Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec.18: The Agni-P (Prime), a next generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile, was successfully flight tested from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha on Saturday.
The missile was tracked and monitored by various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast.
“During this test, a number of new characteristics were added to the nuclear-capable strategic missile Agni Prime. The missile test was highly accurate in achieving all of its mission goals,” according to a government official.
The nuclear-capable Agni-P was successfully test-fired for the first time on June 28 this year by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The Agni-P is a next-generation improved derivative of the Agni missile series. It’s a canisterized missile that can be fired from train or road and stored for longer periods of time. It can be carried across the length and breadth of the country, depending on the circumstances.
According to a DRDO official, canisterizing rockets reduces the time it takes to fire the missile while also enhancing its storage and mobility.
The new ballistic missile, which has a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometres, is half the weight of Agni III and has new motor and navigation systems.
It also has the same technology as the Agni-IV and Agni-V, which have a 4000-kilometer range and a 5000-kilometer range, respectively. In the Indo-Pacific, the new Agni P can be used to target hostile warships.
The Agni family of missiles, which also includes the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and fighter planes, form the backbone of India’s nuclear launch capability. Agni-V, the longest of the Agni missiles, is an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 kilometres that has already been tested and validated for induction.