India’s Strategic Forces Command, the tri-service entity responsible for India’s nuclear delivery systems conducted night-time launches of two types of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.
On 16th November 2019, the SFC conducted a test-launch of the Agni-2 Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile. The Agni-2 which was the first IRBM deployed by the SFC and was first tested in 1999, is the most mature of India’s nuclear delivery systems and the most recent test launch was the first successful nocturnal launch of the system. The Agni-2 IRBM was tested to a range of 740 km meaning it was a contained test fire as the missile has an operational range of well over 2000 km, with a range of 3000 km being deemed its likely range in operational configuration.
On 20th November, the SFC conducted two launches of its short-range Prithvi missile. This missile with a range of up to 350 km, was India’s first ballistic missile and was produced for a number of years. During the Kargil War of 1999, both the Agni-2 and the Prithvi were deployed in very limited numbers with nuclear warheads.
The Indian SFC operates missile groups with each of the Agni variants – the Agni-1 MRBM, the Agni-2, Agni-3 and Agni-4 IRBMs and the Agni-5 ICBM.
Cover image: Agni-2 missile – Credit AFP: Ajit Kumar
