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UPPCS Science & Technology Gap Sheet: Missiles and rocket systems.

UPPCS has asked 14 of these. 5 have not been asked yet. Lock the first list, then read the second: it holds what UPPCS has not used yet.

First, the concept

Classify a missile by launch point and target: surface-to-surface, surface-to-air, air-to-air or anti-tank. Its role matters more than memorising a changing range.

Ballistic missiles follow a mainly ballistic path after powered flight. Cruise missiles sustain powered, guided flight through much of their journey. A rocket launcher is not automatically a guided missile system.

✅ Already asked (14)

Surface targets

  • Agni series · Indian surface-to-surface ballistic missiles for strategic deterrence.
  • Prithvi series · Indian short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
  • BrahMos · Supersonic cruise missile developed jointly by India and Russia; name joins Brahmaputra and Moskva.
  • Nag · Indigenous anti-tank guided missile with fire-and-forget capability.
  • Pinaka · Indigenous multi-barrel rocket launcher; not an aircraft.
  • Dhanush missile · Ship-launched surface-to-surface ballistic missile of the Prithvi family.
  • K-15 Sagarika · Submarine-launched ballistic missile associated with the Arihant programme.

Air targets and radars

  • Akash · Indigenous surface-to-air missile system for air defence.
  • Trishul · Short-range surface-to-air missile developed under IGMDP.
  • Astra · Indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile; not a ballistic missile.
  • Rudram-1 · Indigenous air-launched anti-radiation missile; targets radar emitters.
  • Barak-8 · India–Israel surface-to-air missile development for air defence.
  • IGMDP · Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme; included Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag.
  • INDRA radar · Indian Doppler Radar; a low-level surveillance radar system.

❌ Not asked yet (5)

🔒 5 items not asked yet

Surface targets: 2 · Air targets and radars: 2 · Recent (2024 onwards): 1

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⚠️ Astra is air-to-air, Akash is surface-to-air, and Nag is anti-tank. BrahMos is a cruise missile, not a ballistic missile.

'Asked' and 'not asked' are checked against every UPPCS question on this site. 'Not asked yet' does not mean it will surely come.

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