Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to India’s defence capabilities, India on Thursday successfully conducted the test-firing of the short-range ballistic missiles — Prithvi-II and Agni-I. The test firing was carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) shared the information through a post on X.
“Successful test-firing of short-range ballistic missiles — Prithvi-II and Agni-I — was carried out from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha today. All operational and technical parameters have been validated. The launches were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command,” the Defence Ministry stated in the post.
About Prithvi-II:
Prithvi-II is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India’s Strategic Forces Command. This is the Air Force version of the missile, with a range of 350 km and the capability to carry a payload of up to 500 kg.
About Agni-I Missile:
Agni-I is a short-range ballistic missile developed by the DRDO under the IGMDP. It is a single-stage missile that was developed after the Kargil War to fill the gap between the 350 km range of the Prithvi-II and the 2,500 km range of the Agni-II. The Agni-I has a range of 700–1,200 km. Standing 15 metres tall and weighing around 12 tonnes, it is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads of up to 1,000 kg.
Earlier on Wednesday, India achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying a target at high altitude in Ladakh using Akash Prime — the upgraded variant of the Akash Weapon System developed for the Indian Army. The system is customised to operate at altitudes above 4,500 metres and features the latest upgrades, including an indigenously developed radio frequency seeker.
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