In a pioneering achievement for its defense arsenal, India executed a flawless test of the Agni-Prime intermediate-range ballistic missile from a rail-mounted mobile launcher on Thursday. This innovative firing, conducted via a custom-engineered platform seamlessly linked to the country’s rail infrastructure, represents the inaugural use of such a system in the nation’s military history.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the triumph on X, hailing it as a “first-of-its-kind launch” that bolsters India’s strategic deterrence posture. “The first-of-its-kind launch carried out today from a specially designed rail-based Mobile Launcher has the capability to move on the Rail network without any preconditions, which allows users to have cross-country mobility and launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility,” Singh stated. He extended congratulations to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), and the Armed Forces for the feat. “This successful flight test has put India in the group of select nations having capabilities that have developed a canisterised launch system from a mobile rail network,” his post continued.
The Agni-Prime, an advanced solid-fueled missile, boasts a strike radius extending up to 2,000 kilometers, enabling precise hits on distant objectives. This trial builds on a prior successful demonstration in August at Chandipur, Odisha, underscoring steady progress in missile technology.
The development aligns with broader advancements in India’s ballistic capabilities. In March 2024, the Agni-5 underwent a key trial under ‘Mission Divyastra,’ unveiling its multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology. This feature permits the missile to deploy three to four nuclear warheads, each directed at separate targets—a sophistication that elevates its tactical versatility. For now, the SFC, established in 2003, primarily manages single-warhead systems. The Agni-5 itself employs a three-stage, solid-propellant design housed in a canister for swift readiness and deployment.
This rail-integrated approach enhances operational flexibility, allowing forces to traverse vast terrains covertly and respond rapidly to threats. As India refines these assets, it joins an elite cadre of countries mastering rail-mobile launch systems, fortifying national security amid evolving global challenges.
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