Agni-III Missile Test Confirms India’s Strategic Readiness

India today successfully test-fired the Agni-III intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur . The launch, conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) , was part of a routine exercise to validate the operational and technical readiness of the missile system. Officials confirmed that all mission objectives were met and parameters successfully validated.

Developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Agni-III is a two-stage, solid-fuelled surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads . With a strike range exceeding 3,000 km, the missile follows a precise flight path using a strapdown inertial navigation system (INS) supported by GPS.

A key component of India’s credible minimum deterrence strategy, Agni-III has been in service with the SFC since 2011. The missile measures 17 metres in length , 2 metres in diameter , weighs 11,000 kg , carries 1.5 tonnes of payload , and achieves accuracy of about 40 metres CEP . Its road- and rail-mobile design adds flexibility to strategic deployment.

The Agni series includes: Agni-I & II: Short- and medium-range (700–1,200 km and 2,000 km) solid-fuel missiles for regional deterrence.

Agni-Prime:

1,000–2,000 km range targeting mobile threats, including naval vessels.

Agni-III:

Intermediate-range missile for deep-strike precision.

Future variants: Agni-4:

4,000 km range with sub-100-metre accuracy, Agni-5: ~5,500 km, three-stage ICBM.

Officials said the test reaffirmed the missile’s operational readiness, reliability, and accuracy, highlighting India’s strategic deterrence and indigenous defence technology capabilities.