India successfully test-fires Agni P, a new missile in Agni series

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the Prithvi, Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles that were built two decades ago with technologies that are now considered outdated.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.