Agni (missile)

*Agni-P, I, II, III, IV, V, VI*
Agni-P, I, II, III, IV, V, VI
	Agni-V ICBM
Type	Medium-range ballistic missile (Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni Prime)<br />Intermediate-range ballistic missile (Agni-III, Agni-IV)<br />Intercontinental ballistic missile (Agni-V, Agni VI)
Place of origin	India
Service history
In service	Active
Used by	India
Production history
Designer	Defence Research and Development Organisation
Manufacturer	Bharat Dynamics Limited
Specifications
Mass	12,000 kg (Agni-I)<ref name=express715859/><br />16,000 kg (Agni-II)<br />50,000 kg (Agni III)<ref>"India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-III missile". Hindustan Times. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2025.</ref><br /> 17,000 kg (Agni-IV)<ref name="thehindu.com">Subramanian, T.S. (15 November 2011). "Agni-IV test-flight a 'stupendous success'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.</ref><br />50,000 kg (Agni-V)<ref>"Agni-V". Missile Threat. Retrieved 10 August 2025.</ref><br />55,000 kg (Agni VI)<ref name=IBN1/><br />11,000 kg (Agni P)
Length	15 m (Agni-I)<ref name=express715859/><br />21 m (Agni-II)<ref name=hindu20100518>Mallikarjun, Y. (18 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref><br />17 m (Agni-III)<ref name=deccanherald51332>"Nuclear-capable Agni-III missile test-fired". Deccan Herald. 7 February 2010. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2011.</ref><br />20 m (Agni-IV)<ref name="thehindu.com"/><br />17.5 m (Agni-V)<ref name=toi28376198>"DRDO plans to test 10 missiles this year". The Times of India. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2011.</ref><br />10.5 m(Agni-P)
Diameter	1.0 m (Agni-I, Agni-II)<br />1.2 m(Agni-IV)<ref>"Agni-IV". Missile Threat. Retrieved 7 August 2025.</ref><br />2.0 m (Agni-III, Agni V)<br />1.1 m (Agni VI)<ref name=IBN1/><br />1.15 m (Agni P)
Warhead	Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, cluster munitions, incendiary weapon, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon
Engine	Composite rocket motor
Propellant	Solid fuel
Operational; range	700–1,200 km (Agni-I)<ref name=express715859/><ref name="toi-19oct11">"India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-I missile". The Times of India. 25 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2011.</ref><br />1,000–2,000 km (Agni Prime)<ref name="indiatvnews.com">"Agni-Prime: Nuclear capable missile successfully test-fired off Odisha coast". 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.</ref><br />2,000–3,500 km (Agni-II)<ref name=hindu20100518 /><br />3,000–5,000 km (Agni-III)<ref name="Missile Threat"/><br />3,500–4,000 km (Agni-IV)<br/>7,000–8,000 km (Agni-V)<ref name=TOI30409335>"Eyeing China, India to enter ICBM club in 3 months". The Times of India. 17 November 2011. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.</ref> <br />11,000–12,000 km (Agni VI)<ref name=IBN1/>
Flight altitude	300 km (Agni-I)<ref>"India successfully test-fired Agni-I". Asian Tribune. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref><br />230 km (Agni-II),<ref name="hindu20100518"/><ref>"India Tests Agni-II Missile". Aviation Week. 30 September 2011. Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref><br />350 km (Agni-III)<ref>Subramanian, T. S.; Mallikarjun, Y. (7 February 2010). "News / National: Agni-III launch a complete success". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref>
Maximum speed	24 Mach (Agni-V)
Guidance; system	Mid-course: Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system with GPS/NavIC satellite guidance <br/> Terminal: Imaging infrared homing, radar scene correlation, active radar homing
Launch; platform	Road/Rail mobile<ref>"Missiles of India". Missile Threat. Retrieved 22 September 2019.</ref>

The Agni missile (Sanskrit: अग्नि; lit. Fire) is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the five elements of nature. Agni missiles are long-range, nuclear weapons capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles. The first missile of the series, Agni-I was developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (lGMDP) and tested in 1989. After its success, the Agni missile programme was separated from the GMDP upon realizing its strategic importance. It was designated as a special programme in India's defence budget and provided adequate funds for subsequent development. As of November 2019^[update], the missiles in the Agni series are being inducted into service. The family comprises the following:

Name	Type	Range
Agni-I	MRBM	700–1,200 km<ref name=express715859/><ref name="toi-19oct11"/> (Operational)
Agni-P	MRBM	1,000-2,000 km (In trial)<ref>"Agni Prime Missile: India successfully test-fires new generation of nuke missile". The Times of India. 28 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.</ref>
Agni-II	MRBM	2,000–3,500 km<ref>"Agni-2". CSIS Missile Threat. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2012.</ref> (Operational)
Agni-III	IRBM	3,000–5,000 km<ref name="Missile Threat">"Agni-3". Missile Threat. 19 July 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2012.</ref> (Operational)
Agni-IV	IRBM	3,500–4,000  km<ref>"India successfully tests nuclear capable Agni IV missile". The Hindu. 3 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2015.</ref>(Operational)
Agni-V	ICBM	7,000–8,000 km<ref>"Agni-V can now strike targets beyond 7,000 km if India wants; 20% weight reduced: Report". Hindustan Times. 17 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.</ref><ref>"20% weight reduced, Agni-V can now strike targets beyond 7,000 km". India Today. Retrieved 18 December 2022.</ref><ref>"If India wants, Agni missiles can now strike targets beyond 7,000 kms". ANI News. Retrieved 18 December 2022.</ref><ref>"Agni-V can reach targets 8,000 km away: Chinese researcher". Deccan Herald. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2022.</ref><ref>"Agni-V's range is 8,000 km: Chinese expert". News18. 20 April 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2022.</ref> (Operational)
Agni-VI	ICBM	11,000–12,000 km<ref name=IBN1>"Agni-VI with 10000 km range to be ready by 2014". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.</ref><ref name="dailypioneer.com"/><ref name="NEWSLETTER">"Original Copy of the DRDO Newsletter on May 2011". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2019.</ref> (Under development)

Agni-I

The two-stage Agni technology demonstrator, with a solid-fuel first stage, was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur in 1989. It was capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead. This original technology demonstrator evolved into the solid-fuel Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles. India first developed the two-stage 2000  km range Agni-2, testing it in 1999. It then used the first stage of this system to develop the 700  km range single-stage Agni-1, which was first tested in January 2002

Weighing 12 tonne with a length of 15 metres, Agni-1 has a range of 700–900 km<ref name="toi-19oct11"/> and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead<ref name=express715859>"India successfully test-fires Agni I ballistic missile". The Indian Express. 25 November 2010. Retrieved 19 October 2011.</ref> at a speed of 2.5 km/s.<ref name=toi28376198/> Agni missiles consist of one (short range) or two stages (intermediate-range). These are rail and road mobile and powered by solid propellants. Agni-I is used by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Indian Army.<ref name=express715859/> The latest missile test occurred on 13 July 2012, when India test-fired Agni I successfully at Abdul Kalam Island off Orissa coast.<ref>"India tests nuclear-capable Agni-I missile". The Times of India. 13 July 2012. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.</ref> On 11 April 2014 the missile was test fired for the first time in a night trial exercise to its full range of 700 km from the Wheeler island off the Odisha coast. The missile randomly picked from the production line was test-fired by the Strategic Forces Command after 11 pm. This test was the first night after 2 previous tests failed due to technical glitches.<ref>Mallikarjun, Y. (11 April 2014). "Agni-1 clears night trial". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2014.</ref> The missile was test fired from a mobile launcher with logistics support from DRDO at the Integrated Test Range as part of the regular training exercise by the armed forces.<ref>"Successful test of Agni". theindianrepublic.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2015.</ref>

With a special weapons load^[specify] Agni-I can reach 1200 km. As compared to Agni-II, Agni-I is less costly, simple, accurate, and more mobile. <ref>"Agni missile". bharat-rakhsak.com. Archived from the original on 14 October 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2015.</ref>

Agni-II

Agni-II with a range of 2,000–2,500 km is 20 metres long, has a diameter of one metre, and weighs around 18 tonnes. Agni–II uses solid propellant in both of its two stages.<ref name=hindu2636571>"New kid on the nuclear block". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 18 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.</ref> They are claimed to be a part of the "credible deterrence" against China and Pakistan. India stated that its nuclear and missile development programmes are not Pakistan-centric, that the Pakistani threat is only a marginal factor in New Delhi's security calculus, and that Agni is at the heart of deterrence in the larger context of Sino-Indian equation.<ref>"Feature". Pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2011.</ref>

The 2000 km range nuclear weapon capable missile, already inducted into the country's arsenal, was successfully launched as a training exercise by the Strategic Forces Command on 9 August 2012.<ref>"India successfully test-fires nuclear capable Agni-II missile". The Times of India. 9 August 2012. Archived from the original on 19 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.</ref><ref>Subramanian, T. S. (8 August 2012). "Preparations on for Agni-II launch tomorrow". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 9 August 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.</ref> India on 7 April 2013 conducted the latest test of its nuclear-capable Agni-II strategic ballistic missile from a missile testing range in Odisha. The test was conducted from Abdul Kalam Island (formerly known as Wheeler Island) in Bhadrak district, by army personnel as part of a training exercise.<ref>"India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-II missile". The Times of India. 7 April 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.</ref> India successfully conducted the first night trial of nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-II from the Abdul Kalam Island of the Odisha coast at 16 Nov 2019. The 20-metre-long, two-stage ballistic missile has a strike range of 2,000 km To 3000 km. It has a launch weight of 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg.<ref>"India conducts first night trial of Agni-II missile". Agni II tested 2000 KM to Strict Range 3000 KM. Retrieved 16 November 2019.</ref>

Agni-III

Agni-III is the third in the Agni series of missiles. Agni III uses solid propellant in both stages.<ref name="hindu2636571"/> Agni-III was first tested on 9 July 2006 from Wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket did not separate and the missile had fallen well short of its target. Agni-III was again tested on 12 April 2007, this time successfully, again from Wheeler Island. On 7 May 2008, India again successfully test-fired this missile. This was the third consecutive test; it validated the missile's operational readiness while extending the reach of India's nuclear deterrent to the most high-value targets of the nation's most likely adversaries. Agni-III has a range of 3,500  km,<ref name=deccanherald51332 /> and can take a warhead of 1.5 tonnes.<ref name="pressGovIndia" />

It has been reported that the missile's circular error probable (CEP) lies in the range of 40 metres, This would make Agni-III<ref>"Agni-2". CSIS Missile Threat. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2010.</ref> the most accurate strategic ballistic missile of its range class in the world.<ref name="pressGovIndia">"AGNI-III launched successfully". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 12 April 2007. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2007.</ref> This is of special significance because a highly accurate ballistic missile increases the "kill efficiency" of the weapon; it allows Indian weapons designers to use smaller yield nuclear warheads (200 kiloton thermonuclear or boosted fission) while increasing the lethality of the strike. This permits India to deploy a much larger nuclear force using less fissile/fusion material (plutonium/lithium deuteride) than other nuclear powers. Older ballistic missiles, such as those deployed by earlier nuclear powers required larger yield (1–2 megaton) warheads to achieve the same level of lethality. It has also been reported that with smaller payloads, the Agni-III can hit strategic targets well beyond 3,500  km.

Agni-IV

Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles which was earlier known as Agni II prime.<ref name="hindu4">Subramanian, T.S. (15 November 2011). "Agni – IV successfully test fired". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.</ref> Agni-IV was first tested on 15 November 2011 and 19 September 2012 from Wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa for its full range of 4,000 km. The missile lifted off from a road-mobile launcher at 11.48 a.m. and after climbing to an altitude of over 800 km, it re-entered the atmosphere and impacted near the pre-designated target in the Indian Ocean with a remarkable degree of accuracy following a 20-minute flight. Carrying a payload of explosives weighing a tonne, the missile re-entered the atmosphere and withstood temperatures of more than 3,000 °C. With a range of 3,000–4,000 km,<ref name=toiagni4>"India tests long-range nuclear-capable 'Agni-IV' missile". The Times of India. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref><ref>"Sci-Tech / Science : Long range strategic missile Agni-IV test-fired". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Press Trust of India. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.</ref> Agni-IV bridges the gap between Agni II and Agni III. It was again successfully test-fired on 20 January 2014.<ref>"Agni test fired". IBN. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2015.</ref> Agni IV can take a warhead of 1 tonne. It is designed to increase the kill efficiency along with a higher range performance. Agni IV is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, that include indigenously developed ring laser gyro and composite rocket motor. It is a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant. Its length is 20 metres and its launch weight is 17 tonnes.<ref name=hindu4/> It can be fired from a road-mobile launcher.<ref name=hindu4/><ref>"India test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-IV missile". Hindustan Times. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.</ref><ref>"India tests nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-IV missile". The Times of India. 15 November 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref>

Agni-V

Agni-V is a solid fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India. It will greatly expand India's reach to strike targets more than 7,000 km away. Agni-V was first test fired on 19 April 2012 at 08:07 am IST from Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Orissa, the test was successful.<ref>"Agni-V, India's first ICBM, successfully test-fired". NDTV.com. 19 April 2012. Archived from the original on 23 June 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.</ref><ref>"Agni-V test-fired successfully". Ibnlive.in.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.</ref><ref name=toi28376198 /> The second test launch of Agni-V was successfully done on 15 September 2013 at 08:43 am IST from Abdul Kalam Island (formerly known as the Wheeler Island).<ref>"Agni-V now ready for induction into the Army". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.</ref> In January 2015, the canisterized version was successfully tested from Wheeler Island.<ref>"Agni 5, India's Longest Range Ballistic Missile, Successfully Test-Fired". The Arunachal Times. 31 January 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2015.</ref>

Agni-P

First flight test of Agni-1P from APJ Abdul Kalam Island.

It is a medium-range ballistic missile under development that incorporates technological advances from Agni-IV and Agni-V projects. Although it looks similar to Agni-III the weight is reduced by half. Agni-P will replace the older generation missile such as Prithvi, Agni-I and Agni-II.<ref>Shukla, Ajai (28 June 2021). "Pakistan-aimed Agni-P ballistic missile flight-tested successfully". Business Standard India. Retrieved 29 June 2021.</ref>

Agni-VI

Agni-VI is an intercontinental ballistic missile reported to be in the early stages of development by India and is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is to be the latest and most advanced version of the Agni missile programme. It will be capable of being launched from submarines as well as from land, and will have a strike range of 8,000–10,000 km with MIRVed warheads.<ref name=IBN1/><ref name="dailypioneer.com">"India to Join ICBM League soon". Daily Pioneer. 8 October 2011. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.</ref><ref name="NEWSLETTER"/>

Further developments

In May 2008 Indian scientists announced they had developed and patented a path-breaking technology that increases the range of missiles and satellite launch vehicles by at least 40%. The enhanced range is made possible by adding a special-purpose coating of chromium-based material to a rocket's blunt nose cone. The material acts as a reactive-ablative coating that forms a thin low-density gaseous layer at the tip of the rocket as it approaches hypersonic speeds; this super-heated gas layer reduces drag by 47% (at mach 7–8), thereby allowing range enhancements at least 40%.<ref>"New tech to boost missile range by 40%". The Economic Times. 10 September 2008. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2010.</ref> It has been announced that this technology will be incorporated in future Agni deployments after having undergone ranging and calibration tests.

Specifications

Missile	Project	Type	Warhead	Payload (kg)	Range (km)	Dimension (m)	Fuel/Stages	Weight (kg)	In service	CEP (m)
Agni-I	IGMDP	Strategic	Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, cluster munition, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon	1,000	700–1200<ref>"Missiles of India". Missile Threat. Retrieved 30 January 2020.</ref>	15X1	Single stage solid	22,000	2009	25<ref>"Agni-1 \| Missile Threat". CSIS Missile Threat. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2012.</ref>
Agni-II	IGMDP	Strategic	Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, sub-munitions, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon	820–2,000	2,000–3,500	20X1	Two and half stage solid<ref>"Agni successfully test fired". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 26 November 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2015.</ref>	26,000	2006	30-40
Agni-III	IGMDP	Strategic	Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon	2,500	3,000–5,000	17X2	Two stage solid	50,000	2011	40
Agni-IV	Agni-IV	Strategic	Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon	800–1,000	3,500–4,000	20X1.2	Two stage solid	17,000	2014	10
Agni-V	Agni-V	Strategic	Strategic nuclear weapon	1,500 (6-10 MIRV)	7,000–8,000	17X2	Three Stage solid	50,000	2019	>10 - <80<ref name=thin2oct13>"Agni-V vital: Tessy Thomas". The Hindu. 2 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.</ref>
Agni-P	Agni-1 Prime	Strategic	Conventional, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon	Unknown	1,000–2,000<ref name="indiatvnews.com"/>	Unknown	Two stage solid	Unknown	In trial	10
Agni-VI	Agni-VI	Strategic	Strategic nuclear weapon	3,000 (10 MIRV)	11,000-12,000<ref name=IBN2>"Agni-VI with 10000 km range to be ready by 2014". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.</ref>	40X1.1<ref name=IBN1/>	Four Stage solid	55,000<ref name=IBN1/>	Under development

References

External links

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