From: gnreddy@cbnewsf.att.com (G.Narotham Reddy)
Subject: India to induct Prithvi Ballistic Missile into its Air Force
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 92 21:04:41 GMT


Source    : Indian Express, Oct 9, 1992
Country   : India
 
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New Delhi - Prithvi SS-250 medium range ballistic missile (MRBM),
undergoing technical trials, will be given to the Air Force. Its
integration, however, into the service is unlikely before 1995,
according to authoritative sources.
	With an expected range of 250 km and warhead weighting 500 kg,
MRBM is likely to be employed for strategic targeting. The concept as
being evolved by the Air Force is likely to utilise the missile more
for disruption than destruction of strategic targets of both military
and political significance. This implies that accurate targets
analysis permitting, the MRBM can be used for destruction.
	A more probable utilisation would be a combined strike on
strategic targets. While the MRBM would be aimed to disrupt the enemy
air defence and communication systems, the heavy fixed wing strike
aircraft can then undertake mission in a relatively less hostile
environment, scaling down own aircraft losses.
	Much will, however, depend upon the accuracy and the terminal
effect of the missile system. The measure of the missile accuracy is
the Circular Error Probability (CEP), which is the area around the
target where maximum missiles are expected to land. The Air Forces
expects a CEP of 20* meters, which may be difficult to achieve, given a
top professional assessment that the defence research and
development(DRDL), responsible for Prithvi, is unlikely to get less
than 100 meters CEP.
	For the required missile terminal effect, the Air Force has
shown preference for cluster-munition. This is also indicative that it
is likely to be used more in the disruption role. However, it is
pointed out that as a tactical nuclear warhead is not envisaged, a
conventional warhead would require that each sub-munition itself be
optimised.
	Only when these technical requirements of the service are met,
will the missile costing over Rs 2 crore each, be cost-effective. For
the present, only one technical trials of the MRBM, the eighth and
recent launch of Prithvi has been successfully conducted.
	While the earlier seven launches of Prithvi SS-150
battle-support missile to be given to the Army, would have validated
various developmental systems and sub-systems common to both missile
versions, user trials of the semi-mobile missile are still a long way.
	Meanwhile, Air Force has already initiated work on the
organisation required for the missile system. As the Air Force and
Navy, unlike the Army, have organizations centered around the weapon
systems rather than manpower, the induction of the MRBM would require
additional committed combatant and non-combatant strengths and
maintenance infrastructures, requiring Government sanction. This would
over and above the Government ceiling of 45 squadrons mandated for the
Air Force.
	Although the Air Force is used to handling liquid propellent, 
as in SAM-2, it will require top command decision to whether accept Prithvi 
in pre-packed fuelled state or that liquid propellent be kept in containers. 
According to the DRDO, the life of pre-packed propellent is five years, 
against 25 years for propellent given in containers. While the former is 
advantageous from the point of readiness, five years may be too less a 
period for life of the missile system.
	Sources say a middle solution of working some percentage of
both types of propellent using missiles is the most likely option.
	With the induction of this strategic missile, the much propped
role of the Air Force as a tactical force stands punctured.
	This missile would require strategic reconnaissance, whether 
air or space based.

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