New Delhi, September 25, 2025 (Agencies): India has successfully carried out the first rail-based launch of its nuclear-capable Agni-Prime medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), marking a major milestone in the country’s strategic deterrence and mobility capabilities.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the test was conducted on September 24 in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) under a full operational scenario.
The launch was carried out using a rail-based mobile launcher designed to operate across India’s rail network without special infrastructure. Equipped with independent communication, protection, and launch systems, the launcher provides the missile with cross-country mobility, rapid reaction capability, and low-visibility deployment.
Video footage released by the ministry showed the missile being cold-launched from its canister, followed by the ignition of its first-stage solid rocket motor.
The Agni-Prime is a two-stage, solid-propellant, canisterized missile with a strike range of up to 2,000 km. It features a maneuverable re-entry vehicle (MaRV) and improved accuracy compared with earlier Agni variants, such as the Agni-II. First tested in 2021, the missile is designed to enhance survivability and strengthen India’s second-strike capability.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the SFC for the achievement, noting that the successful trial places India among a select group of nations with the ability to launch ballistic missiles from rail-based platforms.
Analysts say the combination of rail mobility, canisterized design, and operational readiness makes India’s strategic missile forces harder to detect or neutralize, bolstering deterrence against both Pakistan and China.