By A Correspondent

New Delhi: India’s weapons development agency has successfully test-fired an intermediate-range nuke-capable missile from a rail-based platform, exhibiting a capability to hit anywhere inside its archrival Pakistan and parts of China.

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with the nuclear-armed Strategic Forces Command (SFC), carried out the successful launch of the Agni-Prime missile from a rail-based mobile launcher system, under a full operational scenario on Sep. 24, 2025.

“This next-generation missile is designed to cover a range up to 2,000 km and is equipped with various advanced features,” a Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement said on Sep. 25.

The first-of-its-kind launch was carried out from a specially designed rail-based mobile launcher having the capability to move on the rail network without any preconditions, the statement said.

“It provides for cross-country mobility and can launch within a short reaction time with reduced visibility. It is self-sustained and equipped with all independent launch capability features, including the state-of-the-art communication systems and protection mechanisms.”

Various ground stations tracked the missile trajectory, and it was a textbook launch, meeting all mission objectives. This successful launch will enable the induction of futuristic rail-based systems into the Indian military. Senior DRDO scientists and SFC officers witnessed the launch.

The Road Mobile Agni Prime (or Agni P) has already been inducted into service after a series of successful flight trials. This Agni Prime user test comes just a month after a similar intercontinental Agni-V missile test by the SFC.

India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh has congratulated DRDO, SFC, and the armed forces on the successful test of the Intermediate Range Agni-Prime missile. He said this flight test put India in the group of select nations that have developed a canisterised launch system from the rail network.

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