Agni-I

Agni-I
Agni-I during a test flight on 13 July 2012
TypeShort Range Ballistic Missile[1]
Place of originIndia
Service history
In service1979[2]—present
Used byStrategic Forces Command
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
Unit cost₹25 crore (US$3.0 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.2 million)[3]
No. built70 (2017 est.)[4]
Specifications
Mass12,000 kg[5][6][7]
Length15 m[5][6][7]
Diameter1.0 m[6][7]
WarheadConventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, cluster munition, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon
Warhead weight1,000 kg (2,200 lb) - 2,500 kg (5,500 lb)[8]
EngineSingle stage composite rocket motor[9]
PropellantSolid fuel
Operational
range
700–1,200 km [5][6]
Flight ceiling370 km[7]
Maximum speed 2.5 km/s (9000 km/h)[6]
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system. Optionally augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance
Terminal: Radar scene correlation
Accuracy25 m CEP[10]
Launch
platform
8 x 8 Tatra transporter erector launcher/rail mobile[11]

Agni-I (Agni "Fire") is a short-range ballistic missile[1] that was developed by DRDO of India in the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It is a single-stage missile that was developed after the Kargil War to fill the gap between the 250 km (160-mile) range of the Prithvi-II missile and the 2,500 km (1,600-mile) range of the Agni-II. It was first launched from a road mobile launcher at Integrated Test Range (ITR), Wheeler Island, on 25 January 2002.[12] Less than 75 launchers are deployed.[13]

History and development

Agni-I was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur at 7:17AM on 22 May 1989,[14] and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead. Agni missiles consist of one (short range) or two stages (intermediate range). These are rail and road mobile and powered by solid propellants.[15]

The Agni I has a range of 700–1,200 km.[16] They are claimed to be a part of the "Minimum credible deterrence".

Agni-I is a single stage, solid fuel, road and rail mobile, Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). The need for the Agni-I was felt after the Kargil war with Pakistan. It took DRDO 15 months to develop the Agni-I after having completed Agni-II development.[17] It is propelled by solid fuel. Maneuvering RV body-lift aerodynamics give it the ability to correct trajectory errors and reduce thermal stresses. The MRV has a velocity correction package to correct launch trajectory variances. Some Agni RV versions use a set of solid fueled thruster cartridges of predetermined impulse, allowing the onboard guidance controller to trim velocity, using discrete combination of impulse quanta along the desired spatial orientation. The 15 metre tall Agni-I missile, weighing about 12 tonnes, is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads of 1,000 kg.[6][7]

Replacement

Main article: Agni-P

DRDO is now developing an upgraded two stage variant called Agni-1P by borrowing the newer technologies from Agni-IV and Agni-V platform to increase accuracy and reliability.[9] On 28 June 2021, DRDO successfully test fired Agni-1P from Abdul Kalam island. This is a two-stage solid fuel missile that can be stored in canister and transported through road and rail. It is a new class of missile in Agni Series launched by DRDO which is half the weight of Agni-III and carries newly developed guidance package and population system covering a distance of 1000–2000 km.[18][19]

Operational history

Agni missile range.

Indian Army regularly conducts user trials of the missile mainly to train the user team to launch the missile. The tests are normally conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) with logistic support from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).[20][21][22] Such User trials were carried out multiple times since 2018, with the first one being on October 5, 2007, from Wheelers' Island and the latest one being on November 27, 2015.[23] Another successful user trial was conducted on March 14, 2016, from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island.[24][25] Multiple successful user trials of the missile have been conducted on 22 November 2016 and 6 February 2018 by the Strategic Forces Command.[26][27]

Operators

Agni-I is used by the 334 Missile Group at Secunderabad,[10] under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army,[5][6][20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Agni-1". CSIS Missile Threat. The Agni-I is an Indian short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) with a range of 700 km
  2. ^ Dikshit, Sandeep (5 July 2004). "Army's missile group to maintain Agni A-1". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  3. ^ "Technical tune to Agni test before talks". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
  4. ^ Ballistic and cruise missile threat
  5. ^ a b c d "India successfully test-fires Agni I ballistic missile". Indian Express. Nov 25, 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-I missile". The Times of India. Nov 25, 2010. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  7. ^ a b c d e "India successfully test-fired Agni-I". Asian Tribune. 5 July 2004. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. ^ Design characteristics of India ballistic cruise missiles
  9. ^ a b "A brand new Agni missile Pakistan should be wary of". Rediff. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  10. ^ a b "Agni-1". MissileThreat. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  11. ^ "Agni-1". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2019-09-22.
  12. ^ T. S. Subramanian (2 February 2002). "The significance of Agni-I". Frontline. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  13. ^ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threat (Report). Defense Intelligence Ballistic Missile Analysis Committee. June 2017. p. 21. NASIC-1031-0985-17. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  14. ^ Dilip, Bobb; Menon, Amarnath K. (15 June 1989). "Agni: India successfully launches its first Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile". India Today. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  15. ^ Army, Technology. "Agni Ballistic Missile System". army-technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Missiles of India". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
  17. ^ Subramanian, T.S. (13 July 2012). "Agni-I a success". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
  18. ^ Gupta, Shishir (2021-06-28). "India successfully test-fires Agni P, a new missile in Agni series". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  19. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (2021-06-28). "India test fires new generation nuclear capable Agni-Prime missile off Odisha coast". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2021-06-28. Retrieved 2021-06-28.
  20. ^ a b Subramanian, T S (December 1, 2011). "Strategic Forces Command test fires Agni". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 1 December 2011.
  21. ^ "Agni 1 Missile Test Fired, Part of Army User Trials-India Defence Dated:25 Nov 2010". India-defence.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
  22. ^ "Successful test-firing of Agni-I". Deccan Herald. 13 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  23. ^ "Agni-I nuclear-capable missile testfired successfully in Odisha".
  24. ^ "India successfully test-fires Agni-I ballistic missile". IBNLive. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  25. ^ "India successfully test-fired Agni-I ballistic missile". Jagranjosh.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  26. ^ "India Successfully Test-fires N-capable Agni-I Ballistic Missile". News18. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  27. ^ Ians (2018-02-06). "Agni-I missile with nuclear weapon carrying capability flight-tested successfully". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2018-02-06.