Agni P / Agni-1P

The Agni P is a two-stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system. This second flight-test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies integrated into the system.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was reported in 2016 to be developing Pakistan-centric nuclear missile called Agni-1P [Prime or Pakistan, take your pick for name] which will replace Prithvi and Agni-1 and will have a range of 300 to 700 kilometers. Agni-1P will be a two-stage, solid propellant missile with relatively latest technology which will vastly improve its accuracy but relatively will be reserved for High-value targets.

The new Agni-1P was predicted to be shorter than current Prithiv-1 and also a lot thinner in diameter, which makes it highly compact and portable in size. Agni-1P like the larger Agni-V will come with Composite Canisters so it makes them highly mobile along with better operational flexibility. Both stages of the missiles will comprise of composite rocket motors, guidance systems with electromechanical actuators, and inertial navigation systems based on advanced ring-laser gyroscopes. This will be very accurate and lightweight, mostly to take out bunkers of NCA spread across Pakistan.

Agni P is the first of the new class of Agni missile to be launched by DRDO. The ballistic missile weighs 50% less than Agni 3 and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion. Although dimensions are poorly characterized, the actual missile had a larger diameter than initially predicted. Since the missile is canisterised, it can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period and transported all across the country as per operational requirements. The missile, which has a range between 1000km to 2000km [much greater than the 300 to 700 kilometer range initially predicted - hence the larger diameter motors], can be used to target enemy armadas in the Indo-Pacific.

India successfully carried out the test-firing of a new missile in the Agni series known as Agni P on 28 June 2021 off the coast of Odisha, officials said. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight tested the new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island at 10:55am off the coast of Odisha. “Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile has followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy,” DRDO said in a statement.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully tested the new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile 'Agni P' from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha at 1106 hrs on December 18, 2021. Various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and down range ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile trajectory and parameters. The missile followed text book trajectory meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO for the successful flight test and expressed his happiness for the excellent performance of the system. Secretary Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr G Satheesh Reddy appreciated the efforts of the team to have done the second development flight trial with many additional features and congratulated for the consecutive success within the same calendar year.