New generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile ‘Agni Prime’, with a range of 1,500 km, was recently flight tested from the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha, enhancing India’s strategic deterrence capability. This is the second pre-induction night launch of Agni Prime, with the first test fire on June 7, 2023, to meet the accuracy and other desired parameters.
The test met all the trial objectives validating its reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by many sensors deployed at different locations, including two downrange ships placed at the terminal point, says the Ministry of Defense. The Ministry stated that Strategic Forces Command (SFC), together with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) conducted the night launch of Agni-Prime on the 3rd of April.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the DRDO, SFC, and the armed forces for the successful test and said that the induction of the missile would be an excellent force multiplier for the services. The launch was observed by the Indian army, senior officials from DRDO, the Chief of Defense Staff, and the Chief of Strategic Forces Command.
Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan Secretary, Department of Defense R&D, and Chairman DRDO Samir V Kamat appreciated the efforts of SFC and DRDO for the successful flight test. The night launch is part of a series of tests carried out by various variants of Agni missiles. Last month, India successfully conducted the first flight test of an indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-5 missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV). India joined a select group of countries that allowed such strategic capability, under its Mission Divyastra which carried out the test.The MIRV allows a single missile to deploy many warheads at different locations. With a range of up to 5,000 km, the Agni-V missile can cover China and some parts of Europe under its striking range. After its earlier trial tests in 2016, China issued a statement hoping India’s test-firing of the Agni-V complied with UN Security Council rule and safeguarded South Asia’s strategic balance.
