India carried out a successful training launch of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-3 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha on November 23, 2022. The successful test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
The Defence Ministry said that the launch was carried out for a predetermined range and validated all operational parameters of the system.
The Agni series of missiles now includes the Agni-1 (700 km), Agni-2 (2,000 km), Agni-3 (3,000 km), Agni-4 (4,000 km), and the Agni-5 (5,000 km).
According to DRDO sources, the Agni-1’s 700 km range can be used to shoot targets at a minimum of 220 km, allowing it to cover the ranges covered by the Prithvi series missiles, which can strike targets between 150km and 350km.
The fear was that if a short-range ballistic missile went off, the enemy would panic and launch a nuclear attack in retaliation. Though the missile was rejected by the Indian Army, it drew the attention of a few friendly foreign countries, who are now approaching India to export it to them.
India can easily take care of targets between 30 and 5,000 kilometers away with Agni and the tactical cruise missile BrahMos. The BrahMos can take down targets from 30 to 300 kilometers away, while the Agni can handle targets beyond that range.
Source:PIB