Agni Prime Missile

Agni Prime Missile

Subject : Defence

Context : Recently, the Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully test-fired Agni Prime missile from a defence base off Odisha coast.

Concept :

About Agni Prime Missile

• It is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
• It is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
• It is a next-generation, nuclear-capable weapon made fully of a composite material.
• It is a canisterised missile with range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres.
• It has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg or a nuclear warhead.
• It is a double stage missile which is lighter and much sleeker than its predecessor Agni-1.
• The ballistic missile weighs 50% less than Agni 3 and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion.
• It can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period and transported all across the country as per operational requirements.

About AGNI Missile

• The Agni series of ballistic missiles is being developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of the DRDO.
• The Agni missile family consists of three deployed variants.
• The Agni-I, Agni-II and Agni-III are in service with the Indian Army.
• The Agni-I is a short or intermediate-range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-II is a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with two solid fuel stages.
• The Agni-III is a two-stage ballistic missile which can support a series of warhead configurations and a total payload of 2,490kg for a range of 4,500km.
• The Agni-IV is a two-stage nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-V is an Indian nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile.