Prithvi was nearing completion in 1988.The importance of these rocket engines was not restricted to the Prithvi project alone.It was a national achievement.Since the interim test range to Balasore was still at least a year away from completion.They setup special facilities at SHAR for the launch of Prithvi.These included a launch pad,block house,control consoles and mobile telemetry stations.He was happily reunited with his old friend MR Kurup who was director of SHAR by then.Working with Kurup on the Prithvi launch campaign gave him great satisfaction.He worked for Prithvi as a team member-ignoring the boundary lines that divided DRDO and ISRO,DRDL and SHAR.Kurup used to spend a lot of time with them at the launch pad.He complemented them with his experience in range testing and range safety.
A seven nation technology embargo was clamped,making it impossible for India to buy anything even remotely connected with the development no guided missiles.The emergence of India as a self reliant country in the field country in the field of guided missiles upset all the developed nations of the world.
Indian core competence in rocketry has been firmly established beyond any doubt.The robust civilian space industry and viable missile based defenses has taken India into a selected club of nations.As he saw it the development of Prithvi represented the self reliance of our country in the field of advanced technology.High technology is synonymous with huge amounts of money and massive infrastructure.Neither of these was available,unfortunately,in adequate measure.The Agni missile was developed as a technology demonstrator project,pooling all the resources available in the country.
Successful launch of Prithvi,the surface-to-surface weapons system.
With three Service Chiefs. To my left is Admiral VS Shekhawat, on his right is General BC Joshi, and Air Chief Marshal SK Kaul.
Successful launch of Prithvi,the surface-to-surface weapons system.
