India successfully tests Agni-Prime missile from rail-based launcher
India has successfully conducted the first-ever test of its next-generation Agni-Prime intermediate-range ballistic missile from a specially designed rail-based mobile launcher, defence officials confirmed on Thursday. The missile, with a strike range of up to 2,000 kilometers, represents a major step forward in the country’s strategic deterrence capabilities.
Unlike earlier launch systems, the rail-based launcher offers unmatched flexibility. It can move freely across India’s vast rail network without any prior preparations, giving the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) the ability to quickly reposition and fire the missile with minimal warning. Officials say the design also enhances survivability by reducing visibility to adversaries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the launch as a milestone. “This successful flight test has put India among a very small group of nations that have mastered canisterised launch systems capable of firing from rail networks on the move,” he said, congratulating the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the SFC, and the Armed Forces for the achievement.
The Agni-P, a two-stage solid-fuel missile with an advanced guidance system and improved accuracy, is the latest in India’s family of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles. It succeeds the Agni-A1, which was developed in the early 2000s as a stopgap between the shorter-range Prithvi-II (250 km) and the longer-range Agni-II (2,500 km). The Agni-A1, with a range of more than 700 km, was introduced soon after the 1999 Kargil conflict to fill critical operational gaps.
Defence analysts note that the new Agni-P not only improves mobility and response time but also incorporates lighter composite materials, advanced navigation systems, and a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, making it more survivable against missile defence shields. Rail mobility, in particular, ensures the missile can be dispersed across the country’s rail corridors, complicating any enemy’s targeting efforts.
.png "Advertisement")
