Agni Prime

• 25 Oct 2022

Why in News?

Recently, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test-fired indigenously-developed new generation medium-range ballistic missile Agni Prime (Agni-P) from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island at Odisha coast.

What is Agni Prime?

• It is a two-stage canisterised missile.
• It is the latest and sixth variant of the Agni series missiles (under IGMDP - Integrated Guided Missile Development Program).
• With multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, the missile is capable of delivering a number of warheads at separate locations at a distance of 1,000 - 2,000 km.
• The 10.5 metre tall missile with a diameter of 1.2 metre can carry warheads up to 1.5 tonne.
• It can perform high maneuvers while homing in on targets.
• These missiles will be inducted in the armed forced after couple of user associated launches
• It has a dual redundant navigation and guidance system.
• The Agni-P missile would further strengthen India's credible deterrence capabilities.

What is the Other Agni Class of Missiles?

• They are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability.
• Range of other Agni Missiles:
  • Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
  • Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
  • Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
  • Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
  • Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.

What is IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program)?

• It was conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to enable India attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology. It was approved by the Government of India in 1983 and completed in March 2012.
• The 5 missiles (P-A-T-N-A) developed under this program are:
  • Prithvi: Short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
  • Agni: Ballistic missiles with different ranges, i.e., Agni (1,2,3,4,5)
  • Trishul: Short-range low-level surface to air missile.
  • Nag: 3rd generation anti-tank missile.
  • Akash: Medium-range surface-to-air missile.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question:

Q. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)

1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3. It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

• Agni-IV is a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile of India, with a strike range of 4,000 km.
• The indigenously developed Agni-IV is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile. It is 20 metres long with a weight of 17 tonnes. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It is a two-stage solid fuelled system that can carry a one-tonne nuclear warhead over a distance of 4,000 kilometres. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are not correct.
• Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Source: HT