From: thiyagarajan@mims.enet.dec.com (RT)
Subject: India successfully launches nuclear capable missile
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 19:08:36 GMT


from clari.news.military

Article: 1156
	NEW DELHI, India (UPI) -- India appeared set to begin the production
of a short-range, nuclear-capable ballistic missile after yet another
successful test-launch Tuesday of the weapon system.
	Watched by Defense Minister Sharad Pawar and senior officials of the
country's military research and development program, the ground-to-
ground missile, named Prithvi, took off from a seaside test range in the
southeastern state of Orissa, according to the Indian defense ministry.
	This was the eighth test-launch of the Prithvi, or Earth, and
indicated that India was about to begin producing the missile for the
army, which intends to use it as a battlefield weapon to target
strategic sites and installations.
	The Prithvi, with a one-ton payload, can have a maximum range of 150
miles, according to its developer, the Defense Research and Development
Laboratory (DRDL).
	Sivathanu Pillai, a senior DRDL official, said the Prithvi would
beome available to the Army by next year.
	In a published interview, Pillai said India's ballistic missile
program was aimed at not only providing the Indian military with weapon
systems to deter the country's enemies, but also to generate exports.
	The DRDL so far has developed five missile systems. Like the Prithvi,
the ground-to-air Trishul, or the Arrow, is ready for commercial
production. The Akash, or Sky, an anti-tactical ballistic missile
modeled on the U.S. Patriot system, and the Nag (Snake), an anti-tank
rocket, are scheduled to go into commercial production in 1995.
	The Indian missile that has triggered the maximum international
concern is the Agni, or the Fire, an intermediate-range, surface-to-
surface missile which can carry a nuclear payload.
	India already has conducted two tests of the Agni, which has a range
capability of 1,500 miles. Originally developed as a deterrent against
China, the Agni is regarded as an important weapon system to help India
project power far beyond its borders.
	There has been some speculation that the Indian scientists also are
working on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). India
demonstrated a latent ICBM capability in 1980 by placing a satellite in
orbit.
	Pillai was quoted as saying that the Agni would help India develop
reentry technology for long-range military missions.
	Ballistic missiles are subject to great physical stress and heat when
they re-enter the earth's atmosphere. Re-entry technology is employed to
accurately guide a warhead to its target after the launched missile
returns to the earth's atmosphere.
	The Press Trust of India news agency reported last Sunday that Israel
has offered to sell cruise missile technology to India, with whom it
established full diplomatic ties in January. It quoted unidentified
Indian defense ministry officials as saying that an Israeli team visited
New Delhi recently to discuss the sale of pilotless aircraft technology.
	The technology for pilotless aircraft is the same as for cruise
missiles.
	India is trying to develop both cruise missiles for strategic
targeting and pilotless aircraft for reconnaissance, according to
international military analysts.