AGNI-4 BALLISTIC MISSILE (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Recently, India has completed a successful test-fire of Agni-4 Ballistic Missile.

Agni-4 Ballistic Missile

• About: It is a long-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile
• Conducted under: Aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, a part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA).
• Developed by: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Range: 4,000 kilometres. 

oIn 2012, Agni-4 covered more than 3,000 km in 20 minutes

• Payload: The 20-metre-long missile can carry a payload of 1,000 kg and can be fired from a road-mobile launcher.
• Previously known as: Agni-2 Prime.

India's Missile Arsenal Expansion

• Agni-5: It is a land based nuclear MIRV-capable Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

oOperational range: 7,000–8,000 kilometres.

• Agni I: Medium Range with a Range of 700-800 km.
• Agni II: Medium Range with a Range more than 2000 km.
• Agni III: Inter-Medium Range with Range of more than 2,500 Km
• Agni IV: Inter-Medium Range with Range more than 3,500 km.
• Agni- VI: Longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of ICBM 11,000–12,000 km (Under development).