India Successfully Test-Fired New Version of Nuclear-Capable surface-to-surface Missile, “Shaurya”

On October 3, 2020, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired a new version of indigenously developed canister launched hypersonic nuclear-capable Shaurya missile from the Abdul Kalam Island test range off Dhamra, Odisha to a target in Bay of Bengal. Earlier on September 30, 2020, India successfully tested surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missile BrahMos. Click Here to Read.  

• Shaurya, a surface-to-surface medium range missile is a land version of Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) K-15 (B-05) and can be used by both the Navy and the Army.
• It should be noted that while BrahMos is regarded as the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world, Shaurya is also considered as one of the top 10 missiles in the world in its class, as per DRDO.

Features of Shaurya:

• Length: 10-metre
• Strike range: 800-1900 kilometres (approximately)
• Weight: 6.2 tonne 
• Payload: Up to one tonne(1,000 kilograms)
• Speed:  7.5 Mach (seven and half times more the speed of sound)

Key Points:

–The Shaurya missile is equipped with multiple advanced computing technology and high accuracy navigation, efficient propulsion, sophisticated control and guidance systems.

–Designed and developed by DRDO, it can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads. 

–Notably, Shaurya is difficult to track by radars as the window for detection, tracking and interception is only 400 seconds. Also it cannot be detected by satellite imaging

Points to be noted:

-Hypersonic missiles travel at speeds faster than at speeds above Mach 5.

-Supersonic cruise missiles travel at a speed of around 2-3 Mach.

The countries of the United States (US), Russia and China have expertised in developing manoeuvring hypersonic missiles that are extremely hard to track. To join the race with these nations, India is also taking steps in developing ultra-modern weapons that can travel six times faster than the speed of sound in air, and to achieve the aim of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self reliance).

Recent Related News:

i.In August 2020, Iran has inaugurated a locally made surface-to-surface ballistic missile, called Martyr Qassem Soleimani, which has a range of 1,400 kilometers-km (870- mile) and a new cruise missile, called Martyr Abu Mahdi which has a range of over 1000 km(620-mile).

ii.On August 4, 2020, the United States (US) Air Force conducted a scheduled test launch of an LGM-30G Minuteman III, an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) carrying a load of three unarmed reentry vehicles, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, US to a target in the Pacific Ocean.

About Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO):
Chairman – G Satheesh Reddy
Headquarters– New Delhi