Types of Missiles

India is the first country in the world which has supersonic cruise missiles that can be fired from land, water and air.

Following are some major types of Missiles owned by India. The features and details are described:

Brahmos –

• Joint venture between India and Russia.
• Most advanced cruise missile.
• Named after Brahmputra(India) and Maskova(Russia) rivers.
• Length – 8-8.2 m, width 0.67m.
• Ramjet powered single warhead.
• Carries 200-300kg of warhead.
• Launch weight – 2200-3000kg.
• Max range – 300-500km.
• Can be launched from submarine, ship, land or air.
• Stealth features and deep dive capability.
• Hypersonic variant is under development that can attain a speed above mach5.

Prithvi missile

• Surface to surface short range ballistic missile.
• Made through DRDO integrated development program.
• 3 variants Prithvi 1,2,3.
• Prithvi 1 uses single stage liquid propellant.
• Max range 150km, Min range 40km.
• Carries warhead 500-1000kg.
• inducted in Indian Army in 1994.

Prithvi 2
Carries warhead 500-100kg.
Max range 250-350km.

Prithvi 3
2 stage short range ballistic missile, solid propellent motor.
Max range 350 -600km.
Carries Warhead 500-100kg.

Dhanush Missile

• 

  Variant of Prithvi 2 missile.

• Developed for Navy.
• Max range 350-750km.
• Carries 250-1000kg nuclear/ chemical high explosive warheads.
• First successful trial 5 oct 2012.

Agni Missile

• Long range, intercontinental, nuclear weapon capable, surface to surface, ballistic missile.
• 6varinats – Agni1,2,3,4,5,6

Agni1 and 2
medium range ballistic
range of agni1 – 700-1250km
range of agni 2 – 2000-3000km
range of agni 3 – 3500-5000km

Agnit 3 and 4
intermidiate range ballistic
range of agni4 – 3000-4000km

Agni5 and 6
intercontinental range ballistic
range of agni 5 – 5000-8000km
range of agni 6 – 8000 – 10000km under development