Agni-Prime Missile
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Agni-Prime Missile

Context:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in partnership with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), has successfully conducted the test launch of the Intermediate Range Agni-Prime missile using a rail-based mobile launcher system.

 Key Features:

  • This launch places India among a select group of nations, including Russia, the United States, China that possess the ability to deploy long-range ballistic missiles from rail platforms.
  • This next generation missile is designed to cover a range up to 2000 km and is equipped with various advanced features.
  • This missile boasts several advanced features, including enhanced precision, faster reaction time, and improved mobility.
  • The launcher can seamlessly move across the rail network without any preconditions and offers cross-country mobility.
  • This launch also complements the road-mobile version of Agni-P, which has already been inducted into the armed forces after a series of successful trials.

  Rail-Based Mobile Launcher

  • The missile was launched from a first-of-its-kind rail-based mobile launcher specially designed for deployment on India’s extensive rail network.
    • Road-based missile systems have route limits, but India’s vast 70,000 km rail network allows missiles to reach all parts of the country.
  • Unlike conventional fixed or road-mobile launchers, this rail-based system offers several strategic advantages:
  • Unrestricted Mobility: The launcher can traverse the entire rail network without any pre-conditions or restrictions, allowing for rapid redeployment.
  • Cross-Country Movement: Beyond rail tracks, it supports cross-country mobility, enhancing survivability.
  • Quick Reaction Time: The system is capable of launching missiles within a very short timeframe, reducing response times.
  • Reduced Visibility: Its mobile nature and camouflage capabilities provide stealth and protection against enemy detection.
  • Self-Sustained Operation: Equipped with independent launch systems, state-of-the-art communication tools, and protective mechanisms, the launcher is a fully autonomous unit.

Agni-Prime and Agni-5

Agni-P: A Strategic Upgrade

  • The Agni missile series, central to India’s ballistic missile program since the late 1980s, has evolved to meet changing strategic needs. Agni-I, tested in 1989, was a medium-range missile with a 700-1,000 km range.
  • The Agni-Prime (Agni-P) builds on this by combining Agni-I’s range with advanced propulsion and navigation tech from Agni-IV and Agni-V.
  • This two-stage, solid-fuel missile weighs around 11,000 kg and has a range of 1,000 to 2,000 km, capable of carrying high-explosive, thermobaric, or nuclear warheads.
  • The successful nuclear-capable test in 2021 boosted India’s credible deterrence, and the recent rail-based launch enhances its survivability and deployment flexibility.
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