Agni-P: A New Era in India's Ballistic Missile Capabilities
- Current Affair Writer
- Apr 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Summary:
Agni-P, a medium-range ballistic missile developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), represents a significant leap in India's strategic defense capabilities. As the sixth missile in the Agni series, Agni-P is designed with advanced features such as a two-stage, solid-propellant system, a canister-launched, road-mobile platform, and significant upgrades in motor casing, reentry vehicle maneuverability, propellants, and guidance systems. Targeting to enhance India's strategic autonomy in the Indo-Pacific, Agni-P is poised to be a key component in countering regional threats and strengthening national security.
Important Points:
Advanced Design and Propulsion: Agni-P incorporates a two-stage, solid-propellant design with both stages using high-energy density aluminium as fuel, allowing for a larger payload with less propellant.
Enhanced Range and Mobility: With a strike range of 2000 km, Agni-P is capable of carrying a 1.5-ton payload, offering strategic versatility against regional adversaries, and improving India's rapid deployment capabilities through its canisterization and road/rail mobility.
State-of-the-Art Guidance System: Featuring dual redundant navigation systems, including advanced ring laser gyro-based INS and MINS, Agni-P ensures high accuracy and reliability. It is further supported by GPS and NaVIC for enhanced precision.
Innovative Warhead Technology: The missile is equipped with a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV) that enhances its capability to evade missile defense systems, marking a significant improvement in warhead technology.
Strategic Deployment: Agni-P is set for operational service under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), having demonstrated its accuracy and reliability through pre-induction trials, including a successful night launch in June 2023.
Additional Information to Remember:
Countering Regional Threats: Agni-P's development is a strategic response to emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific, particularly aimed at balancing power dynamics with neighboring adversaries and ensuring regional security.
Indigenous Technological Advancements: The missile's development underscores India's focus on indigenous research and technological self-reliance in critical defense capabilities, leveraging advancements made in the Agni-IV and Agni-V projects.
Flexibility and Preparedness: The canister-launch system and mobile deployment capabilities of Agni-P enhance the strategic flexibility and readiness of India's armed forces, allowing for rapid response in various terrains and conditions.
Future Developments: With ongoing advancements, there is potential for Agni-P to evolve into variants with specific capabilities, including anti-ship roles, further broadening India's strategic deterrence options.
Key Words and Descriptions:
Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM): A missile with a range between 1,000 and 3,000 km, designed for delivering nuclear or conventional warheads.
Canister-Launched: A missile system that is stored and launched from a protective canister, enhancing its mobility, readiness, and shelf-life.
Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV): A type of warhead designed to change its trajectory during reentry to evade missile defense systems.
Indigenous Development: The process of developing technology or products within a country, using local resources and capabilities.
Published in : The Hindu
Date appeared in newspaper : 05 April 2024
Link to the article (might require a paid subscription) :https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/2024-04-05/th_international/articleGMCCKMMCV-6361673.ece
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