Wheelers Island - The home of India's Missile program

Wheelers Island -The launch site for India's Missile program

   

      A tiny island off the Orissa coast in the middle of the vast Bay of Bengal, the home of Indian military might, a place which has transformed into a world class missile range complex.  The island is the base for India’s mystical ‘Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP)’. An Island measuring around 2 kilometers in length and occupying more than 400 acres of land, the Wheeler’s Island is where India’s ambitious missile programs have taken course. It was in the early 1990’s that a team of leading scientists from DRDO started with the work of setting up a futuristic test range for supporting the nation’s ballistic missile program.

    The team was headed by the ‘Missile of India’, APJ Abdul Kalam a distinguished scientist under whom, India’s missile program had reached newer heights. The team also consisted of the celebrated missile scientists V K Saraswat and S K Salwan. With a need for dedicated military test range, the team zeroed in on a 160 square kilometre land mass close to the Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) at Chandipur. But to setup a base at the desired location, the government was required to vacate nearly 130 villages with a consolidated population of well over 100000 people.

      The government faced a strong opposition from the villagers to relocate from the villages and in 1995 the government decided to drop the idea of setting up a base in Chandipur and began the search for alternative locations with very minimal habitation and far away main lands. An able team led by V K Sarawat and S K Salwan was putting in charge of locating the land which would be far away from the lime light of society thus negating any negative concerns about the facility.

     The team initially concentrated on setting up a test base at Pokran test range, integral test range for Indian forces. But this was soon rejected considering the effect to the safety of the range. The team then began a long and grueling search for a desolate Island along the Eastern coast. DRDO then sought the help of Navy which came with hydrographic maps of the islands across the Eastern coast. The team then soon set its sight on a group of desolate islands close to ITR, Chandipur. The Islands were in fact Shoals composed mainly of soil, sand pebbles giving the opt environment for a test range. The six islands were spread across the vast ocean and were around 70 kilometers from Chandipur.

     Armed with the accurate hydrograpic maps courtesy of the Indian navy and with a directional compass and minimal knowledge about the exact location of the islands, the range team comprising of S K Salwan and V K Saraswat, set off in the search of the desolate islands after hiring a fishing boat from Dhamra port. The group of Islands on the map were designated as Long Wheeler, Coconut Wheeler and Small Wheeler. The search for the Islands was extremely and continued for a while until the team concluded that the Islands were lost in eternity, the Wheeler Island was just not traceable. It was then the team consulted the local fishermen who were accustomed to the vast ocean.

     The local fishermen, the real navigator of these turbulent seas directed the team to an island they called 'Chandrachud'. The former president ‘APJ Kalam’ has fond memory of the discovery of ‘Chandrachud’ and recalls the day saying “By the time ‘Chandrachud’ was discovered, it was late in the evening. The boatman refused to move at night and the team had to stay in the boat the whole night counting the stars”. The determined efforts of the range team had paid off and but the search for ‘the Wheelers’ continued, the team then consulted the navy to reconfirm the bearings of the land-mass, the hydrographers had termed as six islands. The team was elated to know that they in fact had landed on the mysterious ‘Small Wheeler Island’.

      An experienced team from DRDO then shortly began the survey of the Islands for setting up the much required and ambitious test range. The primary concern for the team was the erosion of the fine sand the Island was based on, the team then forwarded the proposal of setting up a fully fledged test and research range at the Islands. The government cleared the project thus paving way for India’s missile range. To avoid the concern of erosion, DRDO built a vast seawall along the island peripherals. Without a dedicated logistical solution the construction of a base was considered an uphill task for the DRDO. Plans of setting up a dedicated airbase were discussed initially but were later dropped considering the hostile environment prevailing around the range. The main logistical to the islands is the shipping lane which takes care of all the hardware required for successful completion of missions.

     The island is the theater of action for the DRDO missile scientists who have propelled India to new heights with the latest missiles technologies. The Wheeler base is now known an integral part of all strategic missile programs of India and also has witnessed the launch of conventional missiles. The first missile to be first from the range is the Agni-I and Agni-II. The missile range has now evolved to a world class missile testing facility. The base has witnessed the development and launch of Agni I-V, Prithvi missiles, the AAD program, Nirbhay cruise missile, the mighty BrahMos, Nag Anti-tank missiles, Akash and Trishul Surface to Air Missiles (SAM).

       The base has 4 Launch Complexes (LC) which serve as the nerve center for all launch programs. The main launch site for the strategic missiles is the LC-IV, which was established recently to test long range ICBM’s and IRBM’s. India’s ambitious interceptor program, AAD has also been test fired from the Wheelers base. The base has the latest tracking systems, the base is equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance radars. The base also employs the latest Electro-optical tracking system, S-band tracking radar, C-band tracking radar and telemetry band systems. For closely monitoring the launch programs the base has the latest range computer, meteorological systems and to attain safe launches also has the most advanced safety system.

      The facility has been possible because of the determinations of India’s quest to master the latest missile technology. DRDO has set a massive step forward to make India ‘Missile import free’ by 2020 and has promised to make India an leading exporter in missile technology. India today has some of the deadliest and accurate missile system in its arsenal and the ‘Wheelers base’ has been a key part of every mission. India’s most celebrated missile scientists be it, ‘The missile men of India’ “APJ Abdul Kalam”, ‘The missile women of India’ “Tessy Thomas’ or V K Saraswat have their own share of stories to be narrated about the base. India is gearing up for testing an salvo of newest missile technologies and ‘Wheelers Island’ will be the launch site, DRDO will propel India’s strategic capabilities to greater heights in the coming years.

Article - Karthik Kakoor

The Monster Agni 6

The Guardian Agni 6 

Artistic representation of Agni 6 with MIRV warheads

         An ambitious project of the DRDO is ready to take wings and with it the deterrence factor of India will reach new heights. With the country's sphere of influence growing the then Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik pitched for a delivery system that could break the ‘regional context’ and thus began DRDO’s conquest for the Agni 6 program.   

      A potent weapon system is about to be developed by the DRDO which will deliver a death blow to the enemies thousands of kilometres away. DRDO is heading full steam ahead with the Agni program and the reliable delivery system will this time be witnessing some breakthrough advancements which will result in Agni 6 with a speculated range of 10,000 kilometres. 

     The Agni 6 will feature MIRV warheads, which is a first for the Indian forces. At the press of a button the destruction of the enemy is guaranteed for the missile carries a 3 tonne nuclear warhead which if denoted will annihilate the enemy and drive them back to Stone Age. With the MIRV’s the warheads can easily out manoeuvre the enemy BMD systems and equipped with chaff systems and ECM systems the interception of the missile will be extremely unlikely.  

         The success of Agni 5 paved the way for Agni 6 and DRDO is believed to have constituted the program from late 2009, for a ICBM providing ranges of 10000+ km. Mounted with six MIRV warheads, each capable of acquiring different targets, the missile can deliver either a conventional warhead or biological or nuclear warheads with pin point accuracy to the designated target.

       The missile will have a range of more than 10,000 kilometres and with this most of North America will come under the missile strike range. The missile will be an exo-atmospheric system and will make most of its flight in the space helping it to attain the required long range strike.  

          Agni6 completes most its flight in sub orbital trajectory which will help achieve the missile speed up to 6 kilometres per second. The Agni 6 is a three staged ballistic missile and will most probably be a solid propellant powered system. The first and the second stage will contain only the propulsion motors, the final and last stage will launch up to 10 MIRV and also decoy warheads. Agni 6 can carry warheads up to 3 tonnes and with the MIRV’s the missile system is surely a nightmare to the enemy.   

       A single missile can deliver enough fire power to the enemy territory to annihilate the country for years. The ABM shields will be a hindrance to the delivery system, China armed with the most advanced Russian developed S400 systems can counter this threat but with ten MIRV and decoy warheads hurtling the success rate of the S400 will reduce to a great extent and with repeated strikes the purpose will be served.

       Initially the existence of the Agni 6 program was never confirmed by DRDO nor had they declined the repeated reports circulating in the Media. But an expected breakthrough announcement came in May 2011 with the promotion of Shri Avinash Chander. A DRDO newsletter released read.

Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems)

“ Shri Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist, Programme Director, SFD and Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory has been appointed as Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) wef 3 May 2011. He is an eminent scientist in the field of Missiles and is the Chief Designer of Long-range missile system, with specific contribution in Agni programme management, mission design, guidance, navigation, simulation and terminal guidance. He has unique achievement of delivering and deploying three long-range Agni missile weapon systems viz, A1, A2 and A3.





Presently, he is leading three major system developments; A2p, a technologically challenging state-of-the-art system; a 5,000 km canister-launched A5 system; and a 6000 km A6 system with multiple warheads (MIRV) capable of launching both from the ground and underwater. “

       Thus the Agni 6 program was confirmed and the any strategic developments before materializing has to be put up before the government and only after the consent of the CCS will the project progress forward.

     But some recent reports mentioned that India already started the Agni 6 works and already completed the design works and waiting for Govt authorization to start the Project, since DRDO needs govt authorization to materialize any Strategic developments.

          India being a volunteer for no first strike policy any missiles homed in silos and mobile launchers are always vulnerable and an attack by the adversary may disable these missiles. But serving the real purpose of a second strike is the SLBM’s or simply the submarine launched ballistic missiles. Miniaturized missile systems will be fitted on the follow on Arihant SSBN’s and with these submarines submerged and floating silently thousands of kilometres away will surely work as the best platform for second strike scenario. The SLBM’s will also counter the submarine and aircraft carrier threats posed by the Chinese and can fire at the target with pin point accuracy.

          The Agni 6 may very well be developed into a ASAT missile, which is designed to neutralize enemy satellites which circle the orbits designated around a country and can hamper the operations of our forces. The use of any space oriented weapons has been banned by the International community. America, China, Russia and French are believed to posses ASAT missiles and America is the only country to have actually tested an ASAT.

          India strictly follows a “No first use policy” for nuclear weapons and will only retaliate if attacked and will annihilate the adversary”. The Agni 6 missiles are bound to take India to an exclusive club of nations which operate ICBM’s with 10000 kms. India will join America, Russia, France, UK and China.  

 Editor Karthik Kakoor

Infograph of Agni 6

MIRVed ICBM Launching method

A thermonuclear Warhead

Agni III IRBM

Agni III IRBM

Agni 3 Test Launch

      Agni Missile program, named after the fire god in Hindu tradition has for long been associated with the deterrence of our nation. The Agni program under which our country has developed a whole array of intercontinental ballistic missiles has turned to produce one most delivery systems for the Indian armed forces.

       The Agni program was conceived by around 1985 with the DRDO in charge of producing a delivery system that could help India realize its long awaited Missile program. DRDO has produced the most advanced and efficient missile systems under the program. The Agni team has time and again proved it might with repeated tests by the control authority, SFC (Strategic Forces). 

       The Interim Test Range in Chandipur is filled the most efficient scientists of the Organization. The launch pad and the control centre will stand witness to the work of this less known community tomorrow when one of their product takes to sky all their work and dedication. Agni 3 will be propelled to the skies from the ITR at around noon tomorrow as part of the user trial by the SFC.

         Agni III is a successor to the Agni II, the Agni III has an range of over 3500 KM.  The missile can carry 250 kiloton nuclear warheads which can cause ten times the destruction caused in Hiroshima. Agni III is one of the most reliable long range ballistic missile co-developed by DRDO and BDL. Agni III was designed specially strike enemy positions with a high degree of accuracy, which was way higher than the accuracy available in the other Agni variants. Agni III enjoys a CEP around 40 m which is one of the Best accurate missiles in IRBM kind.

       Agni III is SFC's primary nuclear strike missile, the missile can out manoeuvre even the most advanced anti ballistic missile systems. The user trial is being conducted by the SFC and DRDO will only provide any logical support to the campaign. SFC is cleared for launching missiles with nuclear warheads with the due permission of CCS. 

     Agni 3 comes with 2 ton either conventional or thermobaric munitions which is used for conventional warfare purpose and can be deployed anywhere in India using the TEL (Transport Erector Launcher). The missile system is believed to have reached up to 5000 km and is a all weather capable missile system.

The Solid Propellant powering the Agni 3 missile reduces the fuel maintenance and scheduled fuel change. The Agni III is a two stage missile. When the missile is launched from the range, it can attain an altitude of 350 kilometres within 13 minutes during which most of the parabolic path and the distance towards the designated target is completed. 

   The missile then re-enters the atmosphere after a exothermic flight and now travels at a speed of 7km per second the missile temperature shoots up to 3000 deg Celsius at this point most of the alloy materials can be melted, even Aluminum melts at this point, to avoid this the missile is developed by special material.

       Even the re-entry modules were developed by composite materials which can withstand more than 6000 degree Celsius, 

     The missile is guided by Inertial Navigation system that uses the GPS coordinates, after completion of IRNSS Navigation the system will follow IRNSS based co ordinates, currently India relies on the US system and if these systems are not provided to India by US the missile will be left without a reliable guidance system. The missile will then have to rely only on Radio frequency based terminal guidance which is not a reliable method and cannot guide the missile to the designated location.

       A submarine launch able variant of the Agni III was also developed by the DRDO. The first Test of Agni 3 which was carried out during 2006 had failed prove the reliability of the system after the missile plunged to the sea soon after liftoff. But DRDO has learns a lot from this test and has carried out three successful tests, which gives the Operational readiness of the Missile and is ready to be transferred to SFC.





         It was reported in 2011 that Agni 3 was inducted into SFC and was deployed in launch mode. SFC has conducted two user trials and both these tests have turned out to huge success. 

Agni 3 in TEL

50kg Therombaric Explosion

 Editor Karthik Kakoor