RAIL-BASED AGNI-P TEST-FIRED, Pg 14.

Key Highlights:

• DRDO successfully test-fired the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) missile from a rail-based mobile launcher on Thursday.
• The Agni-P missile has a range of 2,000 km.
• India joins a select group of nations with 'canisterised launch systems' that can operate from the rail network.
• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command on the successful test.

Detailed Insights:

• Mobile launch platforms enhance a country’s second strike capabilities, crucial for surviving a nuclear attack and launching a counterattack.
• Rail-based launchers offer advantages over road-based systems due to India's extensive 70,000-km rail network, reaching all corners of the country without extensive road preparation.
• The Agni-P missile improves upon Agni-I's range and incorporates propulsion and navigation technologies from Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles.
• Agni-P is a two-stage solid-fuel propelled missile with a range of 1,000 km to 2,000 km and can carry various warheads.
• Rail-based launchers can utilize tunnels in the railway network to hide from enemy satellite surveillance, enhancing survivability.
• Compared to Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs), rail-based platforms are more cost-effective to construct and maintain.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Ballistic Missile: A missile that follows a ballistic trajectory to deliver a payload to a predetermined target.
• Second Strike Capability: A country's capacity to retaliate effectively even after absorbing an initial attack.
• Canisterised Launch System: A system where a missile is stored and launched from a protective canister, enhancing mobility and reducing launch time.