India successfully tests nuclear-capable ballistic missile 'Agni Prime'

Context

Recently, India successfully test fired the nuclear-capable strategic Agni Prime missile off the coast of Odisha from Balasore. 

Key-points

• It is a two-stage canisterised missile with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km, weighs half of Agni III and has new kinds of propulsion and new guidance.
• The new Agni P can be used to target enemy warships in the Indo-Pacific.
• It can be transported across the length and breadth of the country, as per requirements.
• It also comes with the technologies found in the 4000-kilometre range Agni-IV and 5000-kilometre range Agni-V. 
• Agni class of missiles are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability which also includes the Prithvi short range ballistic missiles, submarine launched ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. 
• The longest of the Agni series, Agni-V, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km, has already been tested several times and validated for induction.

About Agni P

• Agni-P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
• It is a medium-range ballistic missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as the successor of Agni-I and Agni-II missiles. 
• It is the sixth missile in the Agni (missile) series of ballistic missiles. 
• The missile can be either transported on a train or stored in a canister.

Tests of Agni-P

• First Test of Agni-P
  • DRDO successfully test fired the first Agni-P in June 2021, from Abdul Kalam Island. 
  • The missile carried two multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRV). 
  • It is a three-stage solid fuel missile, having the capability of a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle (MaRV).

• Second test of Agni-P
  • Second successful test was conducted in December 2021, from the coast of Odisha at Balasore. 
  • It is a two-stage Agni-P missile and has been developed with new propulsion systems. 
  • It is the smallest and lightest missile among the entire Agni series of ballistic missiles.