India's missile journey: From early setbacks to a sophisticated weapons arsenal
India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation transformed a series of failed projects into a full-spectrum indigenous missile programme, now covering strategic, conventional and hypersonic systems.
India’s missile capability grew from a patchwork of abandoned 1960s and 1970s projects into a comprehensive indigenous portfolio, thanks to the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s network of laboratories. The 1983 Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, overseen by A P J Abdul Kalam, simultaneously produced Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and Agni, laying the groundwork for later strategic systems such as Agni-V with MIRV capability.
Collaborative ventures like the Indo-Russian BrahMos cruise missile and joint medium- and long-range SAMs with Israel Aerospace Industries expanded export potential and air-defence depth. Recent achievements include the maiden flight of the Kusha SAM in July 2026, successful anti-satellite tests, and ongoing development of scramjet-based hypersonic missiles and advanced photonics radars. These advances reflect a broader DRDO strategy—DRDO 2.0—to integrate AI, quantum and directed-energy technologies for future battlefields.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTCentrist coverage emphasizes Russia's partnership with Adani Defence and Indian state manufacturers, while right-leaning coverage highlights the evolution of India's indigenous missile programme and recent technical milestones.
CENTER
Centrist coverage frames the story around new Russia-India defence deals, spotlighting Adani Defence’s role and the focus on technology transfer and co-production with state firms.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the story as a narrative of India’s missile development success, stressing indigenous capability, historic programmes, and recent advanced tests.
The right emphasises
- India’s missile capability grew from abandoned 1960s-70s projects into a comprehensive indigenous portfolio
- The 1983 Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme produced Prithvi, Trishul, Akash, Nag and Agni
- Recent achievements include the maiden flight of the Kusha SAM, anti-satellite tests, and ongoing scramjet development
