This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here. Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.

1986
The Soviet Union offers to sell 48 SS-21 (Tochka) surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs) to India for 2.88 billion rupees. The Indian Army expresses an interest in purchasing the system. However, Minister of State for Defense Arun Singh rules out the purchase unless Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) fails to deliver the Prithvi SSM on schedule. [Note: The Soviet SS-21 "Scarab" missile is also known as Tochka (Point). The SS-21 was designed by Kolomna OKB as a replacement for the short-range Free Rocket Over Ground (FROG) missile and introduced in service in 1976. The SS-21 is a short-range, road-mobile, solid-propellant, single-warhead ballistic missile. A longer-range "Scarab B" (120km-range) was introduced around 1986 and there are "unconfirmed" reports of a "Scarab C" with a range of 185km. The Scarab A is "6.4m in length and 0.65m in diameter. It has a launch weight of 2,000kg and a minimum range of 15km and maximum range of 70km. Propulsion is a single-stage solid booster, and the missile uses an inertial guidance system. The control system employs four paddle-type rear-mounted control fins...these can control the missile in boost and terminal phases when within the atmosphere. In addition, vanes in the motor efflux contribute to stability immediately after launch. The paddle-type control fins and control vanes are electrically actuated. The missile is reported to be able to fly either ballistic or cruise profiles, the latter profile uses wing lift and keeps the maximum altitude at around 30km followed by a steep dive onto the target." The Scarab A can deliver a 482kg conventional, chemical, or nuclear warhead. The missile is transported on a six-wheeled modified ZIL-5937 or BAZ 5921 transporter-erector launcher (TEL) and the associated transloader vehicle carries an additional two missiles. The SS-21 A has an accuracy of 150m circle of equal probability (CEP). The "Scarab B" uses a "new motor and improved guidance and control...the weight has been increased to 2,010kg and the maximum range has been increased to 120km...[and] minimum range of 20km..." The "Scarab B is reported to have the capability to make preprogrammed maneuvers upto 10g during the terminal phase of flight to make interception more difficult for the defense...the Scarab B has an accuracy of 95m CEP."]
—Raj Chengappa, "The Funny Guys Did It," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers, 2000) pp. 317-318; "SS-21 'Scarab' (OTR-21/9M79 Tochka)," Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 32, (Coulsdon, Surrey), February 2000, pp. 126-127.

1986
India sends a technical team to Japan to negotiate the sale of one or two supercomputers from the Nippon Electric Company (NEC) for Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) in Bangalore (Karnataka). India is now believed to be in the market for up to four supercomputers from both Japan and the United States. The Indian team holds at least two rounds of talks at a technical level with NEC officials.
—Richard M. Weintraub, "US, India Near Supercomputer Deal; Sale Reportedly Hinges on Negotiations Over Safeguards," Washington Post, 8 July 1986, p. D1; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 8 July 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

1986
Indian rocket scientists identify key technology areas for the advancement of India's long-term satellite launch vehicle (SLV) program. The technology areas encompass solid and liquid propulsion, advanced materials, fabrication, propellants, polymers, chemicals, guidance and control, fluid mechanics, atmospheric flight mechanics, astrodynamics, aerospace communication and avionics, computer systems and software technology, and ground installations. Here are the details of these key technology areas:

Solid Propulsion
Improvements in computer-aided design capabilities; improved instrumentation and data acquisition systems for static and flight-tests; upgrades in non-destructive testing (NDT) technology; advancements in thermal design, heat transfer, and structural performance of nozzles; development of fabrication technology for advanced composites and 2D/3D carbon-carbon structures.

Liquid Propulsion
Development and qualification of cryogenic engine and stage; development of a 100-ton class thrust engine or cluster of smaller cryogenic engines for a larger cryo stage; development of ground test facilities for the testing of cryogenic engine/stage systems; development of advanced monopropellant hydrazine thrusters of different ratings for orientation and control of launch vehicles; development of liquid bipropellant systems to replace the solid apogee motors in large earth orbiting spacecraft; development of large, light-alloy structural fabrication technology for fuel tanks and auxiliary structures; software development for liquid propulsion and heat transfer analysis.

Propellants, Polymers, and Chemicals
Advanced inexpensive polymers for use as binders in high-energy solid propellants; high-strength, high-temperature resistant plastic for structural components and containers; high-strength organic fibers; advanced polymide resin systems for fiber-reinforced plastics and composites; conducting plastic materials for vibration and shock isolators; insulating plastics, polyurethane foams, and resin systems; MYLAR, Kapton sheets and foils; production of liquid oxygen and hydrogen, unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine (UDMH), monomethylhydrazine, hydrazine, aerozine in pure forms, nitrogen tetroxide in different grades, Kerosene, and RP-1 fuel.

Fabrication
Integration of cast components to minimize detail parts; fabrication of large metallic composite inter-tank bulkheads for liquid cryogenic stage applications; computer-aided manufacturing techniques for fabrication of complex elements such as pump impellers, turbine blades; fabrication of thrust chambers and injectors adopting electroforming, laser drilling, spark erosion, rigi-mesh welding; flow forming of contour nozzles; forming thin walled tubes and brazing for regeneratively cooled nozzles; fabrication of integrally stiffened liquid tankage structures with isogrid construction; advanced fabrication methods for innovative designs in composites and metallic structures.

Guidance & Control
Development of laser- and fiber-optic gyros and other inertial sensors; multiple redundant guidance and navigation systems; distributed control systems for large space vehicles; advanced simulation techniques and associated software.

Fluid Mechanics
Advances in computational fluid dynamics; numerical optimization for design; time-dependent simulations of turbulent flows; development of laser holography and other techniques for non-intrusive measurement of properties and visualizing the flow field.

Atmospheric Flight Mechanics
Atmospheric entry at high angles of attack (40° to the nominal), and aerothermodynamics; transition and turbulent flow at high-altitudes; stability and control of a large lifting vehicle; hypersonic flow interactions between control surfaces and thick boundary layers at high Reynolds numbers; compilation of flight data for creation of an extensive data bank.

Astrodynamics
Advances in mission-analysis techniques; improvements in mathematical modeling of space vehicle dynamics.

Aerospace Communication and Avionics
Adoption of more robust modulation and demodulation schemes to obviate problems of increased noise in radio signal propagation and interference; advanced digital signal processing techniques; improvements in time and frequency division, multiple-access systems; development of Ku band (44/30/20-GHz) for higher capacity; high-speed real-time processing of data from space; high-gain multiple-beam satellite antennae for use in conjunction with small terminals for data links from space vehicles; development of very largre scale integration (VLSI) circuit with high reliability; laser- and fiber-optic communication links for ground systems.

Computer Systems and Software Technology
Dynamic modeling for large multibody vehicles; guidance and control algorithm, multiple reference to coordinate system; onboard microcomputers with bit slice and advanced microprocessors with multiple redundancy and self-diagnostics, FDI logic, and reconfiguration facilities; higher-level languages and programming techniques; use of supercomputers; computer-based methods in statistical quality control, quality assurance, reliability prediction, and probability of mission success.

Facilities & Ground Installations
Establishment of facilities for ground testing and evaluation of propulsion, avionics, control and auxiliary systems; operational facilities for systems integration, checkout, and launching; offshore launch base, recovery and refurbishment and servicing of space vehicles, sea and land recovery of booster/landing vehicles with powered/unpowered phase of flights; multiple global tracking and data relay spacecraft-based network support for large space vehicles; shipborne communications and tracking systems.
—S. Srinivasan and M. Sundaresan, "Technology Challenges Posed by Space Launch Vehicle Programs," Journal of Aerospace Society of India, vol. 38, no. 2, 1986, pp. 87-90.

March 1986
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) postpones the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) maiden launch to July-August 1986.
—Raj Chengappa, "Space Programme: Sudden Snags," India Today (New Delhi), 16-30 April 1986, p. 84.

April 1986
Residents of Chaumukh village in the Baliapal area (Orissa) launch a nonviolent political movement to oppose the setting up the National Testing Range (NTR). Villagers set up barricades at Panchapali, Kachna, Jamkunda and deny entry to government officials.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 54.

21 May 1986
The Union government formally announces plans to build the National Testing Range (NTR) in Baliapal (Orissa). The missile range will cover an area of 160 square kilometers and result in the evacuation of nearly 70,000 villagers from 130 villages. The total cost of the project is estimated at 30 billion rupees. The government also announces a 1.27 billion rupee rehabilitation package in the hope of placating local opposition to the project. The plan is to be implemented by the Orissa state government, whose ruling party is the Congress-(I). The plan intends to relocate the people of Baliapal into model villages 15km away from their present homes, each family receiving a house built of 10 decimals of land (one-tenth of an acre) costing 15,000 rupees. The proposed model villages will contain schools, hospitals, community centers, and post offices. The government also proposes to establish nine industries (spinning, leather, oil, and tool manufacture) to provide job opportunities for at least one member of each displaced family. The industries are expected to employ 4,000 people; in addition, the range is expected to generate approximately 470 jobs.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), pp. 41, 64-65.

July 1986
The United States says that it is prepared to respond favorably to an Indian request to purchase supercomputers, pending the negotiation of adequate safeguards with New Delhi. The United States also seeks a common policy with Japan for the sale of supercomputers to friendly countries outside the Western alliance to ensure that the technology does not fall into the hands of the Soviet block of countries. Under the US proposal, broad outlines for appropriate sales would be established and then specific sales would be decided on a case-by-case basis. Japanese officials say that they find the US approach "too broad and too stringent."
—Richard M. Weintraub, "US, India Near Supercomputer Deal; Sale Reportedly Hinges on Negotiations Over Safeguards," Washington Post, 8 July 1986, p. D1; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 8 July 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

August 1986
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) begins preliminary discussions for a manned space flight in the 1990s. ISRO chairman Professor U.R. Rao say, "while we would have the capability of launching a man in space by the '90s, the real question is whether we can afford to do it." In addition, ISRO also plans to develop recoverable booster rockets to reduce the costs of launch.
—Raj Chengappa, "Manned Spacecraft: Plans in Orbit," India Today (New Delhi), 16-31 August 1986, p. 77.

August 1986
Due to local opposition, the union government scales back the area of the proposed National Testing Range (NTR) at Baliapal from 160 square kilometers to 102 square kilometers (68 square kilometers for the range and 34 square kilometers for the safety zone). The revised project is expected to cost 11 billion rupees and the government estimates that it will likely affect 41,000 people. Groups opposing the project, however, estimate that the number of evictees will be closer to 130,000 people. In addition, they also estimate that the project will indirectly affect an additional 200,000 people who migrate from West Bengal to Baliapal for seasonal employment, 100,000 people who obtain indirect employment through the cash crop economy, and 30,000 fishermen from the area who fish along the Subarnarekha river and the coast.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 41.

September 1986
Ved Prakash Sandlas, former project director of the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) SLV-3 program, joins the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO).
—Gopal Raj, "SLV-3: India's First Launch Vehicle," Reach for the Stars: The Evolution of India's Rocket Programme (New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India, 2000), p. 72.

September 1986
US intelligence officials allege that India may have acquired 12 SS-21 ballistic missiles with their transporter-erector launchers (TELs) from the Soviet Union. In July 1986, US intelligence monitors detected a shipment of 12 missiles and TELs leaving a Black Sea port. The missiles were not delivered to Syria; neither were they offloaded at the Jordanian port of Aqabah. The ship carrying the missile shipment was ultimately located in an Indian port. Indian defense experts dismiss the US intelligence leak as "highly imaginative."
—"India reportedly gets Soviet SS-21 missiles," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 6 September 1986; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 6 September 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

October 1986
The United States indicates its willingness to sell an advanced radar system to India for its new national missile test facility in Orissa. American officials say that the radar is highly advanced and will give India the capability to test rockets. India's scientific advisor to the defense minister Dr. V.S. Arunachalam says that India's approach is to "get the best technology available...at mutually acceptable terms."
—Steven R. Weisman, "U.S. to Sell High-Tech Equipment to India for Arms-Upgrading Plan," New York Times, 1 October 1986, p. 15; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 1 October 1986, <http://web.lexis.nexis.com>.

2 October 1986
The United States extends a $27 million aid package to India for a mainframe computer manufacturing plant. The plant will be built by the US-based Control Data Corporation for the Indian-government-owned Electronics Corporation of India (ECIL) in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). The aid package will cover the cost of importing manufacturing equipment and related-technology transfers for building 400 to 600 Cyber 830 and 810 mainframe computers. American officials estimate that ECIL's total purchase could amount to $500 million. Although the Indian government decided to award the contract to Control Data Corporation in 1985, the project was blocked by the Reagan administration pending Indian assurances to the US government that the computers would not be used for nuclear weapons-related research.
—John Elliott, "Aid Finalised for Indian Computer Purchase," Financial Times (London), 2 October 1986, p. 6; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 2 October 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

October 1986
India signs contracts worth $6 to 7 million with two US-based companies, Vitro and Scientific Atlanta, for the supply of advanced missile range technology.
—John Elliott, "India Courts Superpowers for Technology and Aid," Financial Times (London), 10 October 1986, p. 8; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 10 October 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

11 October 1986
US Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger arrives in New Delhi. During his visit, he tours Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore (Karnataka), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) in Hyderabad, (Andhra Pradesh), and Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bangalore.
—"Caspar Weinberger Arrives 11 October, Issues Statement," Delhi Domestic Service, 11 October 1986, in FBIS VIII, 14 October 1986, p. E.1.

31 October 1986
India's scientific advisor to the defense minister Dr. V.S. Arunachalam tells reporters that scientists at the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) have successfully developed and tested a high-thrust, liquid-fueled rocket engine that generates a thrust of 30-tons and is capable of lifting a payload to a height of 600km into space. According to Arunachalam, the thrust chamber of the engine has been fabricated with stainless steel; propellants are fed with the help of indigenously developed high-performance turbo-pumps.
—"India makes headway in rocket development," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 31 October 1986; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 31 October 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

November 1986
The Reagan administration decides to permit the sale of US supercomputers to India. However, US Commerce Secretary Malcolm Baldrige cautions that the United States could sell computers to India "if the security conditions are met." Indian newspapers report that the Indian government has sent a letter of intent to purchase a supercomputer from Cray Research Corp. of Minneapolis.
—Stuart Auerbach, "U.S. to Let India Buy Supercomputer; Nation Must First Agree to Safeguard Advanced Machine's Secrets from the Soviets," Washington Post, 1 November 1986, p. C1; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 1 November 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

November 1986
The Indian-government-owned BEL faces difficulties in trying to obtain "monopulse coherent tracking radars and associated signal processors" from the US-based Scientific Atlanta; US defense officials believe that the technology, which is used for tracking satellites or missiles, is far too advanced and has proliferation implications. BEL's General Manager for Research and Development, K. Menon, says that the deal will most likely be rejected by the US government and India may have to develop the technology indigenously.
[Note: Monopulse tracking radar is capable of "obtaining directional information with great accuracy."]
—John H. Cushman Jr., "US Military Sales to India Hit Snags," New York Times, 2 November 1986, p. 5; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 2 November 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology (Harcourt) <http://www.harcourt.com>.

3 December 1986
The government's decision to relocate approximately 6,000 families from the villages surrounding the missile test site in the Balasore district of Orissa draws criticism from opposition parties in parliament. India's Minister of State for Defense, Arun Singh, tells the Lok Sabha that Balasore was selected after examining a total of 30 sites in the country. Balasore is the best site on strategic and technological considerations and no alternative location is available on the north-south axis.
—"Minister defends selection of missile test site," New Delhi Home Service, 4 December 1986; in BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 5 December 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Defense Minister Views Balasore Missile Test Range," Delhi Domestic Service, 6 August 1986, in FBIS VIII, 7 August 1986, p. E1.

29 December 1986
After a year deadlock, Indian and US negotiators reach a tentative agreement on the sale for a $12-15 million Cray supercomputer to India. The United States agrees to permit the use of the supercomputer for meteorological sciences, agriculture, health, molecular biology, and solid-state physics. However, no national networking will be allowed. In addition, the security of the computer will be handled by India.
—Sheila Tefft, "Planned Sale of US Computer to India Points up to Snags in Relations," Christian Science Monitor (Boston), 29 December 1986, p. 8; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 29 December 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Inderjit Badhwar, "Supercomputer: A Diplomatic Triumph," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 February 1987, p. 41.

1987
The Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) establishes a computer-aided design and manufacturing facility to help with the design and development of missiles.
—Dr. N.C. Birla and B.S. Murthy, eds., "Airframe Structures & Composite Components," in Indian Defense Technology: Missile Systems (New Delhi: Defence Research and Development Organization, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, 1998), p. 51.

24 March 1987
The maiden flight of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) fails 162 seconds after lift-off from the Sriharikota High-Altitude Range (SHAR) in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh). The 23.5m-high, 40-ton, five-stage rocket is designed to lift a 145kg satellite into orbit. Indian Space Commission chairman Professor U.R. Rao says that the rocket appeared to have malfunctioned after the first stage. According to Rao, "the stage separation took place but may not [have been] at the right time." The Director of SHAR, M.R. Kurup says "it appears that the failure of the motor to burn is the main reason for ASLV-1 not going up, but it will be two weeks before we can conclude why the motor failed."
—Richard M. Weintraub, "Launch Failure Delays Indian Rocket Program," Washington Post, 24 March 1987, p. A16; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 25 March 1987, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; "Rocket crash strikes blow to Indian plans," Toronto Star, 25 March 1987, p. A9; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 25 March 1987, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Amarnath K. Menon, "ASLV Programme: Setback in the Sky," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 April 1987, p. 68.

March 1987
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) appoints a Failure Analysis Committee under the leadership of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) Associate Director R. Aravamudan to determine the causes of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle's (ASLV) failure. The committee is asked to submit its report within one month.
—Gopal Raj, "The ASLV: A Technological Bridge," Reach for the Stars: The Evolution of India's Rocket Programme (New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India, 2000), p. 132.

25 March 1987
The Minister for Science and Technology, K.R. Narayanan, informs Lok Sabha that the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) launch failed due a suspected malfunction in the motor after 163 seconds. The vehicle performed normally for 48.5 seconds and telemetry data was received by mission control throughout the flight duration. The two important new technologies incorporated in the ASLV, including the strap-on booster rockets, performed satisfactorily.
—"Minister Comments on Failure of Rocket Launch," Delhi Domestic Service, 25 March 1987, in FBIS VIII, p. E1.

27 March 1987
The United States agrees to sell India a supercomputer of relatively limited power.
A US interagency group comprised of officials from the departments of defense, state, and commerce issue a communiqué saying that India is free to purchase the Cyber 205, a Cray 1 or approximately the same vintage, a single-processor Cray-XMP or some "other machine of equivalent capability." India retains the option to purchase a supercomputer from the Japan's NEC, which has agreed to sell single-processor machines to India.
—David E. Sanger, "U.S. Lets India Buy Computer," New York Times, 27 March 1987, pp. 1-3; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 27 March 1987, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

1 April 1987
The Minister for Science & Technology, K.R. Narayanan, tells parliament that the next launch of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) will take place in a year's time. Narayanan says that the rocket launch and satellite payload cost 60 and 40 million rupees, respectively.
—"Minister Briefs Parliament on Space Programs," Delhi Domestic Service, 1 April 1987, in FBIS VIII, 2 April 1987, p. E1.

7 April 1987
Indian space scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) say that a preliminary analysis carried out by the Failure Analysis Committee appointed to investigate the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) failure has concluded that the crucial strap-on booster technology performed well. The main cause of the failure has been traced to the failure of the first-stage motor to ignite on receiving an ignition command from the on-board computer.
—"ASLV Technology Good Despite Mission Failure," Delhi Domestic Service, 7 April 1987, in FBIS VIII, 8 April 1987, p. E1.

3 May 1987
A Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) spokesperson says that the lab is preparing to conduct the first test of the 150km-range Prithvi-I SSM in June 1987. The liquid-fueled SSM can deliver a 1,000kg payload over a 150km-range.
—"Government to Test Long-Range SAM in June," AFP (Hong Kong), 3 May 1987, in FBIS VIII, 4 May 1987, p. E2; "Details of Missiles Revealed," Delhi Domestic Service, 3 May 1987, in FBIS VIII, 4 May 1987, p. E2.

Late June 1987
The Failure Analysis Committee appointed to investigate the causes of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) failure identifies two possible scenarios that may have led to the crash. The first theory focuses on a possible fault in the switch of the rocket's safe arm device. Scientists speculate that the switch either did not open or malfunctioned due to a short circuit. The second theory centers on an unidentifiable flaw in the ignition system and circuitry of the first-stage motor. Although the committee reaches no firm conclusions, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) decides to remove the switch and safe-arm device from the second ASLV, which will be launched by April 1988. The next ASLV will also be provided with back-up systems to ensure that a single-point failure does not lead to the failure of the entire mission.
—Amarnath K. Menon, "ASLV: Finding the Flaws," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 August 1987, p. 73.

23 August 1987
Indian Defense Minister K. C. Pant lays the foundation stone for the second unit of Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Banaru village, Medak district (Andhra Pradesh). The unit, which is expected to cost 1.76 billion rupees, is being set up to manufacture anti-tank missiles.
—"Minister Notes Success in Defense Production," Delhi Domestic Service, 23 August 1987, in FBIS Document, "India," V, 27 August 1987, p. R2.

27 August 1987
The government informs parliament that it is exploring the possibility of manufacturing supercomputers in India as well as importing them from the United States. In addition, the Soviet Union has assured India of providing it with the latest computers produced in the country.
—"Soviet Union to Supply 'Latest Computers'," Delhi Domestic Service, 27 August 1987; in FBIS Document "India," V. 27 August 1987, p. R2.

30 August 1987
An Indian defense ministry's research and development report states that Indian entities have acquired self-reliance in the development of advanced missiles.
—"Defense Ministry Notes Development of Advanced Missiles," Delhi Domestic Service, 30 August 1987, in FBIS Document, "India," V, 31 August 1987, p. R2.

27 September 1987
The public-sector undertaking, Mishra Dhatu Nigam (MDN), Midhani, Hyderabad, (Andhra Pradesh ) begins producing maraging steel. The steel will be used to build the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The firm also manufactures a wide range of special metals and superalloys for use in India's aerospace, space, and nuclear sectors.
—"Public Firm Produces Maraging Steel," Delhi Domestic Service, 27 September 1988, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-87-187, 28 September 1988, p. 48.

26 November 1987
Minister of State for Defense, Shivraj Patil, tells parliament that India has contracted to purchase Sea Eagle anti-ship missiles from Britain. [Note: The Sea Eagle is a "short-range, air-launched, turbojet-powered, single-warhead, air-to-surface missile." It has a length of 4.14m, body diameter of 0.4m, and launch weight of 600kg. The Sea Eagle can deliver a single "230kg HE semi-armor piercing warhead" over a maximum range of 110km.]
—"Contract to Buy UK Sea Eagle Missiles Signed," Delhi Domestic Service, 26 November 1987, in FBIS-NES-87-229, 30 November 1987, p. 59; "Offensive Weapons: Sea Eagle," Duncan Lennox ed., Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 32, (Coulsdon, Surrey: United Kingdom, 2000).

November 1987
Indian scientists, C.N.R. Rao of the Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) in Bangalore (Karnataka) and N. Seshagiri of the National Information Centre, New Delhi, submit proposals to develop a supercomputer. The Indian government approves Seshagiri's proposal, which will be carried out by the newly created Centre for the Development of Advanced Computing (CDAT) in Pune (Maharashtra). Seshagiri dismisses talk of acquiring supercomputers from the Soviet Union, claiming that India is ahead in supercomputer technology.
—T.N. Ninan, "Supercomputers: Home Made," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 November 1997, p. 56.

November 1987
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi tells parliament that India has decided to acquire two Cray XMP 14 supercomputers from the United States. One computer will be installed in New Delhi, while the other will be installed in Bangalore (Karnataka).
—"Gandhi on Acquiring Super Computer From US," Delhi Domestic Service, 19 November 1987, in FBIS-NES-87-225, 23 November 1987, p. 49.

Late 1980s
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) succeeds in producing hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) indigenously.
—Gopal Raj, "Developing Competence in Solid Propulsion," Reach for the Stars: The Evolution of India's Rocket Programme (New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India, 2000), p. 91.

1988
Indian scientists claim that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved important successes in indigenizing solid-propellant technologies. These successes include the engineering of a plant to manufacture ammonium perchlorate (AP) in Alwaye (Kerela), "building a Propellant Fuel Complex," indigenizing equipment like "perchlorate grinder and vertical mixer, and the development of a 4MeV linear accelerator..." They also divulge that ISRO's solid-rocket motors are of the "case-bonded" type. [Note: In "case-bonded" motors, the propellant is cast inside an insulated and lined rocket chamber and during "curing" the propellant grain sticks to the wall.]
—M.R. Kurup, V.N. Krishnamoorthy, and M.C. Uttam, "Development of Solid propellant technology in India," in R. Narasimha and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, eds., Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology (Bangalore: Indian Academy of Sciences, 1988), pp. 340-341.

1988
A report on the management of India's space program states that the Department of Space (DOS) has cooperated with the industrial sector in four key areas: technology transfer from the space sector to industry; acquisition of existing industrial technology for applications in the space program; procurement of goods and services from industry; and consultancy by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to the industry. From the mid-1970s, ISRO stressed cooperation with industry as a matter of policy. The number of technologies transferred from ISRO to industry increased from 3 in 1977 to 88 in 1984 and 129 in 1986. In this regard, the monetary value of the transfers increased from 130 million rupees in 1977-78 to 1.19 billion rupees in 1986-87. Since 1974, ISRO has also supported space-related academic research in the different academic institutions under a program called RESPOND.
—Y.S. Rajan, "Management of the Indian space programme," in R. Narasimha and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, eds., Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology (Bangalore: Indian Academy of Sciences, 1988), pp. 402-403.

1988
According to Indian scientists, the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre has developed "various inertial-grade sensors" like "rate-gyros, rate-integrating gyros, dynamically-tuned gyros, and servo-accelerometers" for India's satellite launch vehicles. "Rate-gyros have already been used in the SLV-3 and rate-integrating gyros with beryllium components have been qualified."
—S.C. Gupta and B.N. Suresh, "Inertial guidance system for Indian launch vehicles," in R. Narasimha and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, eds., Developments in Fluid Mechanics and Space Technology (Bangalore: Indian Academy of Sciences, 1988), p. 349.

January 1988
An Indian interagency group comprised of members from the foreign ministry and the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) visits the United States to review implementation of the Indo-US technology transfer agreement. Indian government sources suggest that there is now better appreciation in the United States of India's requirements for sensitive technologies. In this regard, the United States has cleared the sale of equipment for India's missile test range in Orissa.
—"United States to review technology transfer," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 12 January 1988; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 12 January 1988, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

25 February 1988
India conducts first flight-test of the 150km-range Prithvi-1 ballistic missile from Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Sriharikota High-Altitude Range (SHAR) in Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh). Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi informs parliament that all test requirements have been met.
—"Surface-to-Surface Missile Successfully Tested," Delhi Domestic Service, 25 February 1988, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-88-037, 25 February 1988, pp. 46-47; "Paper Details Missile Production Plans," Hindustan Times (New Delhi), 27 February 1988, pp. 1, 5, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-88-044, 7 March 1988, pp. 55-56.

26 February 1988
Indian defense scientists outline the organizational scale of India's Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMDP). They reveal that in addition to the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), 19 other defense laboratories, 21 public-sector organizations, and six private-sector units are also participating in the program. The future missile program involves the development of "dual-thrust, 'RAM' rocket- and liquid-propulsion system, strap-down inertial and command guidance system, homing guidance system, composite and metallic air-frames, phased array radar and ground system, high-performance high-explosive warheads, missile power systems, actuators, missile software, and simulation software" technologies. To ensure secrecy, DRDL is being relocated to a maximum-security complex at Imarat, located 20km from Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). The new 2,000-acre complex [a probable reference to Research Centre Imarat (RCI)] may also provide underground facilities for the production of different kinds of missiles.
—"Paper Details Missile Production Plans," Hindustan Times (New Delhi), 27 February 1988, pp. 1, 5, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-88-044, 7 March 1988, pp. 55-56.

March 1988
A CIA source says that "....India did not stop in 1974," after it exploded a nuclear device. He says that India possesses a "nuclear arsenal" that is "sophisticated and miniaturized." Another intelligence analyst adds that the Indian Air Force Jaguars have been observed practicing the "flip-toss maneuver" over the Himalayas—a special bombing technique used to deliver nuclear munitions. Intelligence sources also suggest that there is strong evidence to suggest that India has developed a nuclear warhead for use on surface-to-surface missiles with a 200-mile range.
—Richard Sale, "India said to upgrade nuclear arsenal," UPI, 19 March 1988; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 19 March 1988, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

3 March 1988
An Indian defense ministry spokesperson says that Indian scientists have successfully tested prototypes of a pilotless target aircraft (PTA), and PTA launch-boosters have been developed for the first time in the country. Scientists at Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bangalore (Karnataka) successfully test a "Mini-RPV" with real time in-flight TV transmission.
—"Defense Ministry Spokesman on Research Projects, AFP (Hong Kong), 3 March 1988, in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-88-043, 4 March 1988, pp. 54-55; J. Jayaraman, "Technological Advances and Cost Effectiveness of Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems," in H.S. Mukunda and A.V. Krishnamurty, eds., Recent Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Engineering: Volume II (Bangalore: Interline Publishing, 1992), p. 165.

April 1988
Local opposition groups in the Baliapal area destroy a model village under construction by the Orissa state government as part of the rehabilitation plan for the National Testing Range (NTR) evacuees.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 55.

22 April 1988
The Soviet Union offers to share the specifications of two supercomputer models—"Elbrus 3-1" and "EC 1068"—with India by the end of July 1988. K.P. Nambiar, secretary in the department of electronics, says that the Soviet supercomputers are compatible with the models that are available to India from the United States.
—"Computer Cooperation Accord Signed With USSR," Delhi Domestic Service, 22 April 1988, in FBIS-NES-88-081, 27 April 1988, p. 48.

May 1988
The Indian government's decision to establish an integrated test range in Orissa's Balasore district arouses strong local opposition. Thousands of villagers fearing displacement from their homes block roads to keep government officials away. The villagers demand that the site be shifted elsewhere. The government rejects the request and deploys an 8,000-member police force to maintain order.
—"Missile test range opposed in southeastern India," Xinhua Overseas General News Service (Beijing), 19 May 1986; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 19 May 1986, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

13 July 1988
Second launch of the 23.5m-high, 40-ton, four-stage Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV). The rocket fails to place a 145kg satellite in orbit. Mission control loses contact with the rocket 210-seconds after launch. The causes of the failure are not known and Indian Space Commission chairman Professor U.R. Rao says, "One has to suspect everything now, go back and look into everything." The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) appoints two committees, a "Failure Analysis Committee" headed by Dr. S.C. Gupta of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and an "Experts Review Panel" headed by Professor R. Narasimha, to investigate the reasons for failure and make recommendations on the development of future launch vehicle technology.
—"India Fails in 2nd Attempt to Launch Big Rocket," Los Angeles Times, 14 July 1988, p. 5; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 14 July 1988, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Amarnath K. Menon, "ASLV: Damning Findings," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 January 1989, p. 94.

July 1988
The Orissa government starts construction of 400 of the 6,500 houses in the model villages planned under the rehabilitation package for the National Testing Range (NTR) evacuees.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 55.

20 July 1988
Indian defense sources say that the government has appointed an inter-service "quality assurance panel" with representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, to oversee the Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMDP). The panel was formed after the second failure of Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) to ensure that bugs are removed from India's missile programs during the development phase.
—"Defense Team to Oversee Guided Missile Program," AFP (Hong Kong), 20 July 1988, in FBIS-NES-88-141, 22 July 1988, p. 43.

27 August 1988
President R.Venkataraman inaugurates Defense Research & Development Laboratory's (DRDL) Advanced Technology Institute in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh).
—"Industrial Production; Guided missile institute opened," 27 August 1988; in BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 7 September 1988, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

October 1988
Indian defense scientists claim that they have developed a conceptual design for an air-breathing hypersonic vehicle in collaboration with Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). The aircraft will be based on a new principle with "payload capabilities one order of magnitude higher than even the most advanced rocket launchers." The new single-stage vehicle will be a hybrid of a jet aircraft and a rocket. It will take off from a conventional runway and a fan ramjet engine will assist its take off and climb to cruise altitude. A scramjet engine will then accelerate it to eight times the speed of sound. Thereafter, the liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen produced and collected during flight will burn in a rocket engine and propel the vehicle into space.
—"Science and Technology; Hyperplane/self-fuelling rocket designed," 10 October 1988; BBC Summary of World Broadcasts," in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 19 October 1988, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

1989
Colonel V.J. Sundaram, project director of Prithvi missile project, is promoted to the position of deputy director of the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL). V.K. Saraswat, former deputy director of Prithvi project, is appointed new director of Prithvi program.
—Raj Chengappa, "The Agni Pariksha," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 350-351.

1989
The Agni-team, led by R.N. Agarwal, decides to introduce design-modifications to extend the missile's range from 800-1,200km. Since the first-stage solid-fueled motor, built by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), cannot be upgraded without long delays, the team decides to modify the Prithvi's liquid-fueled engines in the second stage. In the first test of the Agni (22 May 1989), the Prithvi's liquid-fuel tanks were modified to reduce burnout from 100 seconds to 50 seconds. For the second test, the missile scientists decide to restore the burnout time to 100 seconds. The team also extends the nozzle of the engine "sideways" to double the thrust. In another significant change, the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) dispenses with the six-ullage motors that were used to keep the missile flying at the same velocity during the transition from the first to the second stage. Instead, a decision is made to ignite the second-stage motor even before the first-stage motor burns out completely. In order to do this, the first and second stages are separated by giant rings of steel held by crossed girders.
—Raj Chengappa, "Caught in the Crosshairs," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 371-372.

1989
The Interim Test Range (ITR), a dedicated facility to test airborne weapon systems, is completed. The test range is spread over 17km along India's eastern coast and is located at Chandipur, 15km from Balasore (Orissa). The range includes a number of tracking instruments to cover the total flight path of test vehicles. Test facilities include mobile and fixed electro-optical tracking systems, mobile S-band tracking radar (KAMA-N), fixed C-band (PCMC) tracking radar, fixed and mobile telemetry systems, range computer, close circuit television system, photo processing system, meteorological system, and range safety system. According to Indian government sources, the ITR is being designed to track long-range missiles, air defense missiles, weapon systems delivered by combat aircraft, multi-target weapon systems, and high 'G' maneuverable missiles.
—"Interim Test Range, Balasore, Orissa," Federation of American Scientists: Nuclear Forces Guide, <http://www.fas.org>; "Interim Test Range to be upgraded," Indian Express (Mumbai), 17 August 1998, <http://www.expressindia.com>.

1989
The United States cancels a contract for the sale of a Combined Acceleration Vibration Climatic Test (CAVCT) system from the US-based MB Dynamics and Wyle Labs in an attempt to slowdown India's missile program. The CAVCT, which is also known as the "shake and bake" system, is used to simulate heat and vibrations that rocket subsystems and components encounter during flight. The Bush administration also blocks the sales of a precision tracking radar device used to track a missile's flight path and magnesium alloys used in the construction of missiles.
—Raj Chengappa, "The Agni Pariksha," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), p. 350.

1989
India begins production of the Konkurs anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) begins at Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) under license from the Soviet Union. [Note: The Konkurs is a "long-range, semi-automatic wire guided second generation anti-tank guided missile, which is man portable." The missile has a range of 75-4,000-meters; it has a length of 1,260mm and weighs 25.16kg.]
—"Bharat Dynamics Limited: Defence Production and Supply," Indian Armed Forces, <http://www.indianarmedforces.com>; "Missiles: Konkurs Anti-Tank Missile System," Department of Defence Production & Supplies: Ministry of Defence (Government of India), p. 124, <http://www.defstand.gov.in>.

1989
According to a report on the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) solid rocket motors development, the basic infrastructure for the raw materials and fabrication of the motors is available in Indian industry. In addition, "propellant processing facilities, and composite products processing facilities along with non-destructive evaluation capabilities have been established within ISRO. Assembly and testing requirements comprising environmental facilities, single and six component test stands and altitude test facilities have also been established in house. The basic aim of self-sufficiency in the realization of solid motors has been achieved by the indigenous development and production of raw materials and critical technologies. Besides engineering of the process of propellant, composite motor cases, and nozzles, facilities for the manufacturing and inspection of these have been set up. In addition, many technologies developed within ISRO have been transferred to industry. Chief among these are the production of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder, phenolic resin and high silica cloth. Capacities for ammonium perchlorate are available in ISRO and in Indian industry. Indian industry has capabilities to meet the requirements of aluminium powder, adhesives, insulation products and large scale fabrication of motor cases."
—R. Nagappa, M.R. Kurup, and A.E. Muthunayagam, "ISRO's Solid Rocket Motors," Acta Astronautica, vol. 19, no. 8, 1989, pp. 696-697.

January 1989
The two committees appointed to investigate the July 1988 crash of the second Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) conclude that that the mission failed due to the failure of several key technologies. The review committees find that the ASLV's closed-loop guidance system failed to correct for deviations in the rocket's predetermined flight-path and there was "poor control of the launch vehicle in the critical transition stage when the two strap-on boosters are ejected and the next stage rocket motor is ignited." Control at this stage is critical "because the load on the rocket is maximum due to air pressure as well as the thrust exerted on the rocket when the strap-on boosters are being jettisoned." Loss of control leads the rocket to veer on one side and break up under stress. In the case of the second ASLV launch, flight data and photographs show that the rocket began tilting to one side 39 seconds after launch and continue to tilt until 50.5 seconds, when it broke up below the equipment bay. The committee finds that there was a "complete absence of control between 48.6 and 49.1 seconds after lift-off." This is a critical phase when the rocket is subjected to maximum dynamic pressure. Although the next-stage motor did ignite, in the absence of control, the rocket crashed. The findings note that Indian scientists and engineers also failed to account for an unexpected change in the wind direction from the east to west at a height of 11km, 38 seconds after launch, which might have disturbed the rocket.
—Amarnath K. Menon, "ASLV: Damning Findings," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 January 1989, p. 94; Gopal Raj, "The ASLV: A Technological Bridge," Reach for the Stars: The Evolution of India's Rocket Programme (New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India, 2000), pp. 134-135.

9 January 1989
Indian defense ministry officials announce that India will test a new surface-to-surface missile (SSM) soon. This will be India's first test of a rocket with an intermediate-range capability. However, the precise schedule for the test has not been decided yet.
—"Test of New Surface-to-Surface Missile Planned," AFP (Hong Kong), 9 January 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-005, 9 January 1989, pp. 56-57.

30 January 1989
Defense Minister K.C. Pant says that India is planning to expand its defense exports. However, he cautions that "we [Indian government] will be very careful what kinds of weapons we send and where we send...our foreign policy perceptions will govern the sales."
—"Defense Minister on Plans to Boost Arms Exports," AFP (Hong Kong), 30 January 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-019, 31 January 1989, pp. 45-46.

7 February 1989
Defense Minister K.C. Pant informs parliament that the government is examining a proposal to set up an autonomous organization for promoting defense exports. Pant says that three public sector defense units—Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), HAL, and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML)—exceeded their export targets in 1987-88.
—"Autonomous Body for Defense Exports Examined," Delhi Domestic Service, 7 February 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-046, 10 March 1989, p. 46.

8 February 1989
The scientific advisor to defense minister, Dr. V.S. Arunachalam says that the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) is examining the feasibility of partnering with private, public, and small industries. For this purpose, the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) will set up "technology parks" in Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Bangalore (Karnataka), and Dehra Dun (Uttar Pradesh) to encourage local entrepreneurs to start industries for manufacturing components and sub-systems required by the defense industry. [Note: Dehradun was declared capital of the newly created state of Uttaranchal in 2000.]
—"Private Sector to Join in Defense Research," Delhi Domestic Service, 9 February 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-026, p. 49.

February 1989
Defense secretary Naresh Chandra forces a reluctant army to allocate 580 million rupees from its budget for the Prithvi's production. The funds are then siphoned off to make secret purchases for the Agni intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) program. Although the Indian government formally allocates 400 million rupees for the Agni program, actual R&D costs are amortized across several projects to disguise the true scale of the program from the prying eyes of foreign intelligence agencies.
—Raj Chengappa, "The House Is On Fire," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 333-334.

20 April 1989
The first test of the Agni intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from Interim Test Range (ITR) is postponed due to an alleged malfunction in the missile's ignition system. A failure analysis team later attributes the postponement to a false malfunction alarm triggered by a computer overcome by a memory overload problem and a breakdown in the mission control's intercom system. Residents of surrounding villages, who have been evacuated from their homes as a safety precaution, express opposition to the missile test. Protesters reportedly cut cables to sirens intended to alert residents within a two-mile radius of the test-range to evacuate their homes.
—Dilip Ganguly, "Launch of India's First Intermediate-Range Missile Postponed," Associated Press, 20 April 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 20 April 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Raj Chengappa, "The Agni Pariksha," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 339-340; Tony Allen-Mills, "India delays missile test," Independent, 21 April 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 21 April 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

1 May 1989
A test of the Agni I is postponed for the second time after scientists discover a leak in the first-stage motor's Secondary Injection Thrust Vector Control (SITVC) system. A valve regulating the flow of strontium perchlorate, the liquid used for thrust vectoring or controlling the missile's direction during flight, ruptures, draining the fluid into the thrusters. The leak is discovered 11 seconds before launch and attempts to repair it are abandoned three hours later. The defective engine is flown to the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) for repairs. The postponement is met by cheers and the blowing of conch shells by many of the approximately 11,000-12,000 villagers who have been temporarily evacuated from their homes around the launch site as a safety precaution. The villagers oppose the test because of the Indian government's long-term plan to permanently relocate them from the fertile farmland surrounding the test-site.
—Dilip Ganguly, "India Again Postpones Ballistic Missile Test-Firing," Associated Press, 1 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 1 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Adam Kelliher, "Indian Missile Test Aborted," UPI (Washington, DC) 1 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 1 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Raj Chengappa, "The Agni Pariksha," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 340-341; "The World," Los Angeles Times, 21 April 1989, p. 2, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 21 April 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; A.P.J. Abdul Kalam with Arun Tiwari, "Propitiation," in Wings of Fire: An Autobiography (Hyderabad: Universities Press (India) Limited, 1999), pp. 150-151.

6 May 1989
An Indian defense ministry source tells the Chennai-based Hindu that the Agni will have a range between 800-1,200km. However, once India is able to launch a missile of the Agni's class successfully, it will be able to develop missiles with a range of 2,500km.
—"India's medium-range missile to be launched this month," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 6 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 6 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

10 May 1989
Defense minister K.C. Pant tells parliament that Indo-US defense-related technological cooperation covers three areas: aeronautics, missile technology, and anti-armor systems.
—"India takes no decision on production of LCA," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 10 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 10 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

19 May 1989
The CIA Director William H. Webster tells a senate panel that the agency has found "indicators" that India is interested in obtaining "thermonuclear weapons capability." These include attempts by the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) in Trombay (Maharashtra) to purify lithium, separate lithium isotopes, and produce tritium. Other indicators include the import of beryllium from West Germany, which according to Webster, "is used in enhancing fission reaction."
—David B. Ottaway, "Signs Found India Building an H-Bomb; W. Germany Shipped Beryllium, CIA Says," Washington Post, 19 May 1989, p. A29, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 19 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

22 May 1989
The Agni is tested from the Interim Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur (Orissa) at 0247 GMT and travels 800km carrying a dummy warhead of tungsten. Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) scientists call the Agni a re-entry test vehicle because the first launch was aimed at evaluating structure, guidance, and control during re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi describes the Agni launch as a national endeavor in the pursuit of self-reliance. He says that "Agni is not a nuclear weapon system. What Agni does is to afford us [India] the option of developing the ability to deliver non-nuclear weapons with high-accuracy at long ranges." Justifying the development of modern defense technologies, Gandhi says, "we lost our independence two centuries ago because we were disunited on the home front and not vigilant on the external front. We must remember that technological backwardness also leads to subjugation. Never again will we allow our freedom to be so subjugated."
—"India's Medium-Range Missile 'Agni' Launched," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 22 May 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 22 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Missile Systems of the World, AMI International (Bremerton, Washington), 1999, p. 455; "Gandhi Hails Missile Test," Delhi Domestic Service, 22 May 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-097, 22 May 1989, p. 54; "Gandhi Says Missile's Success Guards India's Independence," St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri), 23 May 1989, p. 11A, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 23 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Dilip Bobb with Amarnath K. Menon, "Agni: Chariot of Fire," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 June 1989, pp. 10-13.

22 May 1989
The United States expresses concern over the Agni test. Commenting on proliferation-related developments in South Asia, White House deputy spokesperson Roman Popadiuk says, "In the past, we have made our position very clear to the Indian government that further proliferation of ballistic missiles in South Asia would be regarded as a highly destabilizing development in the region." A US State Department spokesperson adds, "the proliferation of missile systems, particularly in areas of political tension, undermines regional stability and peace."
—"U.S. concerned over Indian missile test," 22 May 1989, Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 22 May 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

26 May 1989
Defense Minister K.C. Pant says the Agni has the potential to carry lethal warheads with a high-degree of accuracy. However, India still has a long way to go before the missiles enter operational service. Pant says that the Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMDP) is aimed at building a missile-based defense and India will have to consider its missile option in the coming years.
—"Defense Minister Says 'Agni' Can Carry Warheads," Delhi Domestic Service, 26 May 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-101, 26 May 1989, p. 35.

27 May 1989
In an address to a press conference, Scientific Advisor to defense minister Dr. V.S. Arunachalam claims that the main purpose of the Agni test launch was to establish the design of the heat shield for re-entry, inertial navigation system, and the switch in propulsion from the first to the second stage. Arunachalam says that the successful test has proved that India has acquired vital re-entry technology. Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) Director Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam says in an interview that the Agni "can carry conventional warheads...it can also carry nuclear warheads. In India we are not making nuclear warheads. We provide the carrier and the policymakers decide how to use it." Kalam discloses that the Agni costs a little less than 30 million rupees.
—"Scientist on Dec. Launch," Delhi Domestic Service, 27 May 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-102, 30 May 1989, p. 61; "Advanced Surface-to-Surface Missile Tests Planned," AFP (Hong Kong), 26 May 1989, in FBIS-NES-89-102, p. 60; Dilip Bobb with Amarnath K. Menon, "Agni: Chariot of Fire," India Today (New Delhi), 1-15 June 1989, pp. 10-13.

27 September 1989
India conducts second test-flight of the Prithvi-I. During the terminal phase, the missile rolls uncontrollably and misses its target by several kilometers. The problem is traced to a defective inertial guidance system. [Note: There is some confusion about the date of the Prithvi's second test. Although the majority of print media sources place the date of the second test in September 1989, Indian defense journalist Raj Chengappa reports that the test occurred in November 1989.]
—"India's Prithvi Strategic Ballistic Missile in Third Test," Defense & Foreign Affairs Weekly (Alexandria, VA), 18-24 February 1991, p. 5; Raj Chengappa, "End the Wink and Nudge Approach," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), p. 361.

23 December 1989
Indian scientists report that they have developed a new technology to fabricate the re-entry vehicle for long-range missiles such as the Agni. According to the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) journal Astra, the new technology has been developed by a team of scientists led by Murli Manohar. The new technology, called multi-directionally reinforced carbon-fiber perform technology (MRCP), can meet the requirement for composite materials providing stringent thermal, mechanical, and frictional features required by the aerospace industry. [Note: According to a DRDO report on Indian defense technology, "multi-directionally reinforced fiber perform structures form the potential backbones for high-performance advanced composites in polymeric, ceramic, and metal matrices. The technology can be used to control the thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of the composites by appropriate design parameters such as fiber orientation, fiber volume fraction, and fiber spacing. Such [MRCP technology]in different shapes such as blocks, cylinders, cones, and other near-net shapes exhibit superior structural integrity and produce highly engineered structural composites. They also exhibit a high-degree of damage tolerance and improved inter-laminar shear strength...these composites can continue to carry load even after noticeable fractures...the [MRCP] technology...has been successfully applied to missile re-entry nose-tips and rocket nozzles....the laboratory [DRDL] has developed the [MRCP] technology and developed the 3D and 4D performs for re-entry applications. It has also acquired expertise in design of weave configurations, the design and development of tooling and actual weaving process inspection and processing of multi-directionally reinforced performs. Matrix densification technology has been developed using a high-pressure impregnation, carbonization and a high-temperature graphitization process. The multi-directional reinforced carbon fiber performs have been successfully densified to withstand re-entry conditions."]
—"New Technology for Medium-Range Missile Developed in India," Xinhua News Agency (Beijing), 23 December 1989, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 23 December 1989, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>; Dr. N.C. Birla and B.S. Murthy, eds., "Airframe Structures & Composite Components," Indian Defence Technology: Missile Systems (DRDO, Ministry of Defence, December 1998), pp. 63-64.

1989-90
Production capacity of the ammonium perchlorate (AP) plant in Alwaye (Kerela) climbs to 200 tons annually.
—Gopal Raj, "Developing Competence in Solid Propulsion," Reach for the Stars: The Evolution of India's Rocket Programme (New Delhi: Viking by Penguin Books India, 2000), p. 99.

1990
A specialized naval group is formed at the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) to begin development of the 300km-range Sagarika submarine-launched missile. [Note: There is a controversy whether Sagarika is a ballistic or cruise missile. Some Indian observers believe that the Sagarika is a sea-launched cruise missile. In April 1998, the New York Times, citing US intelligence sources, claimed that Sagarika is a sea-launched ballistic missile. However, both Indian and Western sources agree that Sagarika is a program to develop a submarine-launched missile with a stand-off land attack capability.]
—Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, "Equipping the Navy for War on Land," Times of India (New Delhi), 13 July 1998, <http://www.timesofindia.com>; Steven Lee Myers, "Russia is Helping India Extend Range of Missile, U.S. Aides Say," New York Times, 27 April 1998, p. A1.

1990
The revised budget for the Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMDP) is estimated at 7.8 billion rupees, a nearly 100% increase over the initial estimate of 3.9 billon rupees in 1983.
—"State Minister Says 504 Crore Earmarked for Missile Program," Deccan Herald (Bangalore), 22 March 1997, in FBIS Document FBIS-TAC-97-081, 22 March 1997.

1990
Scientists and engineers at Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) in Bangalore (Karnataka) test a modified version of the Mini-RPV; the vehicle provides real time in-flight TV transmission and is modified to perform low-level flights at subsonic speeds. Work begins on developing an operational mini-RPV.
—J. Jayaraman, "Technological Advances and Cost Effectiveness of Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems," in H.S. Mukunda and A. V. Krishnamurty, eds., Recent Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Engineering: Volume II (Bangalore: Interline Publishing, 1992), p. 165.

1990
India postpones second test of the Agni I.
—"India Delays Agni Launch," Defense & Foreign Affairs Weekly (Alexandria, VA), 3-9 June 1990, p. 3.

February 1990
Biju Patnaik leads the Janata Dal to victory in the Orissa state elections. Patnaik announces that the United Front-led union government will drop the National Testing Range (NTR) project.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 70.

16 May 1990
Minister of State for Defense Raja Ramanna says India will give priority to defense exports. Defense exports will not only be encouraged to "earn foreign exchange but also to improve the technological capabilities of the production units and to enhance levels of productivity through competition." Responding to a question about the Agni program and missile-related exports, Ramanna says, "Agni at this stage is only a technology demonstrator. I don't think we have really thought about its production in significant numbers...the question of exports of missiles has not even been considered as far as I know."
—"Indian defense minister on defense modernization," Xinhua General Overseas News Service (Beijing), 16 May 1990, in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, 16 May 1990, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com>.

13 June 1990
India's defense ministry announces that it is investigating the feasibility of designing a beyond-the-visual range air-to-air missile called the Astra and may launch a formal development phase of the project in the near future. The Astra will have a range of 42 miles and be equipped with an inertial navigation system. It will be similar to the AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-120 AMRAAM. The project will not be part of the Integrated Guided Missile Program (IGMDP).
—"India Expands Missile Program to Include Air-to-Air," Forecast International: World Weapons Review, Issue 89, 13 June 1990, p. 4; Edmond Dantes and George Leopold, "Missiles in Gulf Buoy India's Development Drive," Defense News (Springfield, VA), 25 February 1991, pp. 3, 44.

2-8 July 1990
According to Indian defense ministry sources, India will conduct a second test of the Agni I in September 1990.
—"India to Test Fire IRBM Again in September," Defense & Foreign Affairs Weekly (Alexandria, VA), 2-4 July 1990, p. 1.

Mid-1990
The Indian Air Force and the Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) differ in their assessments of the efficacy of the Prithvi ballistic missile. The Air Force and DRDO commission separate studies to argue their cases in favor of manned bombers and ballistic missiles. The Air Force is reluctant to commit money for the Prithvi until the Air Force version is validated by the Defense Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL). There is also organizational rivalry between the Army and Air Force over which service should have operational control over the missile. The Indian government appoints an inter-service committee headed by the Vice Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall P. M. Ramachandran to resolve these disputes. The Ramachandran committee recommends that the Army and Air Force hold joint user trials for the Prithvi to shorten the training period, and save time and financial resources. The committee also establishes zones of demarcation to resolve the Army-Air Force rivalry over the Prithvi. It rules that all targets within a 150km-zone should be the responsibility of the Army; similarly, the Air Force should engage targets beyond 150km with strategic missiles. However, the inter-organizational dispute remains unresolved. The Army maintains that all surface-to-surface weapons should remain under its jurisdiction while the Air Force should retain control over air-to-surface weapon systems.
—Raj Chengappa, "End the Wink and Nudge Approach," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 364-365.

November 1990
Prime Minister V.P. Singh announces that the location of the National Testing Range (NTR) will be changed.
—Paul Routledge, "The Baliapal Movement," Terrains of Resistance: Nonviolent Social Movements and the Contestation of Place in India (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 1993), p. 70.

Winter 1990
The Arun Singh committee on defense presents its findings to the Chandra Shekhar government. It's report recommends that the chiefs of the armed forces should be brought into the nuclear decision-making loop and that the government distribute the task of nuclear warhead assembly to several agencies to minimize the dangers of an inadvertent or accidental detonation. [Note: The V.P. Singh-led United Front government lost majority in parliament and resigned in the winter of 1990; Prime Minister Singh was succeeded by Mr. Chandra Shekhar.]
—Raj Chengappa, "End the Wink and Nudge Approach," Weapons of Peace: The Secret Story of India's Quest to be a Nuclear Power (New Delhi: Harper Collins Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., 2000), pp. 365-366.

1980-1990
According to the head of the Defense Research & Development Laboratory's (DRDL) solid-propulsion division, A. Subhananda Rao, India made significant strides in the development of solid-propulsion technologies for guided missiles during the period 1980-1990. During this decade, it acquired competence in manufacturing techniques using 15CDV6 maraging steel, titanium alloys, HE-15 aluminum alloy, and stainless steel. During this phase of the missile program, DRDL also developed processing techniques and production facilities for double-base extruded- and cast-propellants, composite-propellants with carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene (CTPB), hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binders, high-energy low-smoke nitramine propellants by advanced casting powder and slurry cast techniques, composite modified double-base propellants with aluminum and ammonium perchlorate. In addition, DRDL established facilities to fabricate, process, and produce glass-phenolic, carbon-phenolic, and ablative liners. Static-test facilities for testing solid motors up to 100-ton-thrust, solid and RAM rockets in integrated and sustainer modes were established. Environmental qualification facilities for vibration, shock, acceleration, high- and low-temperature, dust, rain, salt spray were also established to qualify the propulsion systems. Expertise for the design and development of pyrotechnique igniters using gunpowder, boron, and potassium nitrate was developed. Pyrocartridges for initiation of these igniters, pyrogen igniters for large size solid-motors were also developed for the design of ignition systems for small and large motors.
—A. Subhananda Rao, "Development of Solid Propulsion Systems for Guided Missiles," in H.S. Mukunda and A.V. Krishnamurty, eds., Recent Advances in Aerospace Sciences and Engineering (Bangalore: Interline Publishing, 1992), pp. 182-183.

1990-1991
The Defense Research & Development Organization (DRDO) launches project to develop Nishant unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The first flight is expected in 1995 and the project is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 1997. Production and delivery to the armed forces is expected to begin in 1998.
—"India's Arms Industry: A Missed Opportunity?," Strategic Comments, Vol. 3, No.1, International Institute of Strategic Studies (London), January 1997, p. 2.