's atmosphere, while longer-ranged intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), are launched on a sub-orbital flight trajectory and spend most of their flight out of the atmosphere.

About DRDO

It was established in the year of 1958. Its headquarter is in New Delhi. DRDO works under Department of Defence Research and Development of Ministry of Defence. DRDO dedicatedly working towards enhancing self-reliance in Defence Systems and undertakes design & development leading to production of world class weapon systems and equipment in accordance with the expressed needs and the qualitative requirements laid down by the three services. DRDO is working in various areas of military technology which include aeronautics, armaments, combat vehicles, electronics, instrumentation engineering systems, missiles, materials, naval systems, advanced computing, simulation and life sciences. DRDO while striving to meet the Cutting edge weapons technology requirements provides ample spinoff benefits to the society at large thereby contributing to the nation buliding. Vision Make India prosperous by establishing world-class science and technology base and provide our Defence Services decisive edge by equipping them with internationally competitive systems and solutions. Mission  Design, develop and lead to production state-of-the-art sensors, weapon systems, platforms and allied equipment for our Defence Services. Provide technological solutions to the Defence Services to optimise combat effectiveness and to promote well-being of the troops. Develop infrastructure and committed quality manpower and build strong technology base.

Core Competence  Deptt of Defence Research and Development (R&D) is working for indigenous development of weapons, sensors & platforms required by the three wings of the Armed Forces. To fulfill this mandate, Deptt of Defence Research and Development (R&D), is closely working with academic institutions, Research and Development (R&D) Centres and production agencies of Science andTechnology (S&T) Ministries/Deptts in Public & Civil Sector including Defence Public Sector Undertakings & Ordnance Factories. DRDO's Major Products/Technologies/ Programmes  Akash Missile System Air-Borne Telemetry Receiving System All Electric Type Weapon Control System for ICV Antenna Systems Bhima Biomedical Devices for Internal Use (Implants) Biomedical Devices for External Use Briefcase SATCOM Terminal Code Programme Diagnostic Products for Infection Imaging EOCM-Class Laser System Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) FSAPDS, Ammunition Indigenous X-Ray Industrial Tomography System Integrated Weapon System Simulation Kaveri Engine Lakshya Laser Warning Sensors Light Combat Aircraft Manipulator Arm MBT Arjun Missiles (Agni, Prithvi, Nag, Trishul, Akash) MMIC Model-Based Data Fusion Naval Weapon Systems Nishant Palmtop Green Microchip Laser Module Pan/Tilt Platform for Vision Systems Pinaka Radiation Protection Products Rajendra Radar Rapid Quantification & Detection Techniques for Pesticides In Fruits & Vegetables Recovery Parachute System Sangraha Sanyukta Special Materials Technology for Dengue Control Technology for Titanium Sponge Production Sources: DRDO, Ministry of Defence