Maarg Manthan · Topic 21.1

India’s Missile Systems in the News (Agni-V, Agni-Prime, BrahMos, K-Series Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles)

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Defence and Security Current Affairs · Topic 21.1

India's strategic and tactical missile systems in the news are the Agni series of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, the Agni-Prime, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and the K-series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles. All are developed or co-developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Ministry of Defence. Agni-V has a reported range above 5,000 km and was tested with multiple warheads in March 2024 under Mission Divyastra. Agni-Prime was launched from a rail-based mobile launcher on 24 September 2025. BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture set up in 1998, makes the BrahMos. The K-4 and K-5 arm the Arihant-class submarines under India's no-first-use doctrine.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Defence and Security Current Affairs

At a Glance

Agni-V Intercontinental-class, over 5,000 km, MIRV tested March 2024
Agni-Prime Canisterised, up to about 2,000 km, rail launch September 2025
BrahMos Supersonic cruise missile, Indo-Russian joint venture
K-series Submarine-launched ballistic missiles, K-15 and K-4
Doctrine Credible minimum deterrence and no first use
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Defence and Security Current Affairs

Where Does It Fit?

This is the first topic of the macro on defence and security. It describes the weapons that make the nuclear triad and the conventional strike force real, before the later topics on indigenisation, procurement and organisation. Previous topic: PM Gati Shakti Digital Platform. Next topic: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) Legacy Systems.

Which Missile Systems Does India Field and Test?

System	Key facts
Agni-I to Agni-III	Solid-fuelled ballistic missiles of medium to intermediate range, with Agni-I near 700 km and Agni-III near 3,000 km
Agni-IV	Intermediate-range missile of about 4,000 km, road mobile
Agni-V	Three-stage solid-fuelled missile with a reported range above 5,000 km. First tested in April 2012 and later canisterised for quick launch
Agni-Prime	Two-stage canisterised solid-fuelled missile for ranges of about 1,000 to 2,000 km, intended to replace older Agni-I and Agni-II class missiles
BrahMos	Supersonic cruise missile of about Mach 2.8 to 3, launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft. Original range about 290 km, with extended-range versions reported
K-15 Sagarika	Submarine-launched ballistic missile of about 750 km range, first used on INS Arihant
K-4	Submarine-launched ballistic missile of reported range near 3,500 km, tested from submarine platforms

What Happened in the Recent Tests and Developments?

Mission Divyastra: on 11 March 2024 DRDO announced the first flight test of Agni-V with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. One missile can carry several warheads aimed at different targets
Agni-Prime rail launch: on 24 September 2025 DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command launched Agni-Prime from a rail-based mobile launcher. The launcher can move on the normal rail network, which makes detection harder
Submarine tests: K-4 launches from Arihant-class boats were reported in recent years, and a further launch from INS Arighaat was reported in late 2025. Details are usually limited, so figures are reported rather than official
Submarine fleet: INS Arihant joined in 2016, INS Arighaat in August 2024 and a third boat, INS Aridhaman, was reported as commissioned in 2026. Treat the last date as reported
BrahMos exports: a contract with the Philippines for shore-based batteries was signed in January 2022 and the first batteries were delivered in 2024. It was the first major export of the missile
BrahMos in operations: the missile was widely reported to have been used in Operation Sindoor in May 2025. Official comments were limited, so treat operational detail with care

What Else Should You Remember?

Next generation: lighter BrahMos-NG and longer-range BrahMos variants are under development, as reported by the developers
Command: nuclear-capable missiles are operated by the Strategic Forces Command, created in 2003 under the Nuclear Command Authority
Testing: most tests take place at the Integrated Test Range off Odisha, and DRDO issues a short statement after each success
Doctrine: India follows credible minimum deterrence and a policy of no first use, with assured retaliation against first use, as reflected in the 2003 Cabinet Committee on Security statement
Sea leg: ballistic missile submarines give the second-strike capability that keeps the deterrent survivable, which is why the K-series matters
Production link: DRDO designs and tests while public sector units such as Bharat Dynamics Limited produce the missiles, as in Defence Indigenization and Atmanirbhar Bharat in Defence Production

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Names and ranges: questions match each missile with its type, stage count and approximate range
MIRV: meaning of the term and which missile carried the March 2024 test
Launch platform: rail-based launch of Agni-Prime and the role of canisters
BrahMos: speed class, joint venture partners, year of founding and the export customer
Common errors: calling BrahMos a ballistic missile, or Agni-P a cruise missile, or mixing up K-15 and K-4 ranges

As an analytical point, a growing missile force needs a matching command and control system and clear communication of intent. Credible deterrence rests on survivable platforms, safe custody and transparent doctrine, and not on range or warhead count alone.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Tests Frequent current affairs source
Technology MIRV and canisters
Doctrine Deterrence and no first use

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the older missile programme that built the base for these systems. Next topic: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) Legacy Systems.

Key People and Terms

MIRV Several warheads on one missile
Canisterised Stored and launched from a sealed tube
SLBM Ballistic missile fired from a submarine
Cruise missile Air-breathing, flies low and level
Second strike Ability to retaliate after an attack
SFC Strategic Forces Command

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Agni-V MIRV test: 11 March 2024, Mission Divyastra.
Agni-Prime rail launch: 24 September 2025.
BrahMos Aerospace founded: 1998, Indo-Russian.
Command of nuclear forces: Strategic Forces Command, 2003.
Doctrine: no first use and credible minimum deterrence.

Do Not Confuse With

Ballistic and cruise missiles Ballistic follows a high arc while cruise flies within the atmosphere
Agni-V and Agni-Prime Longer-range three-stage versus shorter-range two-stage canisterised
K-15 and K-4 Shorter and longer submarine-launched missiles

Memory Hook

Agni climbs, BrahMos cruises, K goes under the sea.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about deterrence, the triad and technology. These points help build a balanced answer.

Deterrence Triad and second strike
Technology MIRV, canisters, indigenous production
Stability Regional arms race concerns

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss how recent missile tests strengthen India’s nuclear triad and what they mean for regional strategic stability.”

How to Answer

Tests Name the recent tests.
Triad Land, sea and air legs.
Doctrine No first use and minimum deterrence.
Stability Arms race and risk reduction.

GS Relevance

Prelims: missile names, ranges, developers, tests in the news. GS Paper 3: defence technology, indigenisation. GS Paper 2: nuclear doctrine and strategic stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the range of Agni-V?

Agni-V is a three-stage solid-fuelled missile with a reported range above 5,000 km, which places it at the lower edge of intercontinental class. It was first tested in April 2012. Official figures are limited, so higher range estimates found in media are not confirmed.

What was Mission Divyastra?

Mission Divyastra was the first flight test of Agni-V with Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle technology, announced by DRDO on 11 March 2024. It showed that one missile can carry several warheads and deliver them to different targets, which improves penetration of missile defences.

What is special about the Agni-Prime rail launch?

On 24 September 2025 DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command launched Agni-Prime from a rail-based mobile launcher. The system can travel on the normal rail network and fire from almost any track, which makes it hard to detect and track and adds flexibility to the deterrent.

What is BrahMos?

BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile of about Mach 2.8 to 3, made by BrahMos Aerospace, a joint venture of India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyeniya formed in 1998. It can be launched from land, ships, submarines and aircraft, and the Philippines became its first major export customer.

What does the K-series of missiles do?

The K-series are submarine-launched ballistic missiles named in honour of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. K-15 Sagarika has a range of about 750 km, and K-4 about 3,500 km as reported. They give India a survivable second-strike capability from Arihant-class nuclear submarines.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 BrahMos is a subsonic cruise missile.

False

It is supersonic, near Mach 2.8 to 3.

2 Mission Divyastra tested MIRV technology on Agni-V.

True

Announced on 11 March 2024.

3 Nuclear-capable missiles are operated by the Strategic Forces Command.