For the first time, India successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime missile with a range of 2,000 km from a rail-based mobile launcher system. This puts India on the map of selected nations that have the capability to launch such a weapon system from the rail network. The location of the test-firing has not been made public.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), carried out the "successful" launch of the intermediate-range Agni-Prime missile under a full operational scenario on Wednesday, the defence ministry said.
Speaking on the achievement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The first-of-its-kind launch carried out from specially designed Rail based Mobile Launcher, has the capability to move on Rail network without any pre-conditions that allows User to have a cross country mobility and launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.”
“Congratulations to DRDO, Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and the Armed Forces on successful test of Intermediate Range Agni-Prime missile. This successful flight test has put India in the group of select nations having capabilities that have developed canisterised launch system from on the move rail network,” he then added.
The missile is equipped with all independent launch capability features, including state-of-the-art communication systems and protection mechanisms, informed the defence ministry.
"The missile trajectory was tracked by various ground stations, and it was a textbook launch meeting all mission objectives. This successful launch will enable futuristic rail-based systems' induction into services," it said.
Meanwhile, the "road mobile" variant of Agni-Prime has already been inducted into the service after a series of successful flight trials.
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