Agni-II

Agni-II (IAST: Agni, lit. 'Fire'), is the second strategic ballistic missile of Agni (missile) 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.

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$3.1 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.4 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

On 17 May 2010, the trial was conducted with a special strategic command force (SSC) 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 at Secunderabad using 12 TEL vehicles.[14]

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

See also

Related development

Related lists

References
  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. Mallikarjun, Y. (18 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  5. "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.
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