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India.com
27-07-2025
- India.com
Big threat for Pakistan, China as India is developing most advanced bunker buster missile, even US GBU-57, China's DF-15C are fail; name is..
In light of the ongoing conflicts occurring around the world, India is beefing up its defence structure in order to be prepared for developing security challenges and to be strategically prepared on all fronts. At present, India is in the process of developing a massively destructive Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which is being called a next-generation bunker buster. This missile is characterized as extremely lethal due to its remarkable capabilities. This missile can penetrate 80 to 100 meters underground before detonating. This next-generation bunker buster will surely be incredibly lethal. What makes Agni-5 the most dangerous Bunker Buster ever built? This missile is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Named the Agni-5 Bunker Buster, this missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads with an approximate payload of about 7,500 to 8,000 kilograms. Just the payload capacity gives an indication of the size of destruction it's capable of. How does Agni-5 outperform the US GBU-57, Russia's KAB-1500, and China's DF-15C? The key feature of the Agni-5 missile is its hypersonic speed, which ranges between Mach 8 to Mach 20, and strike range of approximately 2,500 kilometers. With that depth of capability, Agni-5 is superior to some of the most sophisticated bunker buster weapons available, including America's GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) and KAB-1500L-Pr from Russia. Several reports have stated Agni-5 is the most lethal deep-penetration weapon in the world, nearly impossible for adversaries to defend against. An exemplary feature of the Agni-5 Bunker Buster is that the new variant sacrifices range for payload, carrying a 7,500–8,000 kg warhead designed to penetrate 80–100 meters of reinforced concrete or rock before detonating, reported the Indian Defence Research Wing(IDRW). If media reports are to be believed, India is developing several different variants of Agni-5 missiles. Some of these variants began the development process earlier this year. According to the reports, one of these variants is likely to have a strike range of more than 5,000 km. In the new versions of the Agni-5, the payload has been maximized. While it may still hold a warhead ranging between 7,500 and 8,000 kg, the missile is built to penetrate as deep as 80 to 100 meters into solid rock before it detonates, allowing it to deep-strike. Another key feature of Agni-5 is its mobility—it can be launched from a mobile launcher (mobile trunk), which means it can be deployed from multiple terrains and locations. Agni-5's deep-penetration warhead variant can completely destroy heavily fortified underground sites, such as Pakistan's Kirana Hills nuclear storage facility, or China's missile silos on the Himalayan border. 'Its ability to burrow 80–100 meters underground before detonation positions it as a critical asset for pre-emptive strikes or counterforce operations, potentially neutralizing enemy nuclear assets without crossing the nuclear threshold. Additionally, a second variant with an airburst warhead is being developed for surface targets like airfields and radar stations, enhancing the missile's versatility,' reads the IDRW report. GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (United States) Weight: 13,600 kg (13.6 tonnes) Payload Capacity: Capable of carrying 2,400 kg of high explosives Penetration Capability: Can pierce up to 60 meters into rock before detonation Limitation: Failed to penetrate Iran's hard limestone terrain during tests Delivery Method: Requires deployment by a bomber aircraft (the U.S. has used B-2 stealth bombers for this purpose) Target Capability: Can penetrate 8–10 meters of steel-reinforced concrete roofs Designed For: Striking nuclear sites, deep underground bunkers, tunnel networks, and heavily fortified military headquarters The GBU-57/B is an American precision-guided bunker buster bomb, incorporating GPS guidance. The GBU-57/B is known for its high precision targeting, and its advanced fuzing system allows it to penetrate ground or hardened targets before detonation. Russia developed the KAB-1500L-PR for the destruction of enemy underground facilities. The 'PR' in the name KAB-1500L-PR stands for Penetrating/High-Penetration variant. It is classified as a laser-guided bomb, which means the accuracy of strikes can be enhanced at times. China has a strong bunker buster missile called the DF-15C, or Dong Feng-15C. The DF-15C is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) and is a type of bunker buster specifically derived from the DF-15 missile family. For comparison, India's Agni-5 bunker buster variant which penetrates a reported 80-100 meters deep. 'The Agni-5's 80–100-meter penetration and 7,500 kg payload far exceed the DF-15C's capabilities, making it a superior option for targeting China's underground missile silos. Its longer range (2,500 km vs. 900 km) and hypersonic speed enhance its strategic utility,' IDRW reported. In a piece in Dawn, defence analyst Rabia Akhtar described India's Agni-5 as a significant risk to Pakistan, and appealed to the international community to intervene and discontinue its production. She labelled the missile as a unsettling shocking development, and stated that it is a serious threat to not only surface-based targets but also deep underground command and control centres and nuclear facilities. With its 7,500 kg payload, the missile would have the capacity to excavate from 80 to 100 meters underground. Rabia Akhtar, a Lahore University professor, called this missile as a dangerous shift in India's military strategy. She was concerned that the Agni-5 could overlap conventional and nuclear warfare; this increases the chances of instability and miscalculations in the region. In her words, if India uses a missile like that to target Pakistan's nuclear command centers or hidden bunkers, Pakistan may see it as a nuclear threat, and in that situation, even if it was a conventional missile attack, it could very possibly turn into a nuclear war from a conventional missile strike causing an incredibly perilous chain reaction.
India.com
26-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Days after Operation Sindoor, bad news for Pakistan as China rejects request for hypersonic missiles due to...
China has reportedly refused to supply hypersonic missiles to Pakistan. (File) China Hypersonic Missiles: In another major setback for Pakistan's military ambitions after the drubbing it received at the hands of Indian armed forces during Operation Sindoor, China, its 'all-weather ally' and largest weapons' supplier, has reported turned down Islamabad's request for the supply of Chinese-made hypersonic missiles, and transfer of technology for indigenous manufacturing of the same. Why China turned down Pakistan's request for hypersonic missiles? According to media reports, China fears that Pakistan could allow Western experts to examine Chinese-made advanced missile systems, amid the Islamabad's recent bonhomie with the West, especially the United States. Another reason is the concern over the poor performance of Chinese-supplied weaponry by Pakistan in the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Citing sources, defense website Indian Defence Research Wing (Idrw) said that China has informed Pakistan that its has not developed export variants of its hypersonic missiles, nor are the existing ones– such as the DF-17 equipped with hypersonic warheads– cleared for export, which makes the technology off-limits, at least for the time being. Beijing has also rejected Pakistan's transfer of technology request for hypersonic missiles, which would have allowed Pakistan to indigenously manufacture these advanced missiles, reducing the country's dependence on defense imports, the report said. China's hypersonic technology is meant for strategic deterrence Notably, China manufactures dedicated export variants for most of its defense products, including fighter jets, air defense systems, and missiles, but has not done so yet for its advanced hypersonic missiles. Currently, China has no downgraded or export variant of its hypersonic missile systems, which aligns with Beijing's broader policy of restricting the proliferation of its most advanced strategic weapons, especially those that could have the capability to alter regional or global power dynamics. China is among the few nations to have developed and mastered hypersonic technology, and sees it as a critical component of its strategic deterrence, particularly against the United States and its allies. Experts believe that China refuses to export these strategic weapons, even to a close ally like Pakistan, as it could invite international scrutiny and escalate tensions with rival powers. Its also been suggested that China's hypersonic capabilities are still in its nascent stages, and needs more development before its ready for mass production and deployment. Pakistan wants hypersonic tech to counter India Meanwhile, Pakistan is rapidly expanding its weapons' arsenal, especially its missile systems to counter India's rapid advancement in missile technology, especially the development of indigenous hypersonic and ballistic missile systems. By acquiring Chinese hypersonic missiles, Pakistan wants to close the technological gap with India, which has developed domestic hypersonic capabilities like the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV). According to a recent US intel report, Pakistan's military power and economy are completely dependent on China, which is a major concern for South Asia as Beijing is likely to use any future India-Pakistan conflict as a testing ground for its weapons, such as fighter jets, air defense systems, and missiles. Around 80 percent of Pakistan total defense imports come from China, the report said.
India.com
01-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Bad news for Pakistan, China as India decides to fast-track development and deployment of this missile, its name is..., range is....
The BrahMos missile, often dubbed India's 'Brahmastra,' inflicted heavy damage on several key strategic sites in Pakistan, used for anti-India activities, during Operation Sindoor. Now, in a big boost to India's defense power, the extended-range BrahMos missile, with a range of 800 km, was successfully tested for the first time in 2025. The missile's combat debut during Operation Sindoor in May 2025 demonstrated its ability strong enough to break through Pakistan's Chinese-made air defenses. This success has led to faster plans to develop and produce more of these missiles, marking a new step in India's military strength. According to the Indian Defence Research Wing(IDRW), the 800km-range variant of the BrahMos missile, a joint venture between India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia, was validated in developmental trials earlier this year, with sources confirming its readiness by April 2025. This longer-range version is a big upgrade from the original 290 km range. It became possible after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, which relaxed export restrictions on long-range missile technology. The BrahMos missile was used for the first time in a real operation during Operation Sindoor. This was India's response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025. The Indian Air Force launched around 15 BrahMos missiles, mostly from Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets, targeting 11 out of Pakistan's 13 major airbases. Key sites hit included Noor Khan in Rawalpindi, Rafiqui in Shorkot, and Murid in Chakwal. The strikes damaged runways, control centers, and air defense systems. Missile debris found in Rajasthan confirmed the weapon's use. A key factor behind the BrahMos missile's success was its ability to bypass Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defense systems, such as the HQ-9 missile batteries and YLC-18 radars, reported IDRW. As per the IDRW report, the BrahMos missile's success on the battlefield has accelerated India's efforts in its development and production. The recently opened BrahMos Aerospace Integration and Testing Facility in Lucknow, part of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor, will be crucial in this process. This cutting-edge facility, completed in just three and a half years with an investment of Rs 300 crore, will handle the assembly and testing of both existing and next-generation (NG) BrahMos models. The lighter NG variant, weighing 1,290 kg and designed to be deployed on smaller aircraft like the MiG-29, Mirage 2000, and Tejas, is expected to begin trials in 2026.
India Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Keeping India's skies safe: How S-400 tracks and targets enemy missiles
After India struck terror camps in nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early in the morning on May 7, the nation retaliated by attempting to target several military installations in India using drones and missiles. However, these attempts were thwarted by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and the S-400 Triumf or 'Sudarshan Chakra' air defence S-400 Triumf is a mobile surface-to-air defence system developed by Russia and is considered one of the best globally. Russia first deployed the S-400 for combat duty in 2007 and is currently developing its successor, the contracted five S-400 regiments from Russia in October 2018 for $5.43 billion. As of May 2025, three regiments have been delivered and are operational. The remaining two, expected by August 2026, were delayed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia delivered the first squadron (consisting of two batteries) by the end of 2021 — one for the Adampur Air Force Station and the other for the Halwara station. Each S-400 battery typically consists of eight Transporter Erector Launchers (TEL), two radars, and one command S-400 is a highly mobile missile system that can be deployed in just five minutes and is resistant to jamming. It can engage and intercept aerial targets like aircraft, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at a range of up to 400 kilometres and altitudes of 30 system can track up to 300 targets and attack 36 at a time. A TEL vehicle can carry up to four launch tubes, holding several types of missiles. The S-400 is equipped with four missile types: the 40N6E (400 km range), the 48N6E3 (250 km), the 9M96E2 (120 km), and the 9M96E (40 km).India recently deployed a battery of the S-400 in the Siliguri Corridor, also called Chicken's Neck, in West Bengal to counter heightened air activity from China and Bangladesh. There are also plans to boost the system further. According to the Indian Defence Research Wing, on July 19, 2024, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first bilateral visit to Russia after being elected for the third time, Russia renewed its proposal for joint production of its latest S-500 air defence Watch
