India successfully tests first-of-its-kind Agni-Prime missile from rail-based mobile launcher

The test by the DRDO in partnership with the Strategic Forces Command not only opens up the doors for the missile’s cross country mobility, but also allows the armed forces to launch the weapon within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.

New Delhi: India has successfully tested its intermediate range Agni-Prime ballistics missile with a range of 2,000 km from a rail-based mobile launcher system as the first step to enable the armed forces to take the weapon anywhere with a railway network.

The first-of-its-kind launch under full operational scenario was carried out on September 24 from a specially designed mobile launcher that can move on the railway network without any pre-conditions, defence ministry officials said.

The test by the Defence Research and Development Organisation in partnership with the Strategic Forces Command not only opens up the doors for the missile’s cross country mobility, but also allows the armed forces to launch the weapon within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the flight test put India in the group of select nations which have developed canisterised launch systems from the rail network.

“The first-of-its-kind launch carried out from specially designed rail based mobile launcher, has the capability to move on rail network without any preconditions that allows user to have a cross country mobility and launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility,” Rajnath said in a social media post.

The rail based system is self-sustained and equipped with all independent launching systems including the state-of-the-art communication systems and protection mechanisms. “This will be a force multiplier to strategic forces, with a game changer road cum rail missile system,” an official said.

Using the rail network, experts say, may have the additional advantage of storing the weapons inside railway tunnels.

The missile trajectory was tracked by various ground stations, which confirmed that it was a text book launch meeting all mission objectives.

This successful launch would enable futuristic rail based systems induction into services, a Defence Ministry official said. A road-mobile version of the missile has already been inducted.

The road-mobile version of the Agni-Prime missile was tested at least twice in the last two years after DRDO carried out three successful developmental trials.