India has tested a 1,000 kg indigenously-developed glide bomb, which successfully hit a target 100 km away, in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast, making the country self-reliant in guided precision bombs.
K Santhanam, a retired Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist, on Monday accused former Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar of 'ignoring facts' about the yield of the nuclear tests done at Pokhran in May 1998, calling him 'a liar' motivated by institutional loyalties.
India succefully test-fired a 3,000-km Agni-III missile on April 12 this year.
BrahMos is unique among cruise missiles due to its 2.8 Mach supersonic speed (all other cruise missiles are sub-sonic at present) and much-longer strike range.
Santhanam also sought to counter claims by Narayanan and others in the establishment that he was not privy to the test measurements and information on Pokhran-II tests.
Former Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist K Santhanam, who had questioned the success of the thermonuclear device during the Pokhran-II tests, has favoured an inquiry to determine the results of the 1998 experiments, saying creation of nuclear power could not be based on myths.
India does not need to carry any more nuclear tests, Atomic Energy commission chief Anil Kakodkar said on Wednesday in the backdrop of the controversy over whether the 1998 Pokhran thermo-nuclear explosion was a fizzle.
'There is a change in the administration in the United States of America. They are bound to further pressurise India to sign the CTBT. In such an event it was necessary to make such a statement or speak the truth on the issue so that India does not rush into signing the CTBT.'
Highly placed sources said the test firing could take place any time this month.
The missile, weighing 650kg, can carry a 50kg payload over a distance of 25km.
It was the naval version of Prithvi, which has a range of 250 to 300 km.
Immediately after exploding, it emits gas which causes breathing difficulty and irritation in eyes.
Another proposal of the army and the IAF for the procurement of 55 low level light weight radars was also cleared by the DAC for Rs 419 crore.
A message board on the successful launch of Agni-III
Chief Controller (R&D) Dr W Selvamurthy told reporters in Bangalore that about 10 people from the US have been joining DRDO each year and the trend is growing.
Santhanam recently stirred a controversy claiming that the nuclear tests done in 1998 were not successful as projected at that time.
"This is the picture of ground zero where the thermo-nuclear device was detonated in May 1998 in Pokharan. No crater was found at all! This picture tells the story that we have to do more homework. Indeed, we have to do more honest homework." said K Santhanam, former Defence Research and Development Organisation scientist dramatically holding the picture in his hand in the press conference held in New Delhi.
The statement said that the antibody's development had been completed and that the institute was in the process of patenting the find 'and in the next stage, researchers will approach international companies to produce the antibody on a commercial scale'.
The supersonic anti-ship cruise missile was jointly developed by India and Russia.
India is ready to export missiles to countries whose names are cleared by the government, top DRDO scientist S Prahlada has said, disclosing that trade inquiries have been received from at least five nations. Though Prahlada did not name the missiles, which could be offered in world market but sources said that India could place Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile Brahmos and recently tested surface-to-air missile Akash for sale.
The indigenously built multi-target missile has a range of 25km and is one of the five missiles under various stages of development by the DRDO.
The K-15 missile, which has a range of 700 km, was test-fired from an undersea launcher.
DRDO scientists, who conducted the test, described it as a user's trial.
State-run Kerala High-tech Industries Ltd (KELTEC) is all set to become part of the Indo-Russian joint venture cruise missile project, BrahMos Aerospace.
On Saturday, the aircraft made its first landing on the deck of INS Vikramaditya which was also a major milestone. Both the landing and take off by the aircraft put India among a select group of nations having the capability to design such a jet which can operate from an aircraft carrier.
The sophisticated multi-target missile was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 1230 IST.
The failure of the BrahMos missile during a recent test was due to a "software glitch" and the Defence Research and Development Organisation is doing a number of simulations and tests to ensure that it does not recur, A Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Executive Officer of the BrahMos Aerospace, said on Monday.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has prepared the design of the aircraft while HAL is producing the engine and other parts.
India on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously-developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II and Dhanush ballistic missiles in separate trials, boosting the armed forces' operational readiness.
The bone of contention is the 450-seat convention centre built in the new DRDO building behind South Block at an additional cost of Rs 6.40 crore which has been taken objection to by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hoisted the national flag and addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort. He said that it was an occasion to remember freedom fighters who laid down their lives for the freedom of the country.
While Pakistan enjoys rough parity with India in legacy weapon systems, it is beginning to enjoy superiority in drone warfare, thanks to the RPVs supplied by China, explains Ajai Shukla.
The sleek 3.8 metre high missile has a striking range of 25 to 40 km.
Out of its 47 operational satellites, India currently has six to eight satellites which are used entirely for military purposes.
For the second time in a month, the Block II version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile with a striking range of 290 km, successfully hit its target during a test at the Pokhran firing range on Sunday. After today's test, officials said the development phase of the Block II version of the missile was over and it was ready for induction in the Army. They said the mission objectives of the test had been completely fulfilled.
The Akash missile systems have over 96 percent indigenous components and the weapon can hit targets at a range of 25 km.
The main objectives of test-firing were to validate safe separation of the missile from the parent aircraft, effect of missile plume on engine air-intake, functionality of store management system, including safety interlocks, effect of missile plume on composites structures and handling quality assessment during missile launch.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances