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Home / IAS Preparation / Indian Missile List

Missiles of India - List and Types of Indian Missiles in Detail

Last Updated on May 07, 2025
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Under the IGMDP, India developed five different missile systems: Trishul, Akash, Nag, Prithvi, and Agni-I. These missiles were developed for different military purposes, including air defense, anti-tank, and surface-to-surface capabilities. In 1958, the Indian government formed the Special Weapons Development Team to research guided missile systems. In June 1961, this team was expanded into DRDL, a full-fledged laboratory on the campus of the Defence Science Centre in Delhi. In February 1962, the laboratory was relocated to Hyderabad, and thus the story of guided missiles in India began. Finally, The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983 by the Government of India to develop a range of missile systems in the country. 

This topic of the "Missiles of India" is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 3 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Preliminary) and particularly in the Science and Technology section of the UPSC Exam. In this article on the List of Missiles, we shall discuss what missiles are, their types, classification, important features, and other important details. This will be very useful for aspirants in the UPSC Prelims Exam.

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What are Missiles?

Missiles are self-propelled flying weapons designed to deliver an explosive warhead with high speed and accuracy. They are often designed to be able to maneuver in flight and adjust their trajectory to hit a moving target, making them a potent weapon in military operations. Missiles come in various types and sizes, ranging from small, shoulder-launched anti-tank missiles to large, long-range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Missiles can be propelled by liquid or solid-fueled rocket engines. The most significant and complex component of the missile is its guidance system. A missile GUIDANCE system maintains the missile's flight path from launcher to target.

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List of Missiles in India

India has developed and deployed several missiles for various military purposes. Here is an Indian Missiles List

  • Agni I
  • Agni II
  • Agni III
  • Agni IV
  • Agni V
  • Prithvi I
  • Prithvi I
  • Akash Missile (3 Variants at various stages of development) – Akash 1-S, Akash Mark-II, Akash-NG
  • Trishul
  • Dhanush
  • Novator K-100
  • Shaurya
  • BrahMos
  • Nirbhay
  • Sagarika (K-15)
  • Amogha
  • Nag
  • Helina
  • Amogha
  • Barak 8
  • Astra Missile
  • K- IV & V, etc.

About Various Types of Indian Missiles- In Details

Name of the Missile

Sub 

Category of Missile

Types of Missiles

Launch period

Operational Range

Speed

MICA

Air to Air Missile

Air to Air Missile

11 June 2007

500 m to 80 km

Mach 4

Astra Missile

Air to Air Missile

Air to Air Missile

18 March 2015

80-110 km

Mach 4.5 +

Novator K-100

Medium Range Air to Air Missile

Air to Air Missile

1993

300-400 km

Mach 3.3

Trishul

Short Range Surface to Air Missile

Surface to Air Missile

27 March 2004

9 km

An issue arised in this missile as it was not able to hit the targets with precision, Hence, India decided to import Barak Missiles from Israel in its place.

Akash Missile (3 Variants at various stages of development) – Akash 1-S, Akash Mark-II, Akash-NG

Medium Range Surface to Air Missile

Surface to Air Missile

3 August 2014

Akash 1-S – 18-30 km

Akash Mark-II – 35-40 km

Akash-NG – More than 50 km

Mach 2.5 to 3.5

Barak 8

Long Range Surface to Air Missile

Surface to Air Missile

20 September 2016

100 km

Mach 2

Prithvi Air Defense

Exo-Atmospheric Interceptor Missile

Surface to Air Missile

22 December 2010

2000 km

Mach 8

Agni I

Medium Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

1989

700-1250 km

Mach 7.5

Agni II

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

30 September 2011

2000-3000 km

Mach 12

Agni III

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

7 May 2008

Around 3000 km

5-6 km/sec

Agni IV

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

2011

Around 4000 km

Mach 7

Agni V

Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

19 April 2012

Around 5000 km

Mach 24

Prithvi I

Short Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

27 January 1996

150 km

–

Prithvi II

Short Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

21 February 2018

350 km

–

Dhanush

Short Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

24 April 2012

350-600 km

–

Shaurya

Medium Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

24 September 2011

750-1900 km

–

Prahaar

Short Range Ballistic Missile

Surface to Surface Missile

21 July 2011

150 km

–

BrahMos

Supersonic Cruise Missile

Cruise Missile

12 June 2001

290 km

Mach 2.8 to Mach 3

BrahMos II

Hypersonic Cruise Missile

Cruise Missile

2021

1000 km

Mach 7

Nirbhay

Subsonic Cruise Missile

Cruise Missile

15 April 2019

1000-1500 km

Mach 0.8

Prithvi Air Defense (PAD)

Exo-Atmospheric Anti-Ballistic Missile

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Systems/Interceptor Missiles

22 December 2010

Altitude – 80 km

Mach 5 +

Prithvi Defense Vehicle (PDV)

Exo-Atmospheric Anti-Ballistic Missile

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) Systems/Interceptor Missiles

11 February 2017

5000 km

Mach 4.5

Advanced Air Defense (AAD)/Ashwin Ballistic Missile Interceptor

Endoatmospheric Anti-Ballistic Missile

2 December 2007

Altitude – 30 km

–

–

Sagarika (K-15)

Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

Ballistic Missile

11 March 2012

Around 750 km

–

K – 4

Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

Ballistic Missile

24 March 2014

Around 3000 km

–

K – 5

Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

Ballistic Missile

2022

Around 5000 km

–

Amogha

Anti Tank Guided Missile

Anti Tank Missile

14 October 2017

2.8 km

–

Nag

Anti Tank Guided Missile

Anti Tank Missile

19 July 2019

500 m – 4 km

230 m/s

Helina

Anti Tank Guided Missile

Anti Tank Missile

11 April 2022

7 – 10 km

–

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Indian missile defence system

India has developed a multi-layered missile defence system to protect against incoming ballistic missile threats. The Indian missile defence system includes; 

  • Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) System
  • Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System
  • Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System
  • S-400 Triumf

Prithvi Air Defence (PAD) System (For high-altitude interception)

The PAD system is designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles at an altitude of up to 80 km (exo-atmospheric). It uses interceptor missiles to destroy incoming missiles before they reach their targets.

Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System (For lower altitude interception)

The Advanced Air Defence (AAD) System is a missile defence system that can intercept incoming ballistic missiles at altitudes of up to 30 km (endoatmospheric), making it an important component of India's integrated missile defence system for lower altitude interception.

Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) System

The BMD system is a combination of the exo-atmospheric PAD and endo-atmospheric AAD systems, designed to provide a double-layered defense against ballistic missile threats. It uses a combination of interceptor missiles and radar systems to track and destroy incoming missiles.

S-400 Triumf

India has also purchased five S-400 Triumf air defense system units from Russia. The first three S-400 Triumf reached India in December 2021 and April 2022, respectively, and the remaining two systems will be delivered by the end of 2023. This system is designed to intercept and destroy a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, drones, and ballistic missiles.

List of Missiles (UPSC Science): Download PDF Here!

Conclusion

By detecting and thwarting incoming missile assaults, missile defense systems can reduce casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. More crucially, strategic deterrence is considerably aided by missile defense. India must constantly improve its missile ecosystem in order to better address the growing security issues in the complex global scenario in the coming years.

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List of Missiles FAQs

India has around 29 Missiles.

It is a device which is programmed to hit a specific target by following a specific trajectory in a specific period of time.

Due to the rocket propellant they use, cruise missiles primarily fly by themselves for the most of their flight, in a relatively straight line, and at lower altitudes. On the other hand, a ballistic missile's flight path resembles a wide arc that moves up and then down.

Ballistic missiles are stopped by surface-to-air weapons called anti-ballistic missiles (ABM) (missile defense). Ballistic missiles can carry conventional, nuclear, chemical, or biological warheads and have a ballistic trajectory.

Prithvi is the first missile of India.
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