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Context

• Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), conducted the successful flight test of New Generation Ballistic Missile Agni-Prime from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

Details

• The 'Agni Prime' or 'Agni-P' is a nuclear-capable new-generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
• It is a surface-to-surface, canister-launched, road-mobile, and solid-fueled medium-range ballistic missile.
• It is a two-stage canistered missile with a maximum range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
• The 'Agni Prime' missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles.
• It is the sixth missile in the Agni series.

Agni missile

• The Agni missile is a family of medium to intercontinental-range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature. Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear weapons capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles.
• The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (lGMDP) and tested in 1989.

Agni Variants

Agni-1:

• The nuclear-capable road-mobile missile was first deployed by the Indian Army's Strategic Forces Command in 2007.
• It is a single-stage, solid-fuel missile.
• It is a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a heavy payload but can travel up to 1200 km with lighter payloads, which makes it a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM).
• Range: 700 km- 1200 km
• Powered by a solid-propellant booster based on the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) SLV-3.
• The Agni-I is designed to be launched from rail-based platforms or road-mobile transporter erector launchers (TELs)

Agni II:

• It was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory, along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited.
• It is a surface-to-surface medium-range nuclear-capable missile.
• Range: 2000 km (can be increased to 3000 km by reducing the payload).
• It is a two-stage ballistic missile with solid fuel.
• Payload: 1000 kg.

Agni III

• The Agni-III is a two-stage, solid-propellant missile deployed in rail-mobile mode.
• It is an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile.
• Surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
• Range: 3,500 km
• Payload: 1500 kg

Agni IV:

• Agni-4 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile
• Payload: 1,000 kg
• Range: Up to 4,000 km.
• It is a surface-to-surface missile.
• It is a mobile, two-stage solid-fuel system.
• Equipped with state-of-the-art Avionics, the 5th generation onboard computer, and distributed architecture.

Agni-V:

• Agni-V is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) powered by solid fuel.
• Nuclear-capable missile, which uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.
• It's an advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
• It is a three-stage solid-rocket-powered missile capable of carrying a 1.5-tonne nuclear warhead.
• Range: 5,000 to 5,500 kilometers.
  • Which puts major cities in China, including the capital Beijing, within its range.

It is the longest missile in the Agni series, with a range of nearly 5,000 kilometers. With this range, India can target Beijing, the capital of China.

PYQs on Agni Missile Q. With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2014) It is a surface-to-surface missile. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only. It can deliver a one-tonne nuclear warhead about 7500 km away. Select the correct answer using the codes given below. 1 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Answer: 1 PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements about Agni Prime (Agni-P): 1. It is a three-stage canisterised missile. 2. It is the newest and sixth variant of the Agni series missiles under IGMDP - Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. 3. The 'Agni Prime' missile is lighter than all the earlier Agni series of missiles. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? A. Only One B. Only Two C. All Three D. None Answer- B