Agni-VI
| Agni-VI | |
|---|---|
| Type | ICBM |
| Place of origin |  India |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018-19 |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | ~55,000 kg (Speculated) |
| Length | ~40.00 m. (Speculated) |
| Diameter | ~1.1 m (Speculated) |
| Maximum firing range | 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) |
| Engine | First/second stage solid, third liquid |
Operational range | 6,000 kilometres (3,700 miles) |
Description
Agni-VI is an intercontinental ballistic missile speculated to be in very rudimentary stages of development by India. It's said to be the latest & most advanced version among the Agni (missile) program. Capable of being launched from submarines or from land, it will be able to strike at a target of 6000-10000 km with MIRVed warheads.[1]
The SLBM version of missile will arm the Arihant class submarines of the Indian Navy.
Opacity regarding the development
Although as of 2009 it was reported that the government had not considered the development of an ICBM with a range of 10,000-km or above, the speculations of an ongoing program for a longer range ICBM resurfaced in 2011. Some reports even claimed that the ICBM is already christened as "Surya" after code named AGNI-VI[2]
DRDO NEWSLETTER
The existence of such a program is still unclear and was never officially acknowledged by DRDO.[3] However, in the DRDO newsletter in May 2011, while describing the achievements of a recently promoted scientist it revealed that he headed a program codenamed A6; Which will be an ICBM with a range of 6000-10000 km, and like some versions of its precursor Agni V, it will be capable of underwater launch with MIRV feature.
Indian Air Marshal's allusion to a longer range ICBM
In June 2011, for the very first time then IAF'S Chief Marshal P.V. NAIK vehemently argued in favour of broadening India's nuclear strike capabilities beyond the immediate neighbourhood.
Naik, who heads the chiefs of staff committee, stated:
India should pursue an ICBM programme to acquire ranges of 10,000 km or even more. Breaking out of the regional context is important as the country's sphere of influence grows. We have no territorial designs on any country, but India needs the capability to match its sphere of influence.[4]
The air chief believes that an ICBM is within India's grasp:
There's no point capping the missile programme at 5,000 km. If we have the technical capability, we should build on it.[4]
Questions of Capability
Some have raised mild doubts about India's "real" capability to develop such long range ICBMs.[3]
In response, a top DRDO scientist firmly asserted India has almost all the equipments and technology needed to develop ICBMs, "but where the warhead should go or what the range should be will have to be a political call."[4]