Recently, India registered a new firing of one of its Agni-Prime ballistic missiles, but this time from a novel railway-type launch system from an undisclosed location. The event, which took place on September 24, was carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
Marking a new milestone, images recently viralized by official media showed for the first time the launch of an intermediate-range missile, known as Agni-Prime, integrated into a “railway-based mobile launch system.” The released videos show the side doors of the wagon opening to allow the rocket motor explosion of the missile to disperse through the sides. The event, unprecedented for India, was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence through a press release.
As detailed, the launch was carried out from a specially designed mobile launcher with the capacity to move along the railway network, which allows the country to have the ability to mobilize throughout the country. Likewise, it is noted that this would offer India and its Armed Forces the advantage of short-term reaction, low visibility, and self-sufficiency, supported by state-of-the-art communications and protection mechanisms. Beyond this, the trajectory of the missile was tracked by several ground stations, having fulfilled all the mission objectives. In this framework, the Minister of Defence, Shri Rajnath Singh, pointed out that this test places India within the select group of nations that have developed a launch system from the railway network.
At this point, it is relevant to bring up that the Agni-Prime is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) of two stages, surface-to-surface type, powered by solid fuel propulsion. With several launch tests carried out by the DRDO from mobile systems, it is known so far that it has a range of 2,000 kilometers and can be transported by vehicle and/or train, while also incorporating new materials, guidance and control mechanisms, plus next-generation navigation systems, making it difficult to be intercepted by air defense systems against ballistic missiles.
Taking this into account, it is possible that the missile could reach targets in Pakistan, but it could also be used to strike targets in southwestern China. But also, by employing a missile with railway mobility, this significantly increases the number of targets in China. It has also been suggested that the Agni-Prime may use its missiles with conventional warheads, which would follow the established practice for the previous members of the Agni missile family and provide additional flexibility.
On the other hand, it is known that the Agni-Prime will gradually replace the Agni-I with a range of 700 kilometers, which is part of the arsenal of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which is in charge of the management and control of India’s ballistic missile arsenal, as well as the Agni-II, which also has a range of 2,000 kilometers.
You may also like: India confirmed the purchase of 97 new LCA Tejas Mk1A fighter jets to replace its MiG-21s, which will soon be retired
