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Agni-P

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Further information: Agni (missile) and Agni-I
Agni-P
Agni-P 20210628 Cropped
First flight test of Agni-P from Abdul Kalam Island
Type Medium Range Ballistic Missile
Place of origin India
Service history
Used by Strategic Forces Command
Production history
Designer Defence Research and Development Organisation
Manufacturer Bharat Dynamics Limited
Specifications
Mass 11,000 kg (24,000 lb)
Length 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in)
Diameter 1.15 m (3 ft 9 in)
Warhead Single or 2 x MIRV[1] (high explosive, thermobaric and nuclear)
Warhead weight 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) - 3,000 kg (6,600 lb)
Engine Two stage rocket motor with third stage MaRV[2][1]
Propellant Solid fuel
Operational
range
 1,000 to 2,000 km[3]
Guidance
system
 Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system with redundant micro inertial navigation and digital control system. Optionally augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance.[4]
Accuracy 10 m CEP[5]
Launch
platform

8 x 8 BEML -

Tatra transporter erector launcher[3]

Agni-P or Agni-Prime (Agnī "Fire") is a medium-range ballistic missile being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as a successor for Agni-I and Agni-II missiles in the operational service of Strategic Forces Command with significant upgrades in the form of composite motor casing, maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) along with improved propellants, navigation and guidance systems.[6]

It is the sixth missile in the Agni (missile) series of ballistic missile. Agni Prime can be either transported on train or stored in canister.[7]

History and development[]

Second test launch of Agni-P from Abdul Kalam Island.

Beginning in 2016, various media organisations have reported that DRDO is developing a successor of Agni-I called Agni-1P with two stages that borrowed the newer technologies from Agni-IV and Agni-V to increase accuracy and reliability.[8] India started working on area denial weapons after China developed DF-21D and DF-26B with nuclear capability to counter US Navy which brought Naval Base Guam within its reach. As a counterbalance, the progress of Agni-P became crucial part of India's Indo-Pacific strategy to tackle China's plan of having five or six aircraft carrier battle groups by 2035 to cover both Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean with access to future overseas logistical bases around the region such as the one it currently has in Djibouti.[9][10][11] Chinese military expert accepts that there is a capability enhancement demand in India as far as Anti Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) is concerned. Agni-P test also increases the chance of India to be part of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.[12]

On 28 June 2021, DRDO successfully test fired Agni-P (earlier known as Agni-1P) from Abdul Kalam Island which carried two multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV). This is a three-stage solid fuel missile with maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) capability that delivered the warheads into two separate locations. The missile is stored in a hermetically sealed tandem twin canister launcher and transported through road and rail. It uses cold launch mechanism and can be fired in salvo mode.[13] As per V. K. Saraswat, MIRV and MaRV technology were already on advance stages of development for Agni-VI in 2013.[14]

On 18 December 2021, second successful test was conducted from the coast of Odisha at Balasore.[15]

The MaRV carries four delta fins for the terminal phase of the flight to avoid missile defense system.[16] It is a new class of missile in Agni Series which is half the weight of Agni-III. Both first and second stage of Agni-P are made up of composite material for the purpose of weight reduction, which was mastered during Agni-V project.[17] The missile carries an improved guidance package and propulsion system covering maximum distance of 2000 km with 1.5 ton payload.[3][18][6]

According to analysts, Agni-P is primarily aimed at countering Pakistan's forces owing to the fact that its range is insufficient to reach all parts of mainland China.[19]

Although there were many speculations that Agni-P will replace Prithvi-I, Agni-I and Agni-II after induction, government sources denied any such theory. It is expected that DRDO might develop a "carrier killer" based on this missile.[20]

One of the objectives behind its development is to achieve maximum manoeuvrability against missile defense system and higher accuracy for precision strike.[21]

More about Agni P[]

  • Agni Prime[22] is also known as Agni-P.
  • Agni-P is new generation advanced variant of the Agni Class of Missiles
  • It is a two stage canisterised missile
  • It’s range capability is between 1000 and 2000 km
  • It's the first MIRV missile in India's missile arsenal.
  • The weight of Agni P is 50% less than Agni 3
  • Agni-Prime can be launched from rail and road and can be stored for a longer period.
  • It can be transported all across the country as per operational requirements.
  • It can be used to target enemy armades in the Indo- Pacific.

Reactions to testing[]

Domestic[]

Indian defence experts view it as part of work in progress towards an advance anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) development for enhancing future sea denial capability against Chinese carrier battle groups in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).[16]

Other states[]

  • Flag of the People's Republic of China People's Republic of China – As per former People's Liberation Army (PLA) instructor Song Zhongping, Agni-P will need more testing to prove its anti-ship role like that of DF-21D or DF-26B which had already proven their capabilities in 2020 military exercise by destroying a target at South China Sea. But at present Agni-P does increase the accuracy, quick reaction time and precision strike capability of the Indian Armed Forces against tactical targets in China and Pakistan.[23]
  • Flag of the United States United States – As per Frank Stanton Professor Vipin Narang of Nuclear Security and Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who is also a scholar at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (CEIP) Nuclear Policy Program, Agni-P is a weapon of counterforce doctrine as far as India's nuclear strategy is concerned due to recent debates over no first use (NFU) policy since 2016 under defence minister Manohar Parrikar.[21]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Hemant Kumar Rout (2021-09-13). "India to conduct first user trial of Agni-V missile". https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/sep/13/india-to-conduct-first-user-trial-of-agni-v-missile-2357942.html. 
  2. ↑ "India to conduct first user trial of Agni-V missile". The New Indian Express. https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/sep/13/india-to-conduct-first-user-trial-of-agni-v-missile-2357942.html. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "DRDO successfully flight tests New Generation Agni P Ballistic Missile". pib.gov.in. Ministry of Defence, Government of India. 28 June 2021. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1730828. 
  4. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (28 June 2021). "Pakistan-aimed Agni-P ballistic missile flight-tested successfully". Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/pakistan-aimed-agni-p-ballistic-missile-flight-tested-successfully-121062801469_1.html. 
  5. ↑ Bedi, Rahul (28 June 2021). "India test-launches new Agni-series nuclear-capable missile". Janes. https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/india-test-launches-new-agni-series-nuclear-capable-missile. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rout, Hemant Kumar (2021-06-28). "India test fires new generation nuclear capable Agni-Prime missile off Odisha coast". https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jun/28/india-test-fires-new-generation-nuclear-capable-agni-prime-missile-off-odisha-coast-2322550.html. 
  7. ↑ "Agni-P (Prime)". Dristi IAS. 1 July 2021. https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agni-p-prime. 
  8. ↑ "A brand new Agni missile Pakistan should be wary of" (in en). https://www.rediff.com/news/report/a-brand-new-agni-missile-pakistan-should-be-wary-of/20161219.htm. 
  9. ↑ "Agni P spearheads India's major naval revamp to deter China" (in en). 2021-07-03. https://english.lokmat.com/international/agni-p-spearheads-indias-major-naval-revamp-to-deter-china/. 
  10. ↑ "China using Pakistan for military logistics facilities: US Defence report" (in en). https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/china-using-pakistan-for-military-logistics-facilities-us-defence-report20200907140759/. 
  11. ↑ "China seeks to set up military logistic facilities in Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Myanmar". The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/china-seeks-to-set-up-military-logistic-facilities-in-pakistan-sri-lanka-myanmar/articleshow/77889820.cms?from=mdr. 
  12. ↑ "China takes notice of India's test of 'carrier killer' Agni-P ballistic missile" (in en-US). 2021-07-02. https://theshillongtimes.com/2021/07/02/china-takes-notice-of-indias-test-of-carrier-killer-agni-p-ballistic-missile/. 
  13. ↑ Rout, Hemant Kumar (2021-09-13). "India to conduct first user trial of Agni-V missile" (in en). https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/sep/13/india-to-conduct-first-user-trial-of-agni-v-missile-2357942.html. 
  14. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (2013-05-08). "Advanced Agni-6 missile with multiple warheads likely by 2017". Business Standard India. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/advanced-agni-6-missile-with-multiple-warheads-likely-by-2017-113050800034_1.html. 
  15. ↑ "India successfully test-fires new generation Agni Prime missile off Odisha coast" (in en). 2021-12-18. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-new-generation-agni-prime-missile-off-odisha-coast-101639809200382.html. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Agni P (Prime): India's ASBM in the Making and its Impact on Naval Warfare" (in en-US). 2021-06-29. https://www.eletimes.com/agni-p-prime-indias-asbm-in-the-making-and-its-impact-on-naval-warfare. 
  17. ↑ Shukla, Ajai (2012-04-21). "No intention to cap missile plan". Business Standard India. https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/no-intention-to-cap-missile-plan-112042102007_1.html. 
  18. ↑ Gupta, Shishir (2021-06-28). "India successfully test-fires Agni P, a new missile in Agni series" (in en). https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-agni-p-a-new-missile-in-agni-series-101624863307818.html. 
  19. ↑ "India Tests New Agni Missile". https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2021-09/news-briefs/india-tests-new-agni-missile. 
  20. ↑ "China takes notice of India's test of carrier killer Agni-P ballistic missile". https://idrw.org/china-takes-notice-of-indias-test-of-carrier-killer-agni-p-ballistic-missile/#more-259388. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Philip, Snehesh Alex (2021-06-30). "Agni Prime is the new missile in India's nuclear arsenal. This is why it's special" (in en-US). https://theprint.in/defence/agni-prime-is-the-new-missile-in-indias-nuclear-arsenal-this-is-why-its-special/687271/. 
  22. ↑ Agni, Prime (2021-12-19). "Agni Prime" (in en-US). https://alljobs.co.in/currentaffairs/agni-p-agni-prime/. 
  23. ↑ Liu, Zhen (1 July 2021). "India's latest Agni-P missile no great threat to China: experts". South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3139421/indias-latest-agni-p-missile-no-great-threat-china-experts. 

External links[]

Surface-to-surface
  • Indigenous Anti-Submarine missile
    • Air-to-surface
    Surface-to-air
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  • Notes: (*) Undergoing development
  • (**) Undergoing trials
  • Indian Missile Program
  • Indian Armed Forces
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    The original article can be found at Agni-P and the edit history here.
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