Engineering:Agni-II
| Agni-II | |
|---|---|
.jpeg) An Agni-II on a road-mobile launcher displayed at the Republic Day Parade 2004. | |
| Type | Medium Range Ballistic Missile |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | Active[1] |
| Used by | Strategic Forces Command |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| Unit cost | ₹25 crore (US$3.5 million) to ₹35 crore (US$4.9 million)[2] |
| No. built | 12 (2017 est.)[3] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 16,000 kg (35,000 lb) |
| Length | 21 m[4] |
| Diameter | 1.3 m |
| Warhead | Conventional high explosive-unitary, penetration, sub-munitions, incendiary, thermobaric, strategic nuclear weapon |
| Warhead weight | 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[5] |
| Engine | Multi-stage solid rocket |
| Propellant | Solid fuel |
Operational range | 2,000–3,500 km[6][5] |
| Flight ceiling | 405 km[7] |
| Flight altitude | 230 km[4] |
| 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. |
| Accuracy | 30–40 m CEP[5][9] |
Launch platform | Ashok Leyland/Tata transporter erector launcher |
Agni-II (IAST: Agni, lit. Fire), is the second strategic ballistic missile of the Agni 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]
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
- India and weapons of mass destruction
Related development
- Agni V
- Agni VI
Related lists
- List of nuclear weapons
- List of states with nuclear weapons
References
- ↑ Press Trust, of India. "India Test Fires Medium Range Nuclear Capable Agni-II Missile". https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-test-fires-medium-range-nuclear-capable-agni-ii-missile/articleshow/62994698.cms.
- ↑ "Technical tune to Agni test before talks". The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). 30 August 2004. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040830/asp/nation/story_3694401.asp.
- ↑ The Military Balance 2017. 14 February 2017. ISBN 9781857439007. https://books.google.com/books?id=Vk8-vgAACAAJ.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mallikarjun, Y. (18 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/agniii-missile-testfired-successfully/article769538.ece.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Design Characteristics of India's Ballistic and Cruise Missiles". http://www.nti.org/media/pdfs/design_characteristics_of_india_ballistic_cruise_missiles.pdf?_=1415821730.
- ↑ "Missile Detail". http://www.missilethreat.com/missilesoftheworld/id.9/missile_detail.asp.
- ↑ "Agni II". Bharat Rakshak – Missiles Section. Bharat Rakshak. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/ballistic/agni-ii.html.
- ↑ Vishwakarma, Arun (1 July 2007). "Indian Long Range Strategic Missiles". Lancer Publishers and Distributors. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MISSILES/Images/Indian_Long_Range_StrategicMissiles_-Agni-III_r11.pdf.
- ↑ "Agni-II | Missile Threat". https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/agni-2/.
- ↑ T.S. Subramanian (2011-11-15). "Missile success". The Hindu. http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2629274.ece.
- ↑ Mallikarjun, Y. (17 May 2010). "Agni-II missile test-fired successfully". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article431917.ece.
- ↑ Super Admin (17 May 2010). "Agni-II test fired successful". News.oneindia.in. http://news.oneindia.in/2010/05/17/agniii-test-firedsuccessful.html.
- ↑ Ballistic and Cruise Missile Threats
- ↑ "Agni-2". Missilethreat.com. http://www.missilethreat.com/missilesoftheworld/id.9/missile_detail.asp.
- ↑ "India | Countries | NTI". http://www.nti.org/learn/countries/india/delivery-systems/.
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