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Source: PIB
What is the News?
Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) has successfully flight-tested a New Generation Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile Agni P from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha.
About Agni-P:
- Agni P is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
Features of Agni P Missile:
- Canister Based Missile: Agni P is a canisters based missile. Canisterisation of missiles reduces the time required to launch the missile while improving its storage and mobility,
- This means that it can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period. It can also be transported across the length and breadth of the country.
- Weight: The missile weighs 50% less than Agni III and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion.
- Range: The missile has a range between 1000km to 2000km.It has been developed specifically to strike targets in Pakistan. Its range is too short to reach targets in the Chinese mainland.
- Replaced by: The Agni-P will replace the Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies that are now considered outdated.
About Agni Missiles:
- Agni Missiles trace their origins back to the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme(IGMDP).
- IGMDP was conceived by APJ. Abdul Kalam in the 1980s to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.
- The missiles developed under this programme include (a)Agni (b)Akash, (c)Trishul (d)Prithvi and (e)Nag.
