Agni Prime missile launched by DRDO from Odisha coast

The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) accomplished an essential pre-induction launch of the Agni Prime missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha one day earlier, according to a statement from the Indian defense ministry on Thursday. The Agni Prime missile can deliver nuclear warheads up to 2,000 km away.

According to a statement from the defense ministry, this was the Agni Prime's first pre-induction night launch, which proved "the accuracy and reliability" of the missile system. The most recent test came after three productive daylight trials that demonstrated the effectiveness of the new weapon.

“The successful test has paved the way for induction of the system into the armed forces,” the statement informed.

With a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers, it is a canisterized missile that may be launched quickly.

According to project authorities, the new missile features substantial technological improvements in the areas of composite materials, propulsion systems, and guidance and control mechanisms. They said that it would increase India's credibility as a deterrent.

“All objectives were successfully demonstrated during the flight test. Radar, telemetry, and electro-optical tracking systems were deployed at different locations, including two down-range ships at the terminal point to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle,” the statement said. The flight test was seen by senior personnel from the DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command.

Rajnath Singh, the minister of defense, praised the DRDO and the armed services for the missile's flawless performance in the test.

The 700-km Agni-I missile designed specifically for Pakistan, the 2,000-km Agni-II, the 3,000-km Agni-III, the 4,000-km Agni-IV, and the 5,000-km Agni-V missile are among the several Agni missile types created by DRDO. The core of India's nuclear deterrence is its Agni missile arsenal.