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ShareNEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence insisted on Monday that "the missile development programmes are going on as required by the country," even as sources in the scientific establishment privately expressed disappointment that the going is slow on the development of a full-fledged Inter Continental Ballistic Missile(ICBM).
The government was responding to the DNA report today that it has asked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) not to pursue with the development of an ICBM for now.
"There are no instructions from the government to the scientists," a ministry spokesman said. "The missile development programmes are going on as required," he added.
Dependable sources in the establishment have told DNA that DRDO has been asked to cap the range of its ballistic missile programme for now at 5000 kilometers. DRDO is now working on such a missile with a maximum range of 5000 kilometers, named Agni-III* (Agni three star). The Agni-III* would primarily be developed by adding a stage to the Agni-III, which was successfully test-fired on April 12 this year.
Reaffirming the fact that brakes have been applied on the ambition to develop an ICBM, sources said the Agni-III* for now would be the longest-range missile in India's accoutrements kitty.
Many within the scientific establishment said India should look at developing inter-continental capabilities, keeping in tune with its own growing military and economic abilities.
The government is concerned about the adverse international reactions and sanctions if India was to proceed with an ICBM development at this stage, especially when the Indo-US nuclear deal is at a crucial stage.
Defence analyst Brahma Chellany pointed out that all the permanent members of the UN Security Council possess inter-continental missile capabilities.
