In modern language, a missile, also known as a guided missile or guided rocket, is a guided airborne ranged weapon capable of self-propelled flight usually by a jet engine or rocket motor. Missiles have four system components: targeting/guidance system, flight system, engine and warhead. Missiles come in types adapted for different purposes: surface-to-surface and air-to-surface missiles (ballistic, cruise, anti-ship, anti-tank, etc.), surface-to-air missiles (and anti-ballistic), air-to-air missiles, and anti-satellite weapons. India’s missile arsenal serves a number of purposes in New Delhi’s defense strategy. Fundamentally, its ballistic missile arsenal is a means to deliver nuclear weapons to deter both Pakistan and China. The latter requirement has pushed India to develop longer range missiles and to diversify its delivery platforms beyond mobile land-based missiles. To this end, India is developing ship- and sub-launched ballistic missiles, and has collaborated with Russia on cruise missile development. Here is a list of Top 10 most lethal missiles with India-
1. ASTRA MISSILE- Astra is an all weather beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. It features mid-course inertial guidance with terminal active radar homing. Astra is designed to be capable of engaging targets at varying range and altitudes allowing for engagement of both short-range targets at a distance of 10 km (6.2 mi) and long-range targets up to a distance of 110 km (68 mi). Astra has been integrated with Indian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-30MKI and will be integrated with Dassault Mirage 2000, HAL Tejas and Mikoyan MiG-29 in the future.
2. AKASH MISSILE- Akash is a medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defense system developed by the DRDO and produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) for Missile Systems, Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Power Strategic Engineering Division and Larsen & Toubro for other radars, control centers, launcher systems in India. The Akash New Generation missile system can target aircraft up to 50–60 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 m. It has the capability to neutralize aerial targets like fighter jets, cruise missiles and air-to-surface missiles as well as ballistic missiles. It is in operational service with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force.
3. BARAK 8- Barak 8 also known as LR-SAM or as MR-SAM is an Indo-Israeli surface-to-air missile (SAM), designed to defend against any type of airborne threat including aircraft, helicopters, anti-ship missiles, and UAVs as well as ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and combat jets. Both maritime and land-based variants of the system exist. The missile has maximum speed of Mach 2 with a maximum operational range of 70 km, which was later increased to 100 km.
4. BRAHMOS- The BrahMos is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world.It is the world's fastest anti-ship cruise missile in operation. The land-launched and ship-launched versions are already in service. An air-launched variant of BrahMos appeared in 2012 and entered service in 2019. A hypersonic version of the missile, BrahMos-II, is also presently under development with a speed of Mach 7–8 to boost aerial fast strike capability. It was expected to be ready for testing by 2020.
5. NIRBHAY- Nirbhay is a long range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile designed and developed in India by DRDO. The missile can be launched from multiple platforms and is capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads. It is currently deployed in limited numbers in LAC during standoff with China.
6. PRITHVI I-Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command. It can be launched from 8x8 Tata transporter erector launcher and has an operational range of 150 km with payload of 1000 kgs.
7. PRITHVI II- Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km. It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.
8. SHAURYA- The Shaurya missile is a canister launched hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for use by the Indian Armed Forces. It has a range of 700 to 1,900 km and is capable of carrying a payload of 200 kg to 1 ton conventional or nuclear warhead. It gives the potential to strike at very-long-range against any adversary. The maximum speed of the missile is Mach 7.5
9. AGNI IV- Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles developed by India's DRDO that displayed a number of new technologies and significant improvement in missile technology. The missile is light-weight and has two stages of solid propulsion and a payload with re-entry heat shield. With 3,500 to 4,000 km range, it is capable of striking targets in nearly all of mainland China, if launched from northeastern part of India. It has an operational range of 3500-4000 km with mass of 17000 kms.
10. AGNI V- Agni-V is an Indian nuclear-capable ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The missile is believed to have a range of around 5,000 to 8,000 kilometers. Indian officials describe it as an intercontinental missile, or ICBM, even though its tested range only qualifies it as an intermediate range missile. It is a three-stage, road-mobile and solid-fuelled missile which is transported by a truck and launched via a canister. Its first flight was conducted in 2012. Agni-5 missile is equipped with nuclear warheads and is capable of carrying 1.5 tons of material.
