India Tests 2,000 Km-Range Agni-Prime Missile In ‘Hard To Detect’ Configuration

India has successfully tested the Agni-Prime intermediate-range ballistic missile from a rail-based mobile launcher, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Conducted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command, the trial was carried out under a full operational scenario on 24 September.

This was the first-of-its-kind launch for the Agni-Prime system, marking a significant step in strengthening India’s nuclear deterrent.

Defence officials said the rail-based test validated the missile’s ability to deliver cross-country mobility, rapid reaction capability, and low-visibility deployment, key features that enhance survivability against enemy surveillance and pre-emptive strikes.

With a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, Agni-Prime is a two-stage, solid-fuel missile that can be launched from both road and rail platforms. It carries advanced guidance and control systems, including redundant navigation, to ensure high accuracy.

The test demonstrates India’s capacity to field mobile, flexible, and harder-to-detect missile forces, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to its strategic arsenal and reinforcing its secure second-strike capability.