The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

India has achieved significant advancements in its missile programme, including the recent successful test-firing of the Agni-5 ballistic missile, which demonstrates its capability to deploy Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology for a single missile to strike multiple targets. Future variants of the Agni-5 missile are planned to incorporate bunker-buster technology to hit hardened targets. Key developments in India's missile prowess include the expansion of its long-range ballistic missile capabilities, the enhancement of air defence systems like 'Akash Prime' (upgraded version of Akash missile), and the ongoing development of submarine-launched K-series of missiles. The development of K-4 and K-5 missiles will further enhance the Indian Navy's second-strike capability. A Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile, and the 'Helina' anti-tank guided missile system are part of India's advanced missile arsenal. These advancements strengthen India's nuclear deterrence and play a crucial role in its defence strategy, especially against regional adversaries like China and Pakistan.

India has achieved significant advancements in its missile programme. These advancements strengthen India's nuclear deterrence and play a crucial role in its defence strategy, especially against regional adversaries like China and Pakistan.

Concurrently, the expanded vision of the Indian space programme includes establishing an operational Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and sending an Indian crewed mission to the Moon by 2040. The programme will involve eight missions, to be completed by 2028, including the launch of the first unit of BAS-1. Construction of the first module of BAS-1 marks a significant expansion of the Gaganyaan programme. This decision paves the way for missions aimed at developing and validating the technologies required to build and operate the BAS. The Venus Orbiter Mission expected to strengthen India's capabilities for future planetary exploration, with the potential to handle larger payloads and optimise orbital insertion techniques. India's space programme is entering an exciting new phase, marked by ambitious missions and unprecedented technological advancements. The approval of Chandrayaan-4, the Venus Orbiter Mission, and the BAS demonstrates the government's commitment to advancing the country's space exploration capabilities. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to visit the International Space Station (ISS), where he spent a little over two weeks, said that witnessing and being part of a human space flight mission gives a lot of “intangible information” that went beyond what was being documented in reports or books.

The Surya ICBM is speculated to have a range of more than 12,000 to 18,000 km, which brings almost all major nations of the world in its range

Soorya - Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV)

India is now developing the 'Surya' ICBM and the 'Soorya' rocket. According to a 1995 report published in The Non-proliferation Review, 'Surya' (meaning the Sun) is the codename for one of the intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that India is reported to be developing, for which there is no formal statement from India. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is believed to have begun the project in 1994. Surya is an intercontinental-range, surface-based, solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile. The report adds that Surya is the most ambitious project in India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The Surya missile is more strategic in nature due to its capabilities and thus gives the enemy assured destruction. The Surya is speculated to have a range of more than 12,000 to 18,000 km, which brings almost all major nations of the world in its range.

Surya is said to have a three-stage design, with the first two stages using solid propellants and the third-stage using liquid. The first stage is speculated to be borrowed from the first stage (S139 booster) of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). According to a 2013 report in the media, the Surya missile is speculated of being built highly confidentially under the code name of Agni VI. Another view is that Surya could be an advanced version of Agni VI, with both being developed concurrently. The speculated specifications and characteristics of the Surya missiles include: Class – ICBM; Designer – DRDO; Manufacturer – Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL); Length – 40 meters; Diameter – 1.1 meter; Lasing - surface based, underwater based (in certain strategic areas) and submarine based; Range - above 16,000 km; Launch Weight – 70,000 kg; Propulsion- first/second stage solid, third stage liquid; Warhead Capabilities - 3-10 thermonuclear warheads of 750 kilotonnes each or 4-5 Megatonnes single warhead; Blast Yield – 750KT to 5MT; Status – confidential; Number Built - not known; usage – to be used by the Indian Armed Forces.

The 'Soorya Rocket refers to the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), a project under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for sustained human spaceflight missions

According to a recent report, ISRO working on monster rocket named 'Soorya', which is taller than Qutub Minar. The 'Soorya Rocket refers to the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), a project under development by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for sustained human spaceflight missions. It is a next-generation rocket being designed to be significantly more powerful than current launch vehicles and is internally named Project Soorya. While the exact details are still evolving, the project aims to provide a powerful launch platform for future human space stations and deep space missions.

Key aspects of Project Soorya include the following: Purpose - to develop a more powerful and sustained capability for human spaceflight beyond initial missions like Gaganyaan; Development – the project was formally recognised and pushed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 2017-18, evolving from a concept study to a funded project; Engine Challenges - early basing of the project on the SCE-200 engine was problematic due to anticipated delays and costs associated with soot buildup and refurbishment of the Kerolox engine; Future Vision – Soorya is intended to be a significantly larger and more capable rocket, potentially dwarfing existing rockets, to support the establishment of space stations and future human space exploration endeavours.