Defence & SecurityImportant2025-09-24

Agni-Prime Missile Test from Rail-Based Launcher

In News

What Happened

On September 24, 2025, the DRDO and Strategic Forces Command successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime intermediate-range ballistic missile from a novel rail-based mobile launcher. The test validated the system's cross-country mobility, full operational readiness, and independent launch capabilities.

Why It Matters

This test places India among a select group of nations with rail-mobile canisterised launch capabilities. It significantly enhances India's strategic deterrence and second-strike capability by allowing nuclear-capable missiles to be hidden within civilian rail traffic, ensuring high survivability and quick reaction times.

Background

History & Context

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), conceived by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in 1983, laid the foundation for India's strategic missile capabilities. The Agni series became the mainstay of India's nuclear deterrence, managed by the Strategic Forces Command which was established in 2003. The Agni-Prime, a new-generation advanced variant with a 1,000 to 2,000 km range, was previously tested and inducted as a road-mobile canisterised system before this rail-based adaptation.

What Changed

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Launch Platform: BEFORE, the Agni-Prime was deployed exclusively via road-mobile Transporter Erector Launchers. NOW, it can be launched from specialized railcars, allowing it to seamlessly move across the vast Indian railway network.
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Survivability and Concealment: BEFORE, road-mobile launchers were slightly easier for adversarial satellites to track in open terrain. NOW, rail-based launchers can blend into regular civilian train traffic and hide in tunnels, drastically complicating enemy surveillance.
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Strategic Deterrence: BEFORE, India relied primarily on submarines and road-mobile launchers for mobile nuclear deployment. NOW, the addition of rail-based mobility acts as a force multiplier, further solidifying the nation's credible minimum deterrence against pre-emptive strikes.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

In Class 12 Political Science Chapter 4 (India's External Relations), the text discusses India's nuclear policy, emphasizing the principles of 'No First Use' and 'credible minimum deterrence'. The development of a highly survivable rail-based launch system for the nuclear-capable Agni-Prime directly reinforces this doctrine by ensuring a guaranteed second-strike capability.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Agni-Prime missile and its rail-based launcher system? 1. The Agni-Prime is a two-stage, solid-propellant ballistic missile with a range of over 5,000 km, making it India's longest-range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). 2. The canisterised rail-based launch system enhances the missile's survivability by allowing it to blend with civilian rail traffic and operate with reduced visibility.

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