India successfully carries out training launch of Agni-1 ballistic missile

India announcedlate Thursday (June 1) that it has conducted a successful training launch of its Agni-1 ballistic missilefrom the island in the Indian state of Odisha named after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. The successful training launch of the medium-range ballistic missile validated all operational and technical parameters of the strategic weapon said the Indian Ministry of Defence.

About the training launch

In a brief statement, the Indian defence ministry said, “A successful training launch of a medium-range ballistic missile, Agni-1, was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, on June 1.”

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It added, “The missile is a proven system, capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision. The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.”

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The development of the Agni missile series began in early 1980 under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) led by former president, Dr Kalam, who played a key role in India’s missile and space programmes. India has since developed various variants of the Agni series of missiles.

Agni-1 ballistic missile

The word “Agni” means fire. In the last two decades or so India has moved to strengthen its strategic deterrent capability by developing various ballistic missiles, precision-guided munitions and related platforms.

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The medium-range Agni-1 ballistic missile has a strike range of over 700 kilometres and weighs around 12,000 kilogrammes. It is also capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 kg. The development of Agni-1 began in 1999 and the missile underwent its first successful test launch in 2003 after a failed attempt a year prior.

India’s missile programme

The training launch also comes months after India successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V that can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km. Earlier this year, India also successfully carried out the maiden flight trial of an endo-atmospheric interceptor missile from a ship off the coast of Odisha in the Bay of Bengal.

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The flight trialwas also a part of its ambitious ballistic missile defence programme with the aim for the sea-based missile to engage and neutralise a hostile ballistic missile threat.

(With inputs from agencies)

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