India test-launches new Agni-series nuclear-capable missile

India's government-run Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) test-launched the latest variant of its Agni family of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles on 28 June off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha.

Named ‘Agni P' (Prime), the indigenously developed canisterised missile, which was launched from Abdul Kalam Island – formerly known as Wheeler Island – met “all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy”, said the Indian government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement, adding that the launch was tracked by various telemetry and radar stations.

The PIB described the Agni P as an “advanced variant of [the] Agni-class of missiles” with a range capability of between 1,000 km and 2,000 km. No further details were provided in the statement but official sources told Janes that the weapon is the first of a new generation of Agni-series medium-range ballistic missiles (MRBMs) to be tested by the DRDO following “extended development” over the past 2–3 years.

Weighing about 23–25 tonnes, the two-stage, solid-fuelled Agni P incorporates technologies used in the 4,000 km-range Agni IV and 5,000 km-range Agni V missiles such as composite rocket motors, ring laser gyroscope-based inertial navigation systems, and micro-navigation systems, the sources told Janes .

The missile, which is fitted with electro-mechanical actuators for guidance, is reported to have a circular error probable (CEP) of 10 m.

Military sources said that since the missile is canisterised, it is capable of being launched from a rail or road-mobile platform anywhere in India.