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1967 India begins its space-research and satellite-launch program
1972 The Rohini-560 two-stage, solid fueled, sounding rocket is test-fired
1979 The Satellite Launch Vehicle, SLV-3 space booster is launched for the first time.
1980 The 35kg Rohini-1 satellite is successfully launched into near-Earth orbit.
1983 The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) announces its Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) to develop 5 types of missiles
The Prithvi, surface-to-surface, single-stage, liquid-fuel ballistic missile
Prithvi-1 (150km range/1,000kg payload) - army version
Prithvi-2 (250km range/500kg payload) - air force version
Prithvi-3 (350km range/500kg payload) - naval version
The Agni surface-to-surface ballistic missile, with a range of 1,500km. It is capable of delivering a 1,000kg warhead. It is a two-stage missile, which uses the solid-fuel booster motor of the SLV-3 for its first stage and the liquid-fuel Prithvi for its second stage.
The Akash long-range surface-to-air ramjet missile that can carry a 55 kg warhead. It is capable of targeting five aircraft simultaneously at a maximum range of 25km.
The Trishul short-range surface-to-surface or surface-to-air missile. It has a range of 50km and uses radar line-of-sight guidance. Trishul is powered by a two-stage solid rocket motor.
The Nag fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM). It employs sensor fusion technologies for flight guidance over an approximate range of 4km.
1987 India begins flight-testing an Advanced Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV).
The ASLV (4,000km range/150kg payload in low-Earth orbit) consists of three SLVs strapped together
1988 The Prithvi is test-fired. India announces development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) (8,000km-range/1,000kg payload) to place a one-ton satellite in polar orbit. The PSLV could be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead over intercontinental ranges if re-engineered as a weapon system.
1989 India test-fires the Agni.
The Nag is test-fired in November.
1994 Initial production of the Prithvi-1 may have begun in mid-1994. The Indian Army orders 100 Prithvi-1 missiles, to be deployed with its 333rd Missile Group
1996 The Akash undergoes user trials. India reports that it is developing a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Russia is scheduled to begin delivery of seven cryogenic engines for the GSLV.
1998 BJP govt. announces plans to build nuclear weapons and accelerate production of long-range missiles to deliver them. The BJP plans to increase production of the Prithvi missile and expedite development of the Agni intermediate-range ballistic missile.
India has a sea-launched ballistic missile named Sagarika. The Sagarika has a range of 200 miles, is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, and will be launched from a submerged submarine.
India successfully test-fires the Trishul. The Trishul can be employed as a surface-to surface or surface-to-air missile.
2001 War in neighborhood. US led allied forces bomb Afghan. India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers raise rhetoric over the issue of cross border terrorism in Kashmir. There is talk in India about hot pursuit and bombing terrorist camps in PoK.
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Though a man of few words, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the father of India's missile and defence program, was never one to shirk voicing his studied opinion on issues concerning the country.
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