Defence
First-Ever Rail-Based Launch Of 2,000 Km Next-Gen 'Agni Prime' Missile Places India In Elite Nations’ Club
Agni Prime
India on Thursday (25 September) carried out the successful launch of its next-generation Intermediate Range Agni-Prime Missile from a Rail-based Mobile Launcher system, marking a significant technological milestone in the country’s strategic capabilities.
Announcing the achievement on X, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Strategic Forces Command (SFC), and the Armed Forces for the breakthrough test.
The launch was conducted from a specially designed rail-based mobile platform, capable of moving freely across India’s vast railway network without pre-conditions.
This unique system allows rapid deployment, short-reaction launches, and enhanced concealment, reducing visibility and increasing survivability during conflict scenarios.
The Agni-Prime is designed to cover a range of up to 2,000 km and incorporates advanced features including improved accuracy, canisterised configuration, and faster operational readiness.
"The first-of-its-kind launch carried out from specially designed Rail based Mobile Launcher, has the capability to move on Rail network without any pre-conditions that allows User to have a cross country mobility and launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility," he added.
Rajnath Singh emphasised that the test places India among a select group of nations with the ability to canisterise and launch missiles directly from rail-based mobile systems.
This adds to India’s diversified missile deployment options, complementing existing road-mobile, submarine-launched, and silo-based capabilities.
