Agni-I

From Astra Kosh, the AlphaDefense encyclopedia · Category: Strategic Systems

Agni-I is a single-stage, solid-fuelled surface-to-surface short/medium-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), configured as a road/rail-mobile system capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads against short-range strategic targets, primarily in the Pakistan theatre.[1]

Development

Agni-I emerged from DRDO’s decision to reconfigure the original Agni technology-demonstrator (which had used a liquid-fuelled second stage derived from the Prithvi) into a dedicated single-stage solid-fuel ballistic missile. Development began in earnest around 1999, and the missile’s first flight test took place on 25 January 2002.[1]

Specifications

Type Single-stage, solid-fuel short/medium-range ballistic missile
Developer DRDO (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme)
Length / Diameter 15 m / 1 m
Launch weight 12,000 kg
Range 700 km (up to ~1,200 km with reduced payload)
Payload ~1,000 kg (nuclear-capable)
First test 25 January 2002
User Strategic Forces Command, India

Sources

  1. Missile Threat (CSIS) / Grokipedia, “Agni-I.”