Hummingbird News Desk
NEW DELHI, 28 JUNE: India on Monday successfully carried out the test-firing of a new missile in the Agni series known as the Agni-P (Prime). The test was conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, Balasore at 10.55 hrs.
Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile followed text book trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy, the Defence Ministry in a statement said.
“Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of Agni class of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km,” a DRDO statement said.
Congratulating DRDO, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “Many advanced technologies including composites, propulsion systems, innovative guidance and control mechanisms and state-of-the-art navigation systems have been introduced. The Agni-P missile would further strengthen India’s credible deterrence capabilities,” Mr. Singh said on Twitter.
Explaining the differences from earlier Agni class of missiles, a DRDO official said Agni-P has improved parameters including manoeuvring and accuracy. “There is a complete technology upgrade in every way.”
Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility, one defence official explained.
Agni class of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability which also includes the Prithvi short range ballistic missiles, submarine launched ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. The longest of the Agni series, Agni-V, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km, has already been tested several times and validated for induction.
The new ballistic missile, which has a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometres, weighs half of Agni III and has new kinds of propulsion and new guidance.
It also comes with the technologies found in the 4000-kilometre range Agni-IV and 5000-kilometre range Agni-V. The new Agni P can be used to target enemy warships in the Indo-Pacific.
Agni I, India’s first intermediate-range ballistic missile, was successfully test-fired for the first time in May 1989. It was inducted into service in 2004. It has a range capability between 700 and 900 kilometres.
Meanwhile, the DRDO had conducted a successful test-fire of the Pinaka rockets last Friday. The indigenously-developed Enhances Pinaka rockets were tested at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the Odisha coast.
