Agni-II

Agni-II
An Agni-II on a road-mobile launcher displayed at the Republic Day Parade 2004.
TypeMedium Range Ballistic Missile
Place of originIndia
Service history
In serviceActive[1]
Used byStrategic Forces Command
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
Unit cost₹25 crore (US$3.0 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.2 million)[2]
No. built12 (2017 est.)[3]
Specifications
Mass16,000 kg (35,000 lb)
Length21 m[4]
Diameter1.3 m
WarheadConventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, sub-munitions, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon
Warhead weight1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[5]
EngineMulti-stage solid rocket
PropellantSolid fuel
Operational
range
2,000–3,500 km[6][5]
Flight ceiling405 km[7]
Flight altitude230 km[4]
Maximum speed 3.5 km/s (14,040 km/h)[8]
Guidance
system
Mid-course: Ring laser gyro inertial navigation system. Optionally augmented by GPS/NavIC satellite guidance
Terminal: Radar scene correlation. Upgraded to active radar homing.
Accuracy30–40 m CEP[5][9]
Launch
platform
Ashok Leyland/Tata transporter erector launcher

Agni-II (IAST: Agni, lit. 'Fire'), is the second strategic ballistic missile of the Agni family envisaged to be the mainstay of the Indian missile-based strategic nuclear deterrence. The Agni-II is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with two solid fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile's Re-entry Vehicle (RV). The Agni's manoeuvring RV is made of a carbon-carbon composite material that is light and able to sustain high thermal stresses of re-entry, in a variety of trajectories. The Agni-IIA is a more advanced version of Agni-II, albeit with more sophisticated and lighter materials, yielding a better range and operating regime. Agni-IIA was later renamed as Agni-IV plugging the gap between Agni-II and Agni-III. While the first test of Agni-IV in December 2010 was a failure, the second test flight in November 2011 was a success[10] Agni-II, developed as part of medium- and long-range Agni series of missile systems, has already been inducted into the Armed Forces.[11]

Agni missile range comparison.

On 17 May 2010, the trial was conducted with a Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometres from the Wheelers Island off Orissa coast thus making Agni-II missile operational by army.[12] US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center estimating that as of June 2017 less than 10 launchers were operationally deployed,[13] operated by the 335 Missile Group of Regiment of Artillery at Secunderabad using 12 TEL vehicles.[14]

Agni-II can reach all of Pakistan and most parts of south and southeastern China.[15]

  1. ^ Press Trust, of India. "India Test Fires Medium Range Nuclear Capable Agni-II Missile". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Technical tune to Agni test before talks". The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 30 August 2004. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
  3. ^ The Military Balance 2017. 14 February 2017. ISBN 9781857439007.
  4. ^ a b Mallikarjun, Y. (18 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. ^ a b c "Design Characteristics of India's Ballistic and Cruise Missiles" (PDF). Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Missile Detail". Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  7. ^ "Agni II". Bharat Rakshak – Missiles Section. Bharat Rakshak. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  8. ^ Vishwakarma, Arun (1 July 2007). "Indian Long Range Strategic Missiles" (PDF). Lancer Publishers and Distributors. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Agni-II | Missile Threat".
  10. ^ T.S. Subramanian (15 November 2011). "Missile success". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  11. ^ Mallikarjun, Y. (17 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. Chennai, India.
  12. ^ Super Admin (17 May 2010). "Agni-II test fired successful". News.oneindia.in. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  13. ^ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threats
  14. ^ "Agni-2". Missilethreat.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  15. ^ "India | Countries | NTI". Archived from the original on 25 March 2016.