The Agni Missiles are a family of long-range, nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles developed by India. The name, which is Sanskrit for "Fire," is derived from one of the five elements of nature. The missile series is a key component of India's strategic nuclear deterrence capability.
The program originated from the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), which was initiated in 1983 under the leadership of Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam to achieve self-reliance in missile technology. The initial Agni project was a technology demonstrator for re-entry vehicle technologies, with the first flight test occurring in May 1989. The program solved the problem of establishing a credible, long-range deterrent, with the first operational missile, the Agni-I, being developed after the Kargil War to fill the range gap between the Prithvi-II and Agni-II missiles.
The Agni family includes variants ranging from the medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) Agni-I (700–1,200 km) to the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-V (5,000–8,000 km). These missiles are primarily powered by solid fuel, which allows for quick launch preparation, and are road and rail mobile, enhancing their survivability. The missiles are operated by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army.
The Agni program connects directly to the IGMDP, which also developed the Prithvi, Nag, Akash, and Trishul missiles. A significant recent change is the development of the Agni-P (Agni-Prime), a new-generation, two-stage, canisterised missile that incorporates advanced technologies from the Agni-IV and Agni-V projects and is intended to replace older variants like the Agni-I and Agni-II. Furthermore, in March 2024, India successfully tested a Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) for the Agni-V, a major technological advancement that allows a single missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets.