India has successfully launched the Agni-4 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The missile, with a strike range of 4,000 km, has “successfully validated all operational and technical parameters,” according to the Defence Ministry. The Strategic Forces Command (SFC), part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) responsible for the country’s nuclear arsenal, conducted the test in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). This test follows the recent induction of India’s second nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighaat, on 29 August.
#JustIn | A successful launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, #Agni4, was carried out from Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha today. The launch successfully validated all operational & technical parameters. It was conducted under the aegis of Strategic Forces…
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) September 6, 2024
The 20-meter-long Agni-4 missile, a symbol of India’s growing defence prowess, can carry a 1,000 kg payload and can be fired from a road-mobile launcher. The indigenously developed Agni-4 missile was previously known as Agni-2 Prime. In April of this year, India successfully tested the new-generation nuclear-capable Agni-Prime ballistic missile with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km from the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
The Agni series of missiles is a ballistic missile developed by India. It is a long-range, nuclear-weapon-capable, surface-to-surface missile. The successful launch of the Agni-4 builds on the achievements of its predecessors, including the Agni-1, Agni-2, and Agni-3. Each of these missiles has contributed to the country’s strategic defence capabilities.
In March, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) conducted the first test of the MIRV-equipped Agni-5 missile. With a range of 5,000 kilometres, the Agni-5 is designed to address India’s long-term security needs. This missile can cover almost the entire Asian continent, including the northernmost parts of China and several regions in Europe, making it a formidable addition to India’s arsenal. What sets the Agni-5 apart is its MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology, marking a major technological leap in the ongoing development of the Agni missile series.
Ravi Shankar
