Agni-Prime Missile: All about India's new missile that can hit targets 2,000 km away and uses rail network

India has successfully conducted the maiden rail-based launch of its next-generation Intermediate Range Agni-Prime missile on Thursday, marking a significant leap in the country’s strategic defence capabilities.

The launch, carried out by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), was executed under a full operational scenario and is being hailed as a “textbook” success, meeting all mission objectives.

Also Read: India successfully tests Agni-Prime missile from rail-based mobile launcher, Rajnath Singh confirms


Agni-Prime Missile: Features
The Agni-Prime, designed to strike targets up to 2,000 kilometres away, is a highly advanced missile system equipped with state-of-the-art features. What sets this test apart is its deployment from a specially designed Rail-based mobile launcher, a first-of-its-kind capability for India. This launcher can seamlessly move across the rail network without any preconditions and offers cross-country mobility. It is designed to deliver a quick reaction time, operate with reduced visibility, and is self-sustained with independent launch features.

It also comes fitted with advanced communication systems and robust protection mechanisms, ensuring reliability even in high-threat environments.

The test marks a major milestone for India’s missile programme as it opens the door to futuristic rail-based launch systems that can enhance survivability, mobility, and rapid deployment of strategic assets. This launch also complements the road-mobile version of Agni-P, which has already been inducted into the armed forces after a series of successful trials. Together, the road and rail variants significantly boost India’s second-strike capability and deterrence posture.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, SFC and the armed forces, noting that this achievement places India among the select group of nations with canisterised missile launch systems from rail platforms. Secretary of the Department of Defence R&D and DRDO Chairman also commended the teams involved for their outstanding work in bringing this technology to fruition.