AGNI PRIME’s Missile test launch is a new bookmark for India’s DRDO [Defence Research and Development Organisation]. Test launch conducted on 18th December on Saturday from Odisha’s Coast near Balasore. At 11 am missile took off the APJ Abdul Kalam island in Balasore. As a result DRDO’s Chairman G. Sateesh Reddy quotes, “Kudos ! to the entire Agni team And you have done the country proud.” Meanwhile he also added that “The PM Modi and Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh have conveyed their congratulations to your team and we all are proud of you for having accomplished such a mission perfectly putting India in the top select few countries with this capability of hitting target at a range of 1000 to 2000 km.”
Agni Prime Missile Details:
Agni Prime belongs to a new generation advanced missile variant of AGNI class of missiles. It is the second time the missile is tested this year after 28th June test. The missile is a two stage canisterised solid propellant ballistic missile with dual redundant navigation and guidance system. It weighs 50% less than the Agni 3 and can be launched from rail and road and can be transported all across the country as per operational needs.
The second flight test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies integrated into the system. It is a new variant of AGNI class of missiles with range capability between 1000 and 2000 km. Similarly, AGNI V. is India’s longest ballistic missile of the Agni class, has range of 5000 km. In the conclusion by the DRDO, “The various telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and down range ships positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile and parameters and the missile” and “Missile followed a textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.” As a result many political personalities congratulated DRDO for this achievement.
Meanwhile on 7th December DRDO conducted successful test fire of VL-SRSAM [Vertically Launched Short Range Surface To Air Missile] from ITR in Chandipur. It is an indigenously designed and developed missile for Indian Navy is meant for neutralising threat at close range of 15 km.
