India's DRDO: Strategic & Tactical Weapon
Systems and Aerial Platforms
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) stands as India's foremost agency
for advancing defense capabilities. While its primary focus isn't full-scale aircraft manufacturing,
DRDO excels in developing critical subsystems, cutting-edge avionics, unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), combat drones, and sophisticated weaponization for rotary-wing aircraft. This document
provides a comprehensive overview of DRDO's significant contributions, including recent
hypersonic developments, a range of ballistic and cruise missiles, advanced air defense systems,
and the integration of next-generation technologies.
The newly unveiled BM-04 Hypersonic Ballistic Missile.
Hypersonic & Ballistic Missiles
BM-04 Hypersonic Ballistic Missile
• Type: Road-mobile, two-stage, canister-launched SRBM with boost-glide reentry vehicle
• Range: 400–1,500 km
• Warhead: 500 kg (conventional)
• Propellant: Solid fuel
• Accuracy: CEP < 30 m
• Platform: Uses IRNSS + GPS for navigation; weighs ~11,500 kg (m.economictimes.com)
• Speed: Hypersonic (Mach 5+) while gliding (m.economictimes.com)
Shaurya
• Type: Canisterised two-stage solid-fuel SRBM
• Range: ~700–1,900 km
• Warhead: 200–1,000 kg (conventional or nuclear)
• Speed: Up to Mach 7.5
• Guidance: Ring laser gyro INS with accelerometer
• Accuracy: CEP 20–30 m (en.wikipedia.org, prep4ias.com, en.wikipedia.org,
indiandefensenews.in)
Agni-series
• Agni-III: Two-stage solid-fuel IRBM; ~4,500 km range; CEP ~40 m (en.wikipedia.org)
• Agni-II: IRBM; 2,000–3,000 km; Mach ~12 (indiandefensenews.in)
• Agni-I: MRBM; 700–1,250 km; Mach 7.5 (indiandefensenews.in)
• Agni-IV: IRBM; ~4,000 km; Mach 7 (indiandefensenews.in)
• Agni-V: ICBM; ~5,000 km; Mach ~24; MIRV-capable (indiandefensenews.in)
Prahaar
• Type: Single-stage solid-fuel tactical ballistic missile
• Range: 150–200 km across variants
• Warhead: 250 kg; high-explosive or cluster
• Speed: Mach 4
• Guidance: FOG INS + GPS/NavIC; terminal radar homing; CEP ~10 m (en.wikipedia.org)
Prithvi-series
• Prithvi-I/II (liquid fuel): Range 150–350 km; CEP <50 m
• Prithvi-III (solid fuel): Range 350–750 km; CEP ~25 m (en.wikipedia.org)
Cruise & Anti-Ship Missiles
BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on a launch vehicle.
BrahMos
• Type: Supersonic cruise missile (liquid-fuel ramjet)
• Launch from: Ships, subs, aircraft, land
• Speed: Mach ~2.8–3
• Variants: Surface-to-surface, anti-ship, air-launched (range ~1,000–2,000 km)
(sputniknews.in)
Nirbhay
• Type: Subsonic cruise missile
• Range: ~1,000 km
• Weight: ~1,500 kg; payload 200–300 kg
Surface-to-Air & Air-Defense Systems
QRSAM
• Type: Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile
• Range: Up to 30 km; altitude ~14 km
• Speed: Mach ~4.7
• Warhead: 32 kg pre-fragmented
• Guidance: INS with data-link; active radar seeker; optical proximity fuze
• Launcher: 6-tube on 8×8 vehicle; integrated with phased-array radars (en.wikipedia.org,
drdoaeroindia2023.com)
VL-SRSAM
• Type: Vertical Launch Surface-to-Air Missile (naval & mobile)
• Range: 40–80 km
• Speed: Noted as supersonic (Mach 1+)
• Platforms: Ship-based and truck-mounted for frontline airbase defense (en.wikipedia.org,
m.economictimes.com)
BrahMos (anti-ship variant) & LRSAM/MRSAM
• LRSAM/MRSAM: Joint DRDO-Israel medium-range SAM; range ~70–80 km; active radar
seeker; thrust-vector control (sputniknews.in)
Air-to-Air Missiles
Astra
• Type: Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile
• Length: ~3.6–3.8 m; weight ~154 kg
• Range: 80–110 km (head-on 80 km, tail 20 km)
• Speed: Mach 4–4.5
• Guidance: Active radar homing; all-weather capability (indiandefensenews.in)
Anti-Tank & Man-Portable Missiles
NAG / HELINA / MPATGM
• NAG: Fire-and-forget anti-tank missile with tandem warhead; 0.5–4 km; IIR seeker
(drdoaeroindia2023.com)
• HELINA: Air-launched version with ~7 km range (vajiraoinstitute.com)
• MPATGM: Man-portable fire-and-forget missile; range 200 m–2.5 km; <15 kg missile and
launcher; 650 mm RHA capability (drdoaeroindia2023.com)
UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles)
The DRDO TAPAS BH-201 MALE UAV.
Nishant
• Type: Tactical UAV
• Developer: ADE, DRDO
• Launch System: Rail-launch (hydro-pneumatic)
• Recovery: Parachute
• Endurance: ~4.5 hours
• Range: ~160 km
• Payloads: Electro-Optic/IR sensors, SAR, COMINT
• Status: Retired after deployment with Indian Army
Rustom Series (Rustom-1, Rustom-H, TAPAS-BH-201)
• Type: MALE/HALE UAVs
• Developer: ADE
• Rustom-1
– Endurance: 12–15 hrs
– Range: 200 km LOS
– Altitude: ~25,000 ft
• Rustom-H
– Endurance: 24+ hrs
– Twin engine, increased payload capacity
• TAPAS BH-201 (Rustom-2)
– Endurance: 24+ hrs
– Ceiling: 35,000 ft
– Range: 250–350 km
– Payloads: EO/IR, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Maritime Patrol Suite
• Status: User trials ongoing (IAF, Indian Navy)
Abhyas
• Type: High-speed expendable aerial target (HEAT)
• Endurance: ~30–45 minutes
• Speed: ~0.7 Mach
• Launch: Ground launcher
• Role: Missile training, radar tracking
Lakshya (I & II)
• Type: Reusable target drone
• Ceiling: Up to 30,000 ft
• Range: 150–200 km
• Status: Operational
Netra V2 (Jointly with ideaForge)
• Type: Mini UAV (Quadcopter)
• Range: 5 km
• Endurance: 45–60 minutes
• Use: Internal security, disaster management
Pushpak, Slybird, Black Kite
• Type: Micro UAVs
• Role: ISR, short-range surveillance
• Range: <10 km
• Endurance: 30–60 minutes
Kapothaka, Fluffy
• Type: Demonstration UAVs
• Status: Retired
UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles)
AURA / Ghatak
• Type: Stealth UCAV (flying wing)
• Developer: ADE, ADA, GTRE
• Engine: Dry Kaveri turbofan (planned)
• Max Speed: Subsonic–High Subsonic
• Payload: Internal weapons bay
• Stealth Features: Radar-absorbent material, low-RCS shaping
• Role: Precision strike, SEAD
• Status: In prototype phase
SWiFT (Stealth Wing Flying Testbed)
• Type: Technology demonstrator for Ghatak
• Weight: ~1 ton
• First Flight: 2022
• Features: Autonomous taxiing, GAGAN-based navigation
Helicopter Weaponization (DRDO Involvement)
HAL Rudra (ALH-WSI)
• Platform by: HAL
• DRDO Contributions:
– HELINA ATGM integration
– EO/IR sensors
– DIRCM, RWR, MAWS
HAL Light Combat Helicopter (LCH)
• Platform by: HAL
• DRDO Contributions:
– HELINA / Dhruvastra ATGM
– Radar Warning and Countermeasure Suite
– Avionics suite
Fighter Aircraft Contributions
The HAL Tejas, with significant DRDO contributions.
HAL Tejas
• Developer: ADA (under DRDO)
• Role: 4th Gen LCA
• DRDO Systems:
– Mission Computer
– Uttam AESA radar (LRDE)
– EW suite (DARE)
– Data Link systems
HAL AMCA
• Developer: ADA, DRDO, HAL
• Type: 5th-gen stealth fighter
• Features:
– Stealth airframe (composites)
– AI-assisted cockpit
– Uttam Mk2 radar, IRST
– DRDO EW suite
TEDBF (Naval Twin Engine Deck-Based Fighter)
• Role: Carrier-based fighter
• Contributions: DRDO is developing radar, EW, and composite airframe materials
Directed-Energy & Next-Gen Technologies
DRDO's Laser-Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) System.
Mk-II(A) Laser-DEW System
• Successfully tested against drones, missiles, and sensors.
• High-precision, near-instant engagement “within a few seconds” at long range
(firstpost.com)
PGLRSAM (in development)
• Type: Naval interceptor; Mach ~7
• Capability: Anti-ASBM; extended engagement envelope for ships (idrw.org)
HSTDV & Scramjet Tests
The Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV).
• In 2019 & 2020, HSTDV demonstrated sustained scramjet-powered flight at Mach 6 for ~20
seconds to ~30 km altitude (swarajyamag.com)
• Project Vishnu: Hypersonic missile with scramjet engine capable of mid-flight maneuvering
and nuclear payload—placing India among top-tier nations (thetimes.co.uk)
Core DRDO Technologies Integrated
Labs /
Technology Contributors Usage Platform
Uttam AESA Radar LRDE Tejas Mk1A, AMCA
HELINA / Dhruvastra DRDL Rudra, LCH
Kaveri Engine (Dry variant) GTRE SWiFT, Ghatak (in future)
EW & Countermeasure Suite DARE Tejas, LCH, Rudra
Mission Computer DRDO + BEL Tejas, UAVs
Composite Structures ADA, NAL AMCA, UAVs
Summary of DRDO-Built Aerial Systems
• Developed Fully by DRDO:
– Nishant, Rustom series (UAVs)
– Abhyas, Lakshya (Target drones)
– Ghatak (UCAV, in dev)
– SWiFT (prototype UCAV)
– HELINA missile, Uttam radar, Kaveri engine
• Co-Developed (HAL, ideaForge, BEL):
– Netra UAV, Tejas fighter, AMCA, TEDBF
– Rudra, LCH (weapons and electronics)
Summary Table
System Role Range Speed Guidance Notes
BM-04 Hypersonic 400– Mach 5+ IRNSS/GPS Two-stage, boost-
ballistic 1,500 km glide
Shaurya SRBM 700– Mach 7.5 INS/GPS Canisterised nuclear
1,900 km option
Agni-III/V IRBM/ICBM 4,500– Mach 7– INS MIRV-capable (V)
5,000 km 24
Prahaar Tactical ballistic ~150– Mach 4 INS/GPS Quick deployment,
missile 200 km CEP ~10 m
BrahMos Supersonic 180– Mach INERT/RAMJET Multi-platform
cruise missile 1,000+ km 2.8–3 deployment
Astra Air-to-Air missile 80–110 km Mach 4– ARH BVR, radar homing
4.5
QRSAM Quick-reaction ~30 km Mach INS + radar On-the-move
SAM ~4.7 engagement
Mk-II(A) Laser-directed Varied Speed of Laser tracking Counter-drone/
DEW energy light missile
India’s DRDO continues to expand its array of strategic and tactical weapons—from next-gen
hypersonics and high-precision ballistic missiles to advanced air-defense and directed-energy
systems—solidifying India’s position in cutting-edge defense technology. Let me know if you’d like
deeper specs, deployment status, or industrial partnerships for any specific system!
