What is it?
- The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was India’s indigenous comprehensive missile development effort that commenced in the early 1980s.
- This is an initiative under the Ministry of Defence.
- Initiated in 1983 under the leadership of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, IGMDP envisaged attaining self-reliance in missile technologies for national security priorities.
Evolution
- 1983-84: Developing infrastructure and training scientific talent.
- 1984-89: Prithvi and Trishul missile advances.
- 1989-92: Mastering Nag anti-tank and Akash SAM missiles.
- 1992-2008: Mature Agni ballistic missiles proving the program a success.
Objective
- Principal Technologies: The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme established research facilities and hands-on mastery over dozens of technologies needed – propellants, aerodynamics, navigation, control systems, etc.
- Production Infrastructure: This Program set up dedicated assembly lines and facilities so developed missiles can be manufactured in numbers efficiently.
- Deployment Capabilities: This Program enables the transition of successfully developed missile systems into the armed services through extensive field trials validation and induction into units.