India Test New Nuclear-Capable Missile Agni Prime; Here’s What We Know About It

Earlier today, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-fired a new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile in the Agni series, called ‘Agni Prime’, from the integrated test range in Orissa’s Chandipur.

The missile, the DRDO says, is a two-stage and solid-fuel weapon system. It is an advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles with a range of 1,000-2,000 km.

“Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. It followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy,” the DRDO said in a statement.

The missile is fully made up of composite material, which has various advantages over conventional materials. Composites are lightweight, have better strength and offer more design and production flexibility over conventional materials.

Agni Prime comes in a canisterised configuration. Canisterisation significantly enhances the mobility of a missile. In canisterised configuration, a missile requires very short preparation time and can be launched at short notice. Canisterisation also increases the reliability of a missile and its shelf-life.

In this configuration, a missile mated with a nuclear warhead is sealed in a canister, which is placed atop a road-mobile launcher.

In the past, India has tested its Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile in canisterised configuration. The missile has a range of over 5,500 km.

A canisterised missile can be fired directly from the canister or cylindrical container containing the missile by elevating it.