India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted second pre-induction night flight-test of Agni-Prime, a new generation ballistic missile. The test was carried out from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
It was the Agni-Prime’s second “pre-induction night trial”. Its first pre-induction trial was conducted in June 2023. During this recent test, data captured by various sensors deployed at various locations confirmed that missile met all the trial objectives, validating its reliability.
About Agni Prime Missile
- It is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
- It is the first of the new generation of missiles being developed after the end of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
- It is nuclear-capable advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is also the smallest and lightest among the entire Agni series of ballistic missile.
- It is a two-stage missile, comes with a solid propellant fuel, composite rocket motor casings and advanced navigation and guidance systems.
- It is guided by inertial navigation systems (INS) based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes
- It uses a cold launch mechanism and can be fired in salvo mode.
- Range: 1,000-2,000km
- Previous tests: It was tested for the first time in June 2021 and for second time in December 2021.
- Significance: Since the missile is canisterised and preloaded with warhead, it can be transported by road and rail with minimal preparation time for launch. It can be stored for many years together, with minimum inspection at periodic intervals. It has very high accuracy, which is useful for precise targeting.
- It will be inducted into the SFC’s arsenal after a few more tests, will gradually replace the Agni-I (700-km) missiles from SFC’s arsenal.