New Delhi: India today successfully flight tested a new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile from the Agni-series that is likely to add a sting to the nation’s missile forces to strike at 2,000-kilometre range.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said the Agni-P — the P stands for Prime — was tested from the Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore off Odisha on the eastern coast of the country.

“Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile followed text book trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with high level of accuracy,” a statement from DRDO said.

“Agni-P is an advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles. It is a canisterised missile with range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 kms.”

Being a canister-launched, Agni-P will give the Indian armed forces the requisite operational flexibility to swiftly transport and fire it from anywhere they want.

The missile is short and light in comparison with other missiles in this class — weighing half that of Agni-3. New technologies incorporated into the new missile include its propulsion system and guidance system, and technologies found in the 4000-km-range and 5000-km-range Agni missile variants. The new Agni-P can be used to target enemy warships in the Indo-Pacific Region.

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