Defence Research and Development Organisation The Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) is an agency of the Republic of India , responsible for the development of technology for use by the military , headquartered in New Delhi , India . It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production with the Defence Science Organisation . DRDO has a network of 52 laboratories which are engaged in developing defence technologies covering various fields , like aeronautics , armaments , electronic and computer sciences , human resource development , life sciences , materials , missiles , combat vehicles development and naval research and development . The organization includes more than 5 , 000 scientists and about 25 , 000 other scientific , technical and supporting personnel . History . Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) was established in 1958 by amalgamating the Defence Science Organisation and some of the technical development establishments . A separate Department of Defence Research and Development was formed in 1980 which later on administered DRDO and its 50 laboratories / establishments . Most of the time the Defence Research Development Organisation was treated as if it was a vendor and the Army Headquarters or the Air Headquarters were the customers . Because the Army and the Air Force themselves did not have any design or construction responsibility , they tended to treat the designer or Indian industry at par with their corresponding designer in the world market . If they could get a MiG 21 from the world market , they wanted a MiG 21 from DRDO . DRDO started its first major project in surface - to - air missile s ( SAM ) known as Project Indigo in 1960s . Indigo was discontinued in later years without achieving full success . Project Indigo led to Project Devil , along with Project Valiant , to develop short - range SAM and ICBM in the 1970s . Project Devil itself led to the later development of the Prithvi missile under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program ( IGMDP ) in the 1980s . IGMDP was an Indian Ministry of Defence program between the early 1980s and 2007 for the development of a comprehensive range of missiles , including the Agni missile , Prithvi ballistic missile , Akash missile , Trishul missile and Nag Missile . In 2010 , then defence minister A . K . Antony ordered the restructing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) to give ' a major boost to defence research in the country and to ensure effective participation of the private sector in defence technology ' . The key measures to make DRDO effective in its functioning include the establishment of a Defence Technology Commission with the defence minister as its chairman . The programs which were largely managed by DRDO have seen considerable success with many of the systems seeing rapid deployment as well as yielding significant technological benefits . DRDO has achieved many successes since its establishment in developing other major systems and critical technologies such as aircraft avionics , UAV s , small arms , artillery systems , EW Systems , tanks and armoured vehicles , sonar systems , command and control systems and missile systems . Projects . Aeronautics . Avionics . The DRDO ' s avionics program has been a success story with its mission computers , radar warning receivers , high accuracy direction finding pods , airborne jammers and flight instrumentation in use across a wide variety of Indian Air Force aircraft . The organization began developing these various items for its upgrades , and for the LCA project . Variants were then developed for other aircraft . The lead designer in several of these efforts has been DARE , or the Defence Avionics Research Establishment , DRDO ' s designated mission avionics laboratory . Other laboratories have also chipped in , from the radar specialist LRDE , to electronic warfare focused DEAL to the ADE , which develops UAVs and flight control systems . The DRDO is also co - developing more advanced avionics for the Light Combat Aircraft and the IAF ' s combat fleet . These include a range of powerful Open Architecture computers , better defensive avionics including modern RWR ' s , self - protection jammers , missile approach warning systems and integrated defensive suites , optronics systems ( such as infrared search and track systems ) and navigational systems such as Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial navigational systems . Other items under development include digital map generators , helmet mounted displays and smart multifunctional displays . Other Hindustan Aeronautics programs . Apart from the aforementioned upgrades , DRDO has also assisted Hindustan Aeronautics with its programs . These include the HAL Dhruv helicopter and the HAL HJT - 36 . Over a hundred LRU ( Line Replaceable Unit ) ' s in the HJT - 36 have come directly from the LCA program . Other duties have included assisting the Indian Air Force with indigenization of spares and equipment . These include both mandatory as well as other items . Unmanned aerial vehicles . The DRDO has also developed two unmanned aerial vehicles - the Nishant ( " Midnight " ) tactical UAV and the Lakshya ( " Target " ) Pilotless Target Aircraft ( PTA ) . The Lakshya PTA has been ordered by all three services for their gunnery target training requirements . Efforts are on to develop the PTA further , with an improved all digital flight control system , and a better turbojet engine . The Nishant is a hydraulically launched short - ranged UAV for the tactical battle area . It is currently being evaluated by the Indian Navy and the Indian Paramilitary forces as well . The DRDO is also going ahead with its plans to develop a new class of UAVs . These draw upon the experience gained via the Nishant program , and will be substantially more capable . Referred to by the HALE ( High Altitude Long Endurance ) and MALE ( Medium Altitude Long Endurance ) designations . The MALE UAV has been tentatively named the Rustom , and will feature canards and carry a range of payloads , including optronic , radar , laser designators and ESM . The UAV will have conventional landing and take off capability . The HALE UAV will have features such as SATCOM links , allowing it to be commanded beyond line of sight . Other tentative plans speak of converting the LCA into a UCAV ( unmanned combat aerial vehicle ) , and weaponizing UAVs . Indigenisation efforts . DRDO has been responsible for the indigenization of key defence stores and equipment . DRDO has assisted Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd and the IAF with the indigenization of spares and assemblies for several aircraft . DRDO laboratories have worked in coordination with academic institutes , the CSIR and even ISRO over projects required for the Indian Air Force and its sister services . DRDO ' s infrastructure is also utilized by other research organizations in India . Armaments . DRDO often cooperates with the state owned Ordnance Factories Board for producing its items . These have led to issues of marginal quality control for some items , and time consuming rectification . Whilst these are common to the introduction of most new weapons systems , the OFB has had issues with maintaining the requisite schedule and quality of manufacture owing to their own structural problems and lack of modernisation . Criticism directed at the OFB is invariably used for the DRDO , since the users often make little distinction between the developer and the manufacturer . OFB has got more access to funding in recent times , and this is believed to have helped the organization meet modern day requirements . Even so , India ' s state owned military apparatus provides the bulk of its ammunition . The DRDO has played a vital role in the development of this ability since the role of private organizations in the development of small arms and similar items has been limited . A significant point in case is the INSAS rifle which has been adopted by the Indian Army as its standard battle rifle and is in extensive service . There have been issues with rifle quality in usage under extreme conditions in the heat , with the OFB stating that it will rectify these troubles with higher grade material and strengthening the unit . Prior troubles were also dealt with in a similar manner . In the meantime , the rifle has found favour throughout the army and has been ordered in number by other paramilitary units and police forces . In recent years , India ' s booming economy has allowed the OFB to modernise with more state funding coming its way , to the tune of 400 million invested during 2002 - 07 . The organization hopes that this will allow it to modernise it ' s infrastructure ; it has also begun introducing new items , including a variant of the AK - 47 and reverse engineered versions of the Denel 14 / 20 mm anti - material rifles . In the meantime , the DRDO has also forged partnerships with several private sector industrial partners , which have allowed it to leverage their strengths . Successful examples of this include the Pinaka MBRL , which has been assisted significantly by two private developers , Larsen and Toubro Ltd . as well as TATA , apart from several other small scale industrial manufacturers . The DRDO ' s various projects are as follows : Explosives . Chemical Kit for Detection of Explosives ( CKDE ) . A compact , low - cost and handy explosive detection kit has been designed and perfected for field detection of traces of explosives . The kit yields a colour reaction , based on which explosives can be detected in minutes . It is used for identification of all common military , civil and home - made explosive compositions , and is being used by Police and BSF for the detection of explosives . Explosive Detection Kit ( EDK ) . In what might be termed as " reverse technology transfer " , Explosive Detection Kit widely used in India by bomb detection squads and the armed forces since 2002 , would be manufactured and sold in the US . It is based on principles of color chemistry and the kit uses reagent s to detect explosive types by resulting colors . The kit would be manufactured and sold in the US and other parts of the world by South Carolina - based Crowe and Company LLC under a technology transfer agreement . A few drops of four reagents contained in four vials can detect explosives based on TNT , RDX , dynamite , and black powder within minutes with no more than 3 to 5 milligrams of the suspected sample . It also does not require field calibration , power or peripheral devices . Indian CL - 20 Explosive . A new high explosive is in the making at a DRDO lab that could replace other standard explosives of the armed forces such as RDX , HMX , FOX - 7 and Amorphous Boron . Scientists at the Pune - based High Energy Materials Research Laboratory ( HEMRL ) have already synthesised an adequate quantity of CL - 20 , the new explosive , in their laboratory . The powerful explosive can substantially reduce the weight and size of the warhead while packing much more punch . The compound , ' Indian CL - 20 ' or ' ICL - 20 ' , was indigenously developed in HEMRL using inverse technology . CL - 20 , so named after the China Lake facility of the Naval Air Weapons Station in California , US , was first synthesised by Dr Arnold Nielson in 1987 . CL - 20 or Octa - Nitro - Cubane is a Nitramine class of explosive 15 times as powerful as HMX . HMX itself is more than four times as potent as RDX . CL - 20 - based Shaped Charges significantly improve the penetration of armor and could potentially be used in the bomb for the 120 - mm main gun mounted on the MBT Arjun tanks . The CL - 20 , due to its reduced sensitivity enables easy handling and transportation and reduces the chances of mishap and loss to men , money , materials and machines . Tank armament . DRDO ' s ARDE also developed other critical systems , such as the Arjun Main Battle Tank ' s 120 mm rifled main gun and is presently engaged in the development of the armament for the Future IFV , the " Abhay " . The DRDO is also a member of the trials teams for the T - 72 upgrade and its fire control systems . Earlier on , the DRDO also upgraded the Vijayanta medium tank with new fire control computers . Electronics and computer sciences . Radars . The DRDO has steadily increased its radar development . The result has been substantial progress in India ' s ability to design and manufacture high power radar systems with locally sourced components and systems . This began with the development of short - range 2D systems ( Indra - 1 ) and has now extended to high power 3D systems like LRTR intended for strategic purposes . Several other projects span the gamut of radar applications , from airborne surveillance ( AEW & C ) to firecontrol radars ( land based and airborne ) . The DRDO ' s productionised as well as production - ready radar systems include : Apart from the above , the DRDO has also several other radar systems currently under development or in trials , these include : Command and control software and decision - making tools . Other programs in development for the Army include Corps level information and decision making software and tools , intended to link all units together for effective C3I . These systems are in production at DRDO ' s production partner , Bharat Electronics Limited . These projects are being driven by the Indian Army Corps of Signals . The Indian Army is also moving towards extensive use of battlefield computers . DRDO has also delivered projects such as the Combat Net Radio for enhancing the Army ' s communication hardware . Computing technologies . DRDO has worked extensively on high speed computing given its ramifications for most of its defence projects . These include supercomputers for computational flow dynamics , to dedicated microprocessor designs manufactured in India for flight controllers and the like , to high speed computing boards built around Commercial Off The Shelf ( COTS ) components , similar to the latest trends in the defence industry . Laser Science & Technology Centre ( LASTEC ) . DRDO is working on a slew of directed energy weapons ( DEWs ) . LASTEC has identified DEWs , along with space security , cyber - security and hypersonic vehicles as focus areas in the next 15 years . The aim is to develop laser - based weapons , deployed on airborne as well as seaborne platforms , which can intercept missiles soon after they are launched towards India in the boost phase itself . These will be part of the ballistic missile defence system being currently developed by DRDO . LASTEC is developing a 25 - kilowatt laser system to hit a missile during its terminal phase at a distance of 5 – 7 km . LASTEC is also working on a vehicle - mounted gas dynamic laser - based DEW system , under project Aditya , which should be ready in three years . Project Aditya is a technology demonstrator to prove beam control technology . Ultimately , solid - state lasers would be used . LASTEC projects include : Non - Lethal systems : Lethal Systems : Combat vehicles & engineering . Modification of BMP - 2 series . India license manufactures the BMP - 2 with local components . The vehicle has been used as the basis for several locally designed modifications , ranging from missile launchers to engineering support vehicles . The DRDO and its various labs have been instrumental in developing these mission specific variants for the Indian Army . Naval research and development . Sonars . DRDO , BEL and the Indian Navy have developed and productionized a range of sonar s and related systems for the Indian Navy ' s frontline combat ships . These include : Other sonars such as the airborne sonar Mihir are in trials , whilst work is proceeding apace on a new generation of sonars . Sonars may be considered one of DRDO ' s most successful achievements as the Indian Navy ' s most powerful ships rely on DRDO made sonars . The standard fit for a front line naval ship would include the HUMSA - NG hull mounted sonar and the Nagan towed array sonar . The Mihir is a dunking sonar meant for use by the Naval ALH , working in conjunction with its Tadpole sonobuoy . The Panchendriya is in production for the Kilo class submarine upgrades . Torpedoes . DRDO is currently engaged in developing multiple torpedo designs . These include a lightweight torpedo that has been accepted by the Navy and cleared for production . Under development . The DRDO also developed and productionised a microprocessor controlled triple tube torpedo launcher for the Indian Navy as well as a towed torpedo decoy . Other projects . These have included indigenisation of various components ( for instance , adsorbent material for submarines , radar components , naval ship signature reduction efforts and materials technology ) . DRDO has played a significant role in the development of warship grade steel in India and its productionisation . DRDO has also assisted private industry in developing EW trainers , ship simulators for training and health monitoring systems for onboard equipment . Other equipment for the Navy includes underwater telephone sets , and VLF communication equipment , for the Navy ' s submarines . DRDO ' s IRDE has also developed optronic fire control systems for the Navy ' s and the Coast Guard ' s ships . Information command and control systems . DRDO ' s labs have been part of projects to develop sophisticated command and control systems for the Navy , such as the EMCCA ( Equipment Modular for Command and Control Application ) which ties together various sensors and data systems . The EMCCA system gives commanders on the ship a consolidated tactical picture and adds to the ship ’ s maritime combat power . DRDO labs are also engaged in supporting the Navy ' s ambitious naval enterprise wide networking system , a program to link all naval assets together via datalinks , for sharing tactical information . Mines and targets . Three kinds of mines , processor based mine , moored mine and processor based exercise mine are in production for the Navy . Targets developed for the Navy include a static target called the Versatile Acoustic target and a mobile target called the programmable deep mobile target ( PDMT ) . Missile systems . Integrated Guided Missile Development Program ( IGMDP ) . The IGMDP was launched by the Indian Government to develop the ability to develop and design a missile locally , and manufacture a range of missile systems for the three defence services . The program has seen significant success in its two most important constituents - the Agni missile s and the Prithvi missile s , while two other programs , the Akash SAM and the anti - tank Nag Missile have seen significant orders . The Trishul missile , a program to develop a tri - service short - range SAM faced persistent problems throughout its development , and was shut down in 2007 . Prithvi ballistic missiles . The Prithvi ( ) missiles are a range of SRBM s produced for the Indian Air Force and Army ; a variant for the Navy has been deployed on Sukanya class patrol vessel . Another submarine - launched variant known as the K - 15 is under development . The Prithvi is an extremely accurate liquid fuelled missile with a range of up to 350 km . While relatively inexpensive and accurate , with a good payload , its logistics footprint is high , on account of it being liquid fuelled . Agni ballistic missiles . The Agni ( ) missiles are a range of MRBM s , IRBM s , ICBM s meant for long - range deterrence . The Agni - III is the newest version which is getting inducted into the armed forces and has range of up to . The Agni - I and Agni - II have been productionized , although exact numbers remain classified . First trials of the Agni - III saw problems and the missile test did not meet its objectives . The second test was successful . Further tests of the Agni - III are planned to validate the missile and its subsystems , which include new propellant and guidance systems , a new re - entry vehicle and other improvements . The Agni - V missile is an ICBM meant for long - range deterrence . The Agni - V is the newest version and has the longest range of up to 5000 – 6000 km . Agni - V would also carry Multiple Independent Re - entry Vehicles payloads and will have countermeasures against Anti - ballistic missile systems . It was successfully test fired on 19 April 2012 . The missile will utilize a canister and will be launched from it . Sixty percent of the missile will be similar to the Agni - III missile . Advanced technologies like ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer will be used in the new missile . DRDO plans to develop reusable missiles which will be a combination of ballistic and cruise missile technology . Akash SAM . The Akash ( ) is a medium - range surface - to - air missile system consisting of the command guided ramjet powered Akash along with the dedicated service specific launchers , battery control radar ( the Rajendra Block III ) , a Central Acquisition radar , battery and group control centers . . The Akash project has yielded spinoffs like the Central Acquisition radar and Weapon Locating radar . The Akash system cleared its user trials with the Indian Air Force in 2007 . The user trials had the Akash intercept flying targets at ITR , Chandipur . The Akash missile successfully hit its targets in all of the tests . The Indian Air force has since been satisfied with the performance of the missile and ordered two squadrons of the Akash , with a squadron having eight launchers The Indian Air Force placed an order for an additional six squadrons of the Akash SAM in 2010 , with an order of 750 missiles ( 125 per squadron ) . This order makes a total of a 1000 Akash SAMs on order for the Indian Air Force for eight squadrons . In June 2010 , the Defence Acquisition Council ( DAC ) placed an order of the Akash missile system , valued at . Bharat Dynamics Ltd ( BDL ) will be the system integrator and nodal production agency for the Akash Army variant . Trishul SAM . The Trishul ( , the weapon of Shiva ) is a short - range SAM meant for the Indian Army , Air Force and Navy . The Trishul project relied on equipment already in service with the Indian services , to drive down logistics costs , and reduce program development costs and development time . The Army variant , relied on a locally modified variant of the Signaal ( now Thales ) Flycatcher radar , integrated into a single launcher with a four missile pack , along with separate electronics for missile guidance . The Air Force variant separated the missile launchers on Kolos Tatra trucks , locally manufactured by India ' s BEML . The Naval variant was the most ambitious , with a flight control system with an integrated radar altimeter to intercept sea skimming missiles . The Trishul ' s guidance was Command Line of Sight with a three beam guidance system , which proved to be the bane of the project and caused repeated failures during trials . Due to the Trishul ' s persistent development problems the Indian Air Force , the Indian Army and the Indian Navy began upgrading their existing short - range SAM systems or purchasing replacements . The Indian Air Force has since procured batteries of the SPYDER SAM system and the Indian Army is upgrading its OSA - AKM / SA - 8 systems with Polish assistance . The Indian Navy has also moved on to the Barak 1 system . The Trishul program was effectively closed down in 2006 . It has been reported that key technologies developed in the program may be utilized in future systems . It has been reported that the experience gained from the Trishul program will be utilized for a brand new SAM known as the Maitri , which will be codeveloped with the European MBDA missile agency . Nag anti - tank missile . The Nag Anti - tank missile ( ) is a guided missile system intended for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army . The Army will deploy the Nag on ground based launchers and from helicopters , whereas the Air Force will rely on helicopter based units . The Nag has an Imaging Infrared ( IIR ) seeker and has a top and direct attack capability , with a tandem warhead . The Army ' s land missile carrier and launcher , known as the Namica , carries several ready to use Nag missiles within and four Nag missiles in an extendable launcher above the turret . The Namica has its own FLIR based sighting and fire control unit . The Air Force and Army will also use their Advanced Light helicopters ( ALH ) ( HAL Dhruv ) and the HAL Light Combat Helicopter ( LHC ) as Nag carriers . The ALHs will be equipped with IRDE ( DRDO ) developed HELITIS ( Heliborne Imaging and Targeting systems ) with a combination of a FLIR and laser range finder in a stabilized turret for target acquisition and designation . The thermal imager is likely to be imported , but the gimballed turret , stabilization , laser range finder and associated electronics have been designed in India and will be manufactured locally . The Nag ATGM is regarded as a highly capable missile , even though its development has been protracted , mainly due to the technological challenges of developing a state of the art IIR sensor equipped top attack missile . The Nag is still cheaper than most imported missiles in its category and is earmarked for the Army and Air Force . The Nag anti - tank guided missile was cleared for production in July 2009 and there are uncorroborated reports since that it may be purchased by Tanzania , Botswana and Morocco . The Nag will complement the existing Russian 9M113 Konkurs Anti - tank guided missile and European missile MILAN in Indian usage , both of which are manufactured under license by Bharat Dynamics Limited . Brahmos missile . Launched as a joint venture between India ' s DRDO and the Russian NPO , the BrahMos program aims at creating a range of missile systems derived from the Yakhont missile system . Named the " BrahMos " after the Brahmaputra and the Moskva rivers , the project has been highly successful . The Indian Navy has ordered the BrahMos Naval version , both slant - launched and vertically launched , for its ships ; the Indian Army has ordered two regiments worth of land - launched missiles for long - range strike ; and an air - launched version is in development for the Indian Air Force ' s Su - 30 MKIs and the Navy ' s Tu - 142 long - range aircraft . The DRDO has been responsible for the navigational systems on the BrahMos , aspects of its propulsion , airframe and seeker , plus its Fire Control Systems , Mobile Command posts and Transporter Erector Launcher . The hypersonic Brahmos 2 is to be developed as a follow on to the original Brahmos . The missile would still follow the guidelines of the MTCR but would fly at speeds of 5 - 7 Mach . BrahMos I Block - III An upgraded version of the 290 km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test fired by India on 2 December 2010 from Integrated Test Range ( ITR ) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast . " Block III version of BrahMos with advanced guidance and upgraded software , incorporating high manoeuvres at multiple points and steep dive from high altitude was flight tested successfully from Launch Complex III of ITR , " its Director S P Dash said after the test fire from a mobile launcher at 1100 hours . The 8 . 4 metre missile which can fly at 2 . 8 times the speed of sound is capable of carrying conventional warheads of up to 300 kg for a range of 290 km . It can effectively engage ground targets from an altitude as low as 10 metres for surgical strikes at terror training camps across the border without causing collateral damage . BrahMos is capable of being launched from multiple platforms like submarine , ship , aircraft and land based Mobile Autonomous Launchers ( MAL ) . The Block III BrahMos has the capability of scaling mountain terrain and can play a vital role in precision strike in the northern territories . The advanced cruise missile can fly close to the rough geographies and kill the target A five - year development timeframe is anticipated . Shaurya . The Shaurya missile ( ) is a canister - launched hypersonic surface - to - surface tactical missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) for use by the Indian Armed Forces . Similar to the BrahMos , Shaurya is stored in composite canisters , which makes it much easier to store for long periods without maintenance as well as to handle and transport . It also houses the gas generator to eject the missile from the canister before its solid propellant motors take over to hurl it at the intended target . Shaurya missiles can remain hidden or camouflaged in underground silos from enemy surveillance or satellites till they are fired from the special storage - cum - launch canisters . The Shaurya system will require some more tests before it becomes fully operational in two - three years . Moreover , defense scientists say the high - speed , two - stage Shaurya has high maneuverability which also makes it less vulnerable to existing anti - missile defence systems . It can be easily transported by road . The missile , encased in a canister , is mounted on a single vehicle , which has only a driver ’ s cabin , and the vehicle itself is the launch platform . This “ single vehicle solution ” reduces its signature – it cannot be easily detected by satellites – and makes its deployment easy . The gas generator , located at the bottom of the canister produces high pressure gas , which expands and ejects the missile from the tube . The centerpiece of a host of new technologies incorporated in Shaurya is its ring laser gyroscope ( RLG ) and accelerometer . The indigenous ring laser gyroscope , a sophisticated navigation and guidance system developed by the Research Center Imarat ( RCI ) based in Hyderabad is a highly classified technology . In test flights the RLG functioned exceptionally well . the RLG monitors the missile ’ s position in space when it is flying . The missile ’ s on - board computer will use this information and compare it with the desired position . Based on the difference between the missile ’ s actual and desired positions , the computer will decide the optimum path and the actuators will command the missile to fly in its desired / targeted position . The third test of the RLG was successful on 24 September 2011 , reaching a speed of 7 . 5 mach . It is now ready for production . Sagarika . The K - 15 Sagarika is a nuclear - capable submarine - launched ballistic missile belonging to the K Missile family with a range of 750 kilometres ( 466 mi ) . Sagarika can carry a payload of up to 500 kilograms ( 1 , 102 lb ) . Sagarika was developed at the DRDO ’ s missile complex in Hyderabad . This missile will form part of the triad in India ' s nuclear deterrence , and will provide retaliatory nuclear strike capability . The development of this missile ( under the title Project K - 15 ) started in 1991 . The Indian government first confirmed Sagarika ' s development seven years later ( 1998 ) , when the then Defence Minister , George Fernandes , announced it during a press conference . The development of the underwater missile launcher , known as Project 420 ( P420 ) , was completed in 2001 and handed over to the Indian Navy for trials . The missile was successfully test fired six times , and tested to its full range up to three times . The test of missile from a submerged pontoon was conducted in February 2008 . Sagarika is being integrated with India ' s nuclear - powered Arihant class submarine s that began sea trials on 26 July 2009 . Sudarshan . India ' s first laser - guided bomb , Sudarshan is the latest weapon system developed indigenously to occupy the niche of a precision delivery mechanism . It can be fitted to a 1000 pound gravity bomb and can guide it to the target using lasers with a CEP ( Circular Error Probability ) of 10 metres . Prahaar Missile . Prahaar is a solid - fueled surface - to - surface guided short - range tactical ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India . It would be equipped with omni - directional warheads and could be used for hitting both tactical and strategic targets . It has a range of about 150 km . It was test - fired successfully on 21 July 2011 from the Integrated Test Range ( ITR ) at Chandipur . Plans . Long - range SAM . India and Israel have worked out an agreement to develop and produce the long - range Barak 8 air defence system for both the Indian and the Israeli militaries . The initial co - development funding is about 350 million , of which IAI will finance 50 per cent . The venture is a tripartite one , between the DRDO , the Indian Navy , and IAI . The missile is referred to as the LRSAM in Indian Government literature , and will have a range of . Israel Aircraft Industries refers to the system as Barak - 8 . IAI states that the missile will have a dual pulse motor , is vertically launched and is able to engage both aircraft and sea skimming missiles . It has a fully active seeker , and the Barak - 8 Weapons system is capable of multiple simultaneous engagements . It will have a two way datalink for midcourse update , as well as be able to integrate into larger C3I networks . The primary fire control sensor for the naval Barak - 8 / LRSAM will be the ELTA MF - STAR Naval AESA radar which Israel claims to be superior to many existing systems worldwide . The dual pulse rocket motor for the SAM was developed by DRDO , and the prototypes were supplied to IAI for integration with IAI systems to develop the complete missile . The other variant of the LRSAM will be fielded by the Indian Air Force . Along with the Akash SAM , the LRSAM fills a longer range requirement and both types will complement each other . Each unit of the MR - SAM would consist of a command and control center , with an acquisition radar , a guidance radar and 3 launchers with eight missiles each . A 4 - year , 300 million System Design & Development phase to develop unique system elements and an initial tranche of the land - based missiles is estimated . The radars , C2 centers , TEL ' s and missiles will be codeveloped by Israel and India . In turn , IAI and its Israeli partners have agreed to transfer all relevant technologies and manufacturing capabilities to India allowing India to manufacture the LRSAM systems locally as well as support them . The Barak - 8 next generation long - range surface - to - air missile ( LR - SAM ) had its first test - flight on 29 May 2010 . Astra BVRAAM . Astra is a class , active radar guided missile meant for beyond visual range air to air combat . Several tests of the missiles basic propulsion and guidance have taken place from land based launchers . Air - launched trials will follow thereafter . Lightweight launcher DRDO has developed an indigenous 7 kg lightweight rocket launcher for the Indian army which will replace the 14 kg Carl Gustav Mark - II launcher which is much heavier than the DRDO - developed rocket launcher . The DRDO has made extensive use of composites in its construction , resulting in the reduced weight . Anti - Ballistic Missile Defence Project . Unveiled in 2006 , the ABM project was a surprise to many observers . While DRDO had revealed some details about the project over the years , its progress had been marked by strict secrecy , and the project itself was unlisted , and not visible among DRDO ' s other programs . The ABM project has benefited from all the incremental improvements achieved by the DRDO and its associated industrial partners via the long - running and often contentious Akash missile and Trishul missile programs . However , it is a completely new program , with much larger scope and with predominantly new subsystems . The ABM project has two missiles — namely the AAD ( Advanced Air Defence ) and PAD ( Prithvi Air Defence ) missiles . The former is an endo - atmospheric interceptor of new design , which can intercept targets to a height of . Whereas the latter is a modified Prithvi missile , dubbed the Axo - atmospheric interceptor ( AXO ) with a dedicated second stage kill vehicle for ballistic missile interception , up to an altitude of . Both these missiles are cued by an active phased array Long Range Tracking Radar , similar to the Elta GreenPine but made with locally developed components , which include DRDO - developed transmit / receive modules . The ABM system also makes use of a second radar , known as the Multi - Function Control Radar which assists the LRTR in classifying the target , and can also act as the fire control radar for the AAD missile . The MFCR , like the LRTR is an active phased array system . The entire system was tested in November 2006 , under the Prithvi Air Defence Exercise , when a prototype AXO missile , successfully intercepted another Prithvi missile at a height of . This test was preceded by an " electronic test " in which an actual target missile was launched , but the entire interceptor system was tested electronically , albeit no actual interceptor was launched . This test was successful in its entirety . The AAD Missile was tested on December 2007 which successfully intercepted a modified Prithvi missile simulating the M - 9 and M - 11 class of ballistic missiles . Interception happened at an altitude of . GATET engine . The Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) has launched a project in R & D in the area of gas turbines , a DRDO official said on April 2010 . Under the initiative of DRDO ' s Aeronautics Research and Development Board , R & D projects , which need investment in the region of to , would be considered for funding . GTRE was the nodal agency to spearhead this venture , called GATET Anti - satellite weapon . After testing the over 5 , 000 km Agni V missile , which went up to 600 km into space during its parabolic trajectory , the Defence Research and Development Organization ( DRDO ) now feels it can fashion deadly anti - satellite ( ASAT ) weapons in double - quick time . " An ASAT weapon would require to reach about 800km altitude . . . Agni V gives you the boosting capability and the ' kill vehicle ' , with advanced seekers , will be able to home into the target satellite , " DRDO chief , VK Saraswat said . The defence ministry in 2010 had even drafted a 15 - year " Technology Perspective and Roadmap " , which held development of ASAT weapons " for electronic or physical destruction of satellites in both LEO ( 2 , 000 - km altitude above earth ' s surface ) and the higher geosynchronous orbit " as a thrust area in its long - term integrated perspective plan under the management of DRDO . Consequently , defence scientists are focusing on " space security " to protect India ' s space assets from electronic or physical destruction . Another spin - off from Agni V test is that the DRDO feels it can work towards launching mini - satellites for battlefield use if an adversary attacks the country ' s main satellites . Communication - Centric Intelligence Satellite ( CCI - Sat ) . Communication - Centric Intelligence Satellite is an advanced reconnaissance spy satellite , being developed by DRDO . It will be India ' s first officially declared spy satellite and according to ISRO it should be in the sky by 2014 . This satellite will help Indian intelligence agencies to significantly boost surveillance of terror camp s in neighboring countries .