| Country: |
India |
| Class: |
SRBM or SLBM |
| Basing: |
Ship or submarine launched |
| Length: |
9.00 m |
| Diameter: |
1.00 m |
| Launch Weight: |
4000 kg |
| Payload: |
Single warhead, 500 kg |
| Warhead: |
nuclear, HE, submunitions |
| Propulsion: |
Single-stage liquid |
| Range: |
250 km |
| Status: |
Development |
Details
The Dhanush is thought to be a short-range, sea-based, liquid-propellant ballistic missile, perhaps a naval variant of the Prithvi series. According to unconfirmed reports, India developed the missile with European assistance, and its motor and guidance system were based on the Russian S-75 Guideline surface-to-air missile. There is a great deal of ambiguity surrounding this missile system. The particular nomenclature regarding this weapon is vague and causes technical difficulty in differentiating missile tests, production, and operationality. The weapon is not clearly set apart on its own and is often combined with other systems. It is also sometimes combined with the Sagarika Cruise Missile program. Because of the Dhanush's publicity, it is evident that the program exists and is in its testing phase.
In its current configuration, the Dhanush variant is 9.0 m in length, 1.1 m in diameter, and weighs between 4,000 and 4,600 kg. It uses a single-stage, liquid-propellant engine, giving it a maximum range of 250 km (155 miles) with an accuracy of 50 m CEP. Reports indicate the possibility of a two stage version, the first being solid fueled and the second liquid. This would provide the missile with a maximum range of approximately 300 km. It is unclear whether a new Dhanush would have the identical two stage solid propellant that the Prithvi-3 has. Its payload is a single warhead weighing up to 500 kg, only half as much as the Prithvi-1, which has a 1,000 kg payload.
The missile's warheads are nuclear, high-explosive, or submunitions. The missile can also be equipped with multiple payloads, to be dispensed by the missile during its flight. The use of high-explosive and submunition warheads enables the Dhanush to be used against airfields, manufacturing complexes, and military units, as well as enemy ships.
The deployment of Dhanush ballistic missiles as a sea-borne force will have little effect on the nuclear balance between India and Pakistan, as all of Pakistan is already vulnerable to the Indian road-mobile systems, which move on a regular basis so as to avoid detection. However, the Dhanush will dramatically increase the number of targets that India can strike within China, thereby significantly increasing the strength of India's deterrent force. Some commentators believe that the Dhanush may become a ship to ship missile with conventional munitions or a ballistic missile with either payload. Critics are skeptical about its operational value because the Indian Navy as of 2008 does not have a submarine capable of firing ballistic missiles. Its most likely platform would therefore be a ship, which is accepted as more vulnerable.1
The Dhanush program may have been used as a technology demonstratorfor thePrithvi-3. The two missiles use the same launching mechanism. The Dhanush ship-launched version was first tested in April 2000, then again in December 2000, September 2001, November 2004, December 2005, January 2006, and April 2007. The first two rounds of testing were negative, sources citing that the missile barely cleared the patrol boat to which it was mounted. The following tests were met with success in its range and payload capabilities.
On 28 January 2008, French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, visited with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and was welcomed by a military parade featuring the Dhanush suggesting its operational capability. Commentators disagree on its classification between the SS-250, or Prithvi-2, and the P-3, or Prithvi-3. Because of this uncertainty, operational numbers and orders for this weapon are currently unclear. Reports from 2007 suggest that 84 total Prithvi-3 missiles have been ordered. It is most likely that amongst these are missiles designated Dhanush.2
Footnotes
- Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 42 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2005), 85-87; Duncan Lennox, ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems 46 (Surrey: Jane's Information Group, January 2007), 53-56; Andrew Koch, "India Moves Closer to Sea-launched Ballistic Missile," Jane's Defence Weekly, 10 November 2004; GlobalSecurity.org, "Sagarika/Dhanush," available at http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/india/sagarika.htm, accessed on 5 June 2008.
- Rahal Bedi, "India Is Set For Dhanush Trials," Jane's Defence Weekly, 2 February 2000; "Crash Ends Maiden Flight of India's Dhanush Missile," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 June 2000; Dennis M. Gormley, "Missile Contagion: Cruise Missile Proliferation and the Threat to National Security," Praeger Security International Online, ">http://0-psi.praeger.com/books/gpg/C9836/C9836-165.xml&i=2>, Accessed 5 June 2008. Deutsche Presse-Agentur, "India celebrates 59th Republic Day with Sarkozy as Chief Guest," 26 January 2008 0830 AM, http://0-www.lexisnexis.com/results/docview/docview.do?ocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T3896415534&cisb=22_T3896415533&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=144245&docNo=4, Accessed 5 June 2008.
India Fires Dhanush
January 1, 2006 :: Forbes :: News
India test-launched its short-range Dhanush ballistic missile on December 28, reports the Press Trust of India. The missile was launched from a warship in the Bay of Bengal off the eastern coast. The Dhanush, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, is the naval version of surface-to-surface Prithvi missile. It has a range of 250 kilometers and can carry a payload of 500 kilograms. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Dhanush
India Again Launches Dhanush Missile
November 8, 2004 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
India yesterday successfully tested a nuclear-capable ship-launched missile from its eastern coast. The Dhanush missile was launched from a ship in the Bay of Bengal. (More »»»)
» Press release, Govt. of India
» AFP on Dhanush launch
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Dhanush
India Tests Underwater-Launched Missile
October 27, 2004 :: News
India today tested a naval variant of a nuclear capable ballistic missile with a range of 300km. The missile tested has been identified by news sources as a “Prithvi III,” and is said to be the longest range Prithvi tested thus far.
The missile’s characteristics, however, seem to indicate that it is more likely the missile known as the Dhanush, which itself had been derived from the Prithvi II. The missile launched today is said to have previously been launched from a ship, which is also true of the Dhanush.
The missile is also said to have the capability to be launched from a submarine. Today’s launch reportedly took place from a specially constructed underwater platform and canister, from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, in the eastern coast state of Orissa, some 230km from the city of Bhubaneswar. The missile landed in the Bay of Bengal.
Indian and Western news services variously report that the missile consists of a single stage, and the missile reportedly has a length of 8.5 meters (28 ft) and a diameter of 1 meter. While it is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead—described by some reports as “sub kiloton”—it may also carry incendiary or fragmentary munitions. Each of these dimensions and capabilities roughly correspond to those previously assigned to the Dhanush missile. The dimensions of the missile called the “Prithvi III” are not known. The missile may indeed never have been completed.
It would appear that India may have applied the signification Prithvi III to the missile previously termed Dhanush, or that the news reports are simply inaccurate.
That the missile tested is in fact the Dhanush is also suggested by an October 9 report by India’s The Statesman, that such a test was planned. (Link)
» Oct. 9: Dhanush trial expected soon
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Dhanush, Prithvi-2, Prithvi-3
India Pursuing Blue Water Navy, Ballistic Missile Sub
June 7, 2004 :: Defense News :: News
India has the ambition to join the other great powers of the world in having a blue water ballistic missile submarines, according to a story in Defense News. India’s recent adoption of a new military doctrine aimed at the acquisition of such vessels could help to counterbalance China’s own military buildup, detailed in the DoD report released last week. India is already planning to lease a Russian Akula-class sub, but will soon develop its own vessels.
The report does not specify what sort of ballistic missiles an Indian submarine may carry, but one sea launched ballistic missile India has been working on is the Dhanush. (Article, Link)
» More stories on: India
» Missile details: Dhanush
