In the recent development in defence, India successfully launched its Agni-Prime missile with a range of 2000 km. The launch took place from a location off the Odisha coast. With the launch, a new chapter has been written in the Agni missile.

Background

Agni missiles are part of India’s long range nuclear capable missiles which are primarily made for surface-to-surface missions. The family of the missiles is named after one of the five elements of nature which translates to fire. Starting with Agni-l and ranging till Agni-VI, there are six missiles in the family of Agni.


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Details

On Monday, June 28, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out its ‘textbook launch’ of its Agni Prime or Agni P missile from the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam island at Balasore, which is situated off the Odisha coast.

‘Telemetry and radar systems monitored the missile’: DRDO

As per the brief by the DRDO-

“Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile followed text book trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.”


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Agni Prime to be India’s Chhota Packet Bada Dhamaka

According to reports, the highly advanced variant of Agni missile is a ‘canisterised’ missile that has a range between 1000 km to 2000 km. Another testament of the DRDO research and development comes from the fact that the missile is completely made up of composite materials. Further, an ANI report claims that the missile is relatively smaller and light weighted and can prove to be the ‘chhota packet, bada dhamaka’ for the nation.


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Pakistani and Chinese bases can be covered by the Agni P

With its range of up to 2,000 km, the new member in the Agni family can strengthen the Indian defence arsenal further. Moreover, the range makes sure that most of Pakistani and Chinese bases can be covered and the country can counter attack when the situation calls for such measures.


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Indigenously developed Pinaka Rockets successfully tested

Earlier, the DRDO also test-fired its indigenously developed Pinaka rockets and the 122mm Caliber rockets of the coast of Odisha. The 25 Pinaka rockets were launched from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur.


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In its astounding successful attempts, as many as 25 Pinaka rockets were launched one after the other at the target range on both June 24 and June 25. According to statement coming straight from the Defence Ministry, the rocket system can destroy targets up to a 45 km range.

The indigenously made rockets are developed by a joint effort of Pune’s ARDE (Armament Research and Development Establishment) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory, also situated in Pune. The manufacturing support was provided by Nagpur’s Economic Explosives LTD.


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Four 122 mm Caliber rockets successfully tested

Moreover, four 122 mm Caliber rockets with an enhanced range were also test-fired and the mission met all its objectives to be called successful. The 122 mm Caliber rockets can destroy targets up to 40 km. The rocket systems are set to replace the current 122mm Grad rockets.