India has significantly boosted its naval defence capabilities with the Agni-1P missile, which is capable of striking moving targets at sea, including warships and aircraft carriers.
This confirmation comes from Avinash Chander, the former Chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in a statement to the Bharat-Shakti Defence portal.
The Agni-1P represents a major advancement in India's missile technology. It's comparable to China's DF-21D, often called the world's first anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM).
The Agni-1P, with a range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers, is also the lightest ballistic missile in the Agni series, making it a crucial component of India's maritime defence strategy.
The Agni series of missiles has historically been a core element of India's strategic weapons. While missiles like the Agni-V have intercontinental range and can carry nuclear warheads, the Agni-1P is a more specialized development. It is designed to be lighter and faster than previous Agni missiles.
Critically, it incorporates advanced guidance systems that allow it to engage moving targets, a significant departure from traditional ballistic missiles designed primarily for fixed, land-based targets.
"The Agni-1P has been developed with precision targeting in mind," Chander, a key figure in India's missile program development, explained to Bharat-Shakti. "It can hit moving targets like warships and aircraft carriers with a high degree of accuracy."
This capability places the Agni-1P in the category of an ASBM, similar to China's DF-21D, which has been dubbed a "carrier killer" for its ability to threaten naval vessels at long distances.
The Agni-1P's range of 1,000 to 2,000 kilometers provides considerable operational flexibility. This range allows India to project power across significant maritime areas, including critical regions of the Indian Ocean. This is particularly important given the increasing naval activity of potential adversaries in the region, including the deployment of aircraft carriers and other valuable naval assets.
Targeting moving objects like warships requires a significant technological leap. Traditional ballistic missiles follow a set trajectory, suitable for stationary targets but not for those in motion. Anti-ship ballistic missiles, in contrast, need sophisticated guidance systems, real-time tracking of the target, and the ability to adjust their flight path in the final stages of flight to hit a moving vessel.
The comparison of the Agni-1P to China's DF-21D highlights the technological similarities. The DF-21D, with an estimated range of 1,800 to 2,500 kilometers, has been a focus of military attention for its potential to strike U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific. The Agni-1P, with its similar capabilities, serves as a counter to naval threats within India's strategic sphere.
While specific details on the Agni-1P's guidance and sensor systems were not revealed, it is likely that the DRDO has incorporated advanced technologies, possibly including satellite tracking, onboard radar, and data-linking capabilities, to achieve this level of accuracy. Such advanced features are critical for ASBM's to be able to adjust their course and strike moving targets at sea.
The development of the Agni-1P underscores India's commitment to enhancing its indigenous defence capabilities and maintaining a credible deterrent in the face of evolving regional security challenges.
