Surya ICBM Myth or Reality?

India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP 1983) have made news for right and wrong reasons, failure of the Trishul SAM (Surface to Air Missile) or successful induction of the Prithvi or Agni series of SSM (Surface to Surface Missile) always had full public knowledge of existence, Akash (SAM), NAG (ATM) where some of the other Missiles which where developed under the (IGMDP 1983). while almost all this Missiles enjoyed good and bad media spotlight, there was one particular missile Surya ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) where Ministry of Defence (MOD) have repeatedly denied the existence of the project, it was first published in The Nonproliferation Review, in the Winter of 1995, Surya (meaning the Sun in Sanskrit and many Indian languages) is believed to be first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that India is reported to be developing. According to The Nonproliferation Review report, the Surya is an intercontinental-range, surface-based, solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile. The report further adds that Surya is the most ambitious project in India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. Surya did grab media attention after this report surfaced and many prominent newspapers published there own conclusion of this ghost ICBM, as per the original report it was supposed to have range of 6000 to 8000km but Media speculated range was 8000 to 12000 km , if one non existing ICBM was not enough many Indian Media speculated development of Surya-2 ICBM with range speculated from 12000km to 18000km, while the launch weight of the missile was speculated to be around 270 to 275 tonnes. The missile supposed to have a 5,480 pound to 7,680 pound releasable front section with two to three warheads of 15 kilo tonne to 20 kilo tonnes each. ICBM will incorporate technology of the DRDO developed Agni III and ISRO developed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), while in mid 1990’s it was speculated to be fully based on the ISRO developed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) which in mid 1990’s that had seen spring of successful launch and technology of PSLV was seen mature enough for development of the ICBM. In recent times sudden and successful launch of Prithvi Air Defence (PAD), Advanced Air Defence (AAD), Shaurya (SRBM), Sagarika (SLBM) many of DRDO’s Missiles which had little or no information in public domain, always made defense experts in India speculate about the Development of the Surya Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, till date (2009) no Government official have confirmed the existence of the project. Speculated firing of the ICBM is by 2008-12 time frame. While confirm development of Agni V (4500 to 5500 km) by DRDO as been reported in the Media, Surya seems to be the next logical step to achieve. China is far ahead of others in the missile race in the region. the Dong-Feng-31 and Julang-2, a combined ICBM and submarine-launched ballistic missile have been successfully tested and inducted by China, while Success of Agni-
III has enabled India to hit major cities of china but many of the northern part of China is still not under Range of Indian Missiles, while Surya ICBM will put whole of china and Europe under its range will act as a great deterrence for the Indian defense.

Speculated Specification of Surya ICBM

• Class: ICBM
• Lasing: Surface based
• Length: 40.00 m
• Diameter: 2.8 m
• Launch Weight: 80,000 kg
• Propulsion: First/second stage solid, third liquid
• Warhead Capabilities: 2-3 nuclear warheads of 250 kilotons each
• Status: Development / Developed to be tested
• In Service: 2015
• Range: 8,000 - 12,000 km