India successfully test fires Agni-1 ballistic missile

India on 22 May successfully test-fired the Agni-1 short-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha. The test was conducted under the Strategic Forces Command and validated all operational and technical parameters.

What is Agni-1?

Agni-1 is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of India’s Agni missile programme. It forms an important component of India’s strategic deterrence capability. 

• Agni-1 has a strike range of around 700 km to 1,200 km.
• It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.
• The missile is designed for quick deployment and high mobility.
• It is road-mobile and can be launched through specialised transporter erector launchers.
• It can also be launched from rail-based platforms.
• The missile was developed after the 1999 Kargil War to bridge the gap between the Prithvi-II missile and the longer-range Agni-II missile.

Agni Missile Series

The Agni missile series includes Agni-1 to Agni-4  with operational strike ranges between 700 km and 3,500 km. 

Agni-5 and MIRV Technology

Recently, India also successfully conducted a flight trial of the advanced Agni-5 missile equipped with MIRV technology. MIRV stands for  Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle.  It is a technology that allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads capable of striking different targets independently.

Key Features of Agni-5

• Agni-5 has a strike range of over 5,000 km.
• It is powered by a three-stage solid-fuel engine.
• The MIRV system significantly enhances India’s strategic deterrence capability.
• India first tested the Agni-5 MIRV capability in March 2024 under “Mission Divyastra”.

 The successful MIRV test places India among a select group of countries possessing MIRV technology, including the US, UK, France, Russia and China. 

Source: HT & TOI