Why is it in the News?

India has successfully flight-tested the new generation ballistic missile Agni-Prime from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

About Agni-Prime Missile:

• Agni-P or Agni-Prime is a new generation nuclear-capable medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) developed by the DRDO that incorporates technological advances from Agni-IV and Agni-V and is considered a successor for Agni-I and Agni-II missiles in the operational service of the SFC.
• Agni-Prime, with a strike range of 1,000 to 2,000 km, has significant upgrades, which include composite motor casing, maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV), improved propellants, and navigation and guidance systems.
• It is a two-stage, surface-to-surface, road-mobile, and solid-fueled missile that is transported by a truck and launched via a canister.
• It is a ballistic missile with a dual redundant navigation and guidance system.

Features:

• Although Agni-Prime looks similar to Agni-III, the weight is reduced by half.
• Agni-P will replace older generation missiles such as Prithvi-II (350 km), Agni-II (2,000 km), Agni-III (3,000 km), and Agni-4 (4,000 km) ballistic missiles.
• Agni-Prime incorporates upgrades such as propulsion systems, composite rocket motor casings, and advanced navigation and guidance systems.
• Along with Agni-V, Agni-P will provide India with stronger deterrence against countries such as China and Pakistan.
• While Agni-V brings all of China within its strike range, Agni-P seems to have been developed to counter Pakistan's forces.
• Agni-P is developed to achieve maximum maneuverability against missile defense systems and higher accuracy for precision strikes.

What is a Ballistic Missile and why is it named so?

• A Ballistic missile follows a ballistic flight path - which comprises three phases of flight.
• In the first phase or the boost phase, the solid-fuel rocket engine propels the missile upwards and it has to rapidly gain velocity and altitude, by knifing through the densest parts of the earth's atmosphere.
• The second and unpowered phase of flight happens in the upper reaches of the earth's atmosphere or in space, where the missile travels along its pre-determined path, but without the power of its engines.
• It is known as the coast phase or mid-course phase and during this time, it travels along a horizontal path.
• During the coasting, the missile is either in space or the upper atmosphere, where it faces minimal resistance or drag.
• In the third and final phase or the terminal phase, the missile descends and gets back into the earth's atmosphere and flies towards its target, while being guided by its on-board systems.