New generation ballistic missile Agni Prime successfully test-fired

Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1, and Agni-2 ballistic missiles that were built two decades ago with now-outdated technologies

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), carried out the successful flight test of a new generation ballistic missile named Agni-Prime on Wednesday evening.

“The test met all the trial objectives validating its reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by a number of range sensors deployed at different locations, including two downrange ships placed at the terminal point,” said a Ministry of Defence (MoD) release on Thursday.

The Agni-P has been developed specifically for nuclear strikes against targets in Pakistan. Its range of 1,000-2,000 km is too short to reach targets in the Chinese mainland, but can cover all of Pakistan’s territory.

The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1, and Agni-2 ballistic missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies now considered outdated.

While the Agni-P will be the workhorse of the nuclear deterrence against Pakistan, the Agni-5 will be the mainstay of the anti-China nuclear arsenal. “Agni-P is a new generation, an advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km,” said the MoD.

The Agni-P will enter service as a two-stage, solid propellant missile. Both stages will have composite rocket motors and guidance systems with electro-mechanical actuators. The missiles will be guided to their targets by inertial navigation systems (INS) that are based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes.

The Agni-P and Agni-5 ballistic missiles trace their origins back to the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) which the then DRDO chief APJ Abdul Kalam launched in the early 1980s.

The launch was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Strategic Forces Command, and senior officials from DRDO and the Indian Army.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, SFC, and the armed forces for the successful test, stated the MoD. He stated that the successful development and induction of the missile will be a force multiplier for the armed forces. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat appreciated the efforts of SFC and DRDO for the successful flight test.