In a first-of-its-kind launch, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired an intermediate-range Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system.
The next-generation missile is designed to cover a range up to 2,000 km and is equipped with various advanced features, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation carried out the launch in collaboration with the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
"The missile trajectory was tracked by various ground stations, and it was a textbook launch meeting all mission objectives," the statement said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, SFC and the armed forces on the successful test of the missile.
“This successful flight test has put India in the group of select nations having capabilities that have developed a canisterised launch system from the rail network,” he said in a post on X.
The specially designed rail-based mobile launcher can move on a rail network without any preconditions. It provides for cross-country mobility and has the capability to launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility.
"It is self-sustained and is equipped with all independent launch capability features, including the state-of-the-art communication systems and protection mechanisms,” the ministry said.
This successful launch is expected to enable the induction of futuristic rail-based systems into services. The road mobile Agni-P has already been inducted into the services after a series of successful flight trials.