The Surya-1 Missile

The Surya-1 is an intercontinental-range, surface-based, solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile under development. It is based upon a space launch vehicle being developed by India’s space program to improve the nation’s aerospace industry. This project would result in India’s first intercontinental-range ballistic missile. 

The Surya-1 and -2 will be classified as a strategic weapon. It will likely be used to extend the Indian nuclear deterrent force to targets deeper within China. India can only hit a limited number of targets within China, even upon the completion of the Agni-3 missile. The development of a true ICBM would make almost any strategic target within China vulnerable and decrease India’s relative weakness. This would develop a credible deterrent for India against any Chinese aggression. 

The Surya-1 will have an expected range of some 8,000 km (4971 miles). It reportedly has a length of 40 m and a launch weight of 80,000 kg. As the missile has yet to be developed, the payload and warhead are as yet unknown. It is believed to be a three-stage design, with the first two stages using solid propellant and the third-stage using liquid. 

The Surya-2 is a longer-ranged variant of the Surya-1. It has a reported range of 12,000 km (7456 miles). This is likely accomplished by decreasing the payload. 

If India can make a rocket which goes to space. It can Make 12,000 ranged ICBM too.

Class: ICBM 

Basing: Surface based 

Length: 40.00 m 

Launch Weight: 80,000 kg 

Propulsion: First/second stage solid, third liquid 

Range: 8,000, 12,000 km 

Status: Development / Developed to be tested 

In Service: Exp. 2008 

The report of Surya ICBM has not been confirmed by officials of the Indian government and have repeatedly denied the existence of the project.The Surya ICBM is an ICBM program that has been mentioned repeatedly in the Indian press .India: The U.S. Nuclear Deal and Indian ICBMs - Startfor Estimates of the range of this missile vary from 5,000 kmsIndia adds oomph to its space race By Siddharth Srivastava It is believed to be a three-stage design, with the first two stages using solid propellants and the third-stage using liquid.

According to a report published in The Nonproliferation Review, in the Winter of 1995, Surya (meaning the Sun in Sanskrit and many Indian languages) is the codename for the first Intercontinental Ballistic Missile that India is reported to be developing. The DRDO is believed to have begun the project in 1994. This report has not been confirmed by any other sources until 2009. Officials of the Indian government have repeatedly denied the existence of the project.

According to the 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.The Surya is speculated to have a range between 8,000 to 12,000 kilometers.

At least one source has reported that a 12,000-km range, 80,000-kg weight ballistic missile, designated Surya, was under development. (1) The status of the Surya [Sun] ICBM program is unclear, with some report indicating that the development of this system was initiated in 1994. Conflicting reports regarding the Surya's configuration claim that it will be based on the components of the polar space launch vehicle (PSLV) and the Agni IRBM, and that it will have a range between 8000 and 12,000 kms. (2) 

In October 2005 it was reported that India was developing a three state missile with solid fuel rockets in the first and second stages, and a liquid propellant rocket in the third stage. The launch weight of the missile was said to be 270 to 275 tonnes. The missile could 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. The ICBM was being developed by combining the technology of the Agni II with that of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. It was expected to have a range of more than 8,000 km. At that time it was reported that the ICBM was likely to be test-fired by 2008, and was expected to be added to the Indian armed forces' deterrence arsenal by 2015.