Agni Missiles – Medium To Intercontinental Range Ballistic Missile

The Agni missile is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missile being developed by DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited.

The Agni missile system consists of three deployed variants and two in the testing phase while one is under development.

Consequently, it is a part of the integrated guided missile development programme of DRDO.

We are going to continue our study regarding the series of Indian missile systems. In this article, we will study about Agni missile series.

So Let’s start,

Agni-I

• This missile is a short or intermediate range ballistic missile which consists of a single engine.
• It has a range of 700-900 Km and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1000 kg or a nuclear warhead.
• It travels at a speed of 2.5 km/s.
• This missile has a flight altitude of 300 km.
• The most noteworthy thing is with a special weapons load Agni-I can reach 1200 km which is less costly, simple and more accurate in contrast to Agni-II.

Agni-II

• It is a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with two solid fuel stages.
• Agni-II has a range of 2000-3500 km. Hence it can reach the central, southern and western parts of China.
• It travels at a speed of 3.5 km/s.
• This missile has a flight altitude of 230 km.
• It weighs 16000 kg including 1000 kg of the warhead.
• It’s navigation and aiming uses an advanced ground-based beacon system using a TDOA (Time delay of arrival) technique similar to a GPS system, that constantly provides missile flight position and velocity updates and has been proven in test flights.

Agni-III

• It is an intermediate range ballistic missile with a two-stage solid propellant engine.
• This missile has an operational range of 3500 km to 5000 km which can target deep inside enemy territory including Shanghai in China.
• It has a flight altitude of more than 450 km and also it can travel at a speed of 4-5 km/s.
• This missile can carry 15 to 250 kiloton nuclear or 2500 kg conventional warhead.
• With a circular error probable under a 40m range, the missile is considered one of the most accurate strategic ballistic missiles of its range class in the world.

Agni-IV

• It was earlier known as Agni-II prime and is still in the testing phase.
• Also, it has undergone one failed and six successful tests over a span of 6 years.
• It can carry 15 kilotons to 250 kilotons of the nuclear or conventional warhead.
• This missile has an operational range of 4000 km.
• It has a flight altitude of 900 km.
• It has an accuracy of 100 m CEP.

Agni-V

• It is a three stage solid fueled missile with composite motor casing in the second and third stage.
• It has an operational range of 5000 kilometres and carries 1500 kg of the warhead.
• This missile can travel at Mach 24 at its terminal phase.
• It has the capability to strike anywhere in Asia and parts of Africa and Europe also.
• Also, in future, this missile is expected to feature multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle with each missile being capable of carrying 2–10 separate nuclear warheads.

Agni-VI

• It will be a four-stage intercontinental ballistic missile which is still in the development phase.
• This missile is likely to carry up to 10 MIRV warheads and will have a strike range of 8,000 kilometres to 12,000 kilometres.
• Probably its operational range will be around 8000 km to 12000 km, which is expected to carry 3 tonnes of the warhead.
• In Contrast, it will be taller than its predecessor Agni V.

Furthermore, Agni missile is named after one of the five elements of the nature that is Fire which proves its name as well.

So this was it

Stay tuned to DDE for another series of missiles.

JAI HIND

Also, read

• Types of missiles Explained – Part 1
• Types of missiles Explained – Part 2