Agni-I (Template:Lit) 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 Template:Convert range of the Prithvi-II missile and the Template:Convert 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.[2] Less than 75 launchers are deployed.[3]
History and development
Agni-I was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur at 7:17AM on 22 May 1989,[4] 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.[5]
The Agni I has a range of 700–1,200 km.[6] 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.[7] 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 Template:Convert Agni-I missile, weighing about 12 tonnes, is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads of 1,000 kg.[8][9]
Replacement
Template:Main 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.[10] 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.[11][12]
Operational history
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).[13][14][15] 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.[16] Another successful user trial was conducted on March 14, 2016, from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island.[17][18] Multiple successful user trials of the missile have been conducted on 22 November 2016 and 6 February 2018 by the SFC.[19][20]
On 17 July 2025, Agni-I was again tested as part of a periodic routine trial by SFC. Though this is not the first instance that the SFC conducted trials of two nuclear-capable missiles — Agni-1 and Prithvi-2 — on the same day.[21][22]
Operators
Agni-I is used by the 334 Missile Group at Secunderabad,[23] under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army,[24][8][13]
See also
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCSIS - ↑ The significance of Agni-I. Frontline(2 February 2002). Retrieved 3 February 2015.
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ Agni: India successfully launches its first Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. India Today(15 June 1989). Retrieved 2021-11-29.
- ↑ Agni Ballistic Missile System. army-technology. Verdict Media Limited. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ↑ Missiles of India. Missile Threat. Retrieved 2020-02-15.
- ↑ Agni-I a success. The Hindu(13 July 2012). Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedtoi28376198 - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedAsianTribune - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedrediff.com - ↑ India successfully test-fires Agni P, a new missile in Agni series, Gupta, Shishir. Hindustan Times(2021-06-28). Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ↑ India test fires new generation nuclear capable Agni-Prime missile off Odisha coast, Rout, Hemant Kumar. The New Indian Express(2021-06-28). Retrieved 2021-06-28.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Strategic Forces Command test fires Agni. The Hindu(December 1, 2011). Retrieved 1 December 2011.
- ↑ Agni 1 Missile Test Fired, Part of Army User Trials-India Defence Dated:25 Nov 2010. India-defence.com. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
- ↑ Successful test-firing of Agni-I. Deccan Herald(13 July 2012). Retrieved 13 July 2012.
- ↑ Agni-I nuclear-capable missile testfired successfully in Odisha(27 November 2015).
- ↑ India successfully test-fires Agni-I ballistic missile. IBNLive. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ↑ India successfully test-fired Agni-I ballistic missile. Jagranjosh.com. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
- ↑ India Successfully Test-fires N-capable Agni-I Ballistic Missile. News18(2016-11-22). Retrieved 2016-11-22.
- ↑ Agni-I missile with nuclear weapon carrying capability flight-tested successfully. The Hindu(2018-02-06). Retrieved 2018-02-06.
- ↑ Template:Cite press release
- ↑ India tests nuclear-capable Agni-1 & Prithvi-2 ballistic missiles. The Times of India(2025-07-18). Retrieved 2025-07-18.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedmissilethreat - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedexpress715859
External links
Template:Indian missiles Template:Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)