India tests nuclear-capable Agni-1 & Prithvi-2 ballistic missiles
NEW DELHI: India on Thursday conducted successive tests of short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, the Prithvi-2 and Agni-1, in what constitutes some strategic deterrence messaging to Pakistan soon after the intense cross-border hostilities under Operation Sindoor from May 7 to 10.
The Prithvi-2 (350-km strike range) and Agni-1 (700-km) missiles were launched from the integrated test range at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, by the tri-service strategic forces command (SFC). 'The launches validated all operational and technical parameters,' the defence ministry said in a brief statement on Thursday night.
An official described the tests as 'periodic routine trials' of already inducted missiles conducted by the SFC, which was established in 2003 to handle the country's nuclear arsenal.
But it's possibly the first time that two such nuclear-capable missiles have been tested together on the same day.
Both these missiles are Pakistan-specific, while the others like Agni-2 (2,000-km), Agni-3 (3,000-km) and the near ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) Agni-5 (over 5,000-km) are largely geared towards China.
DRDO and the SFC have also been conducting 'pre-induction night trials' of the new-generation Agni-Prime ballistic missile, which has a strike range from 1,000 to 2,000-km, which will gradually replace the Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles in the country's nuclear arsenal.
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The solid-fuelled Agni-Prime is the smallest and lightest among the entire Agni series of ballistic missiles and incorporates new propulsion systems and composite rocket motor casings as well as advanced navigation and guidance systems.
The Agni-Prime, significantly, is also a canister-launch system like the Agni-V, which brings even the northernmost parts of China under its strike envelope, and the two together will add more teeth to India's nuclear deterrence posture.
Both these missiles are in the process of being inducted into the SFC, with new regiments being raised for them, as reported by TOI earlier.
Canister-launch missiles - with the warheads already mated with the missiles - give the SFC the requisite operational flexibility to store them for long periods, swiftly transport them through rail or road when required, and fire them from wherever they want.
The Agni-5 was also tested with multiple warheads (MIRVs or multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles) for the first time on March 11 last year.
Once inducted in a few years more, this MIRVed missile will be capable of delivering three to four warheads at different targets separated by hundreds of kilometres.
China, of course, is leagues ahead. It is adding around 100 nuclear warheads every year to its existing stockpile of 600 warheads, while deploying ICBMs like the DongFeng-5 and DF-41 with ranges over 12,000-km. India, in turn, has 180 warheads and Pakistan 170, as per the latest assessment by the Stockholm International Peace Institute (SIPRI).
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