In 2016, Indian media began reporting that DRDO was developing a successor to the Agni-I called Agni-1P, which would feature two stages that borrowed the newer technologies from Agni-IV and Agni-V to increase accuracy and reliability.[9] According to a senior scientist[who?] from the DRDO's missile complex in Hyderabad:[10]
“As our ballistic missiles grew in range, our technology grew in sophistication. Now the early, short-range missiles, which incorporate older technologies, will be replaced by missiles with more advanced technologies. Call it backward integration of technology”
Agni-P is a two-stage, solid-propellant missile. All stages uses composite propellant, where the powder oxidizer is mixed with a metal fuel along with a bind being put in place. Aluminium is used as fuel; its specific energy density gives it the capability to deliver high performance. This gives the missile, a better payload ratio and thus a larger payload that has been mounted on a missile can be lifted up with a less quantity of propellant. It is a new class of missile in Agni Series which is half the weight of Agni-III. Both first and second stage of Agni-P are made up of corrosion free composite material for the purpose of weight reduction, which was mastered during Agni-V project.[14][15]
The missile can cover a maximum distance of 2000 km with 1.5 ton payload. According to analysts, Agni-P is primarily aimed at countering Pakistan's forces as its range is insufficient to reach all parts of mainland China. Given the missile's range, analysts at the International Institute for Strategic Studies believe that Agni-P primarily counters Pakistan and intends to replace older and less compact short-range ballistic missiles such as the Agni-I and Agni-II.[8]
The missile is stored in a hermetically sealed tandem twin canister launcher and is transported through road and rail. This process enables the warhead to be mated and stored with the missile, significantly reducing the time required for preparation and launch.[8] It uses cold launch mechanism and can be fired in salvo mode. When a cold launch of a canisterised missile is done and when it uses a solid propellant, then it would be an edge for India for conducting nuclear strikes in a shorter amount of time from any terrain.[14]
The test launches of the missile seemingly uses a canistered 12x12 axle TATRA truck, it may be for test purposes only, the compactness of the missile points to a future possibility of a smaller and more mobile launcher than the cumbersome Agni-I mobile-erector launchers (MELs) and the rail-mounted Agni-II launchers. This increased mobility could provide India with greater deployment options and the canisterisation providing added protection from external elements for prolonged periods.[16] The launch platform is expected to be canistered from an 8x8 axle TATRABEMLTransporter erector launcher.[17]
Guidance and Warhead
Agni-P utilizes dual redundant navigation and guidance system based on an advanced ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (INS) and a modern micro inertial navigation system (MINS), and utilizes technology previously incorporated in Agni-IV and Agni-V. The missile is optionally augmented by GPS and NaVIC satellite navigation systems.[14][17][18]
Agni-P can be mated to a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV). The warhead is reportedly equipped with four delta fins and can utilize it's terminal maneuverability to make itself more difficult for missile defense systems to intercept.[19][20] According to V. K. Saraswat, MIRV and MaRV warhead technology were already in advanced stages of development for Agni-VI in 2013.[21][22] DRDO is expected by some Indian defense sources to be planning to develop an anti-ship variant of the Agni-P missile platform.[23][24]
Deployment
The missile will be operationalised under Strategic Forces Command (SFC) after completing the pre-induction trials. The first pre-induction night launch conducted by the SFC in June 2023 after three successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system. Senior officials from DRDO and Strategic Forces Command witnessed the successful flight-test, which has paved the way for induction of the system into the Armed Forces.[25][26]
Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile followed text book trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy.[28]
The missile followed text book trajectory meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy as per the tracking by telemetry, radar, electro-optical stations and down range ships positioned along the eastern coast. This second flight-test has proven the reliable performance of all the advanced technologies and additional features integrated into the system.[29][30]
During the test flight, the missile travelled the maximum range and all test objectives were successfully met. With this third consecutive successful flight test of the missile, the accuracy and reliability of the system has been established. Performance of system has been validated using the data obtained by a number of range instrumentation like Radar, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking systems deployed at different locations including two down range ships at terminal point to cover entire trajectory.[31][14][32]
This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system. Range Instrumentation like Radar, Telemetry and Electro Optical Tracking Systems were deployed at different locations, including two down-range ships, at the terminal point to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle.[25][18]
This test was the second night trail conducted by Strategic Forces Command (SFC), along with Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The test met all the trial objectives validating its reliable performance, as confirmed from the data captured by a number of range sensors deployed at different locations, including two downrange ships placed at the terminal point.[33]
In June 2021, India tested the nuclear capable version of Agni-P successfully, followingly the post on social media platform X by Defense Minister was[34]
"Congratulations to DRDO for the maiden successful flight test of Agni P, advanced variant of Agni class of missiles. I compliment the efforts of the team behind this mission.
Many advance technologies including Composites, Propulsion Systems, innovative Guidance and Control mechanisms and state of the art navigation systems have been introduced.
Indian defence experts view it as part of work in progress towards an advance anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) development for enhancing future sea denial capability against Chinese carrier battle groups in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).[35] Till September 2022, DRDO had completed design work of another land-based 1,500 km (930 mi) range missile to attack targets across Line of Actual Control with an anti ship variant against aircraft carriers to cover Indian carriers in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.[36]
