SOURCE: AFI
In a significant revelation, Avinash Chander, former Chief of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has confirmed to Bharat-Shakti Defence portal that India’s Agni-1P missile is capable of striking moving targets such as warships, including aircraft carriers.
Drawing comparisons to China’s DF-21D, often touted as the world’s first anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), the Agni-1P marks a major leap in India’s missile technology. With a range of 1,000 to 2,000 km and being the lightest ballistic missile (BM) in the Agni series, the Agni-1P positions India as a formidable player in maritime defense and strategic deterrence.
The Agni series of ballistic missiles has long been a cornerstone of India’s strategic arsenal, with variants like Agni-V boasting intercontinental range and nuclear capabilities. The Agni-1P, however, represents a specialized evolution within this family. Designed to be lighter and more agile than its predecessors, it combines advanced guidance systems with the ability to engage dynamic targets, setting it apart from traditional ballistic missiles that are typically optimized for stationary land-based objectives.
Avinash Chander, who played a pivotal role in shaping India’s missile programs during his tenure as DRDO Chief, highlighted the Agni-1P’s unique capabilities. “The Agni-1P has been developed with precision targeting in mind. It can hit moving targets like warships and aircraft carriers with a high degree of accuracy,” he told Bharat-Shakti. This capability aligns the Agni-1P with the operational profile of an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), a category pioneered by China with its DF-21D, which gained global attention as a “carrier killer” due to its ability to threaten naval assets at long ranges.
One of the standout features of the Agni-1P is its range of 1,000 to 2,000 km, which provides significant operational flexibility. This range allows India to project power across vast maritime expanses, covering critical regions in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Such reach is particularly relevant given the growing naval presence of adversaries in India’s strategic backyard, including the deployment of aircraft carriers and other high-value naval assets.
The ability to target moving objects, such as warships and aircraft carriers, elevates the Agni-1P to a new echelon of missile technology. Traditional ballistic missiles follow a predictable trajectory, making them effective against fixed targets but less so against dynamic ones. Anti-ship ballistic missiles, however, require advanced guidance systems, real-time target tracking, and terminal-phase maneuverability to adjust their flight path and strike a moving vessel.
Avinash Chander’s comparison of the Agni-1P to the Chinese DF-21D underscores the technological parallels between the two systems. The DF-21D, with a reported range of 1,800 to 2,500 km, has been a focal point of military analysis due to its potential to target U.S. aircraft carriers in the Pacific. Similarly, the Agni-1P’s ability to engage moving maritime targets positions it as a counter to naval threats closer to India’s shores. While Chander did not disclose specific details about the missile’s guidance or sensor suite, his comments suggest that the DRDO has integrated cutting-edge technologies—possibly including satellite-based tracking, onboard radar, and data-linking capabilities—to achieve this feat.
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