Maarg Manthan · Topic 16.3

India’s Missile Systems: Prithvi, Trishul, Nag, Akash, Agni Series

Science & Technology › Defence Technology and Missile Systems · Topic 16.3

India's main missile families are Prithvi, Trishul, Nag, Akash and Agni. Prithvi is a short range surface to surface ballistic missile of 150 to 350 km in its versions, and the Agni series are nuclear capable surface to surface ballistic missiles: Agni-I about 700 km, Agni-II over 2,000 km, Agni-III over 3,000 km, Agni-IV about 3,500 km and Agni-V over 5,000 km. Akash is a medium range surface to air missile with a range of about 25 to 30 km. Nag is a third generation fire and forget anti-tank guided missile with a range of about 4 km, and Trishul was a short range surface to air missile whose development was ended. Agni-V was tested with multiple warheads in Mission Divyastra in March 2024.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · Defence Technology and Missile Systems

At a Glance

Prithvi Surface to surface, 150 to 350 km
Agni-V Over 5,000 km
Akash Surface to air, 25 to 30 km
Nag Anti-tank, fire and forget
MIRV test March 2024
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: Defence Technology and Missile Systems

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of the IGMDP. It describes each of the programme’s missile families and the Agni series, which are among the most asked defence topics. Previous topic: Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). Next topic: BrahMos Missile System.

What Are the Features of the Main Indian Missiles?

Missile	Features
Prithvi-I	Army version, range about 150 km, liquid fuel, payload about 1,000 kg
Prithvi-II	Air Force version, range about 250 to 350 km, liquid fuel
Prithvi-III / Dhanush	Naval ship launched version with a range of about 350 km
Trishul	Short range, quick reaction surface to air missile with a range of about 9 km. Development was closed and it is not in service
Akash	Medium range surface to air missile with ramjet and solid booster, speed about Mach 2.5, range about 25 to 30 km, and can engage several targets. Akash-NG is a newer version
Nag	Third generation anti-tank missile, imaging infrared seeker, fire and forget, range about 4 km. Helina is the air-launched version and NAMICA the tracked carrier
Agni series	Solid fuelled, road and rail mobile ballistic missiles of rising range

What Are the Versions of the Agni Series?

Agni-I: range about 700 to 1,200 km, single stage, SRBM to MRBM class
Agni-II: range over 2,000 km, two stage solid
Agni-III: range over 3,000 km, two stage, first tested in 2006
Agni-IV: range about 3,500 km, tested in 2011, road mobile
Agni-V: range over 5,000 km, three stage solid, canister launched, first tested in April 2012; with MIRV capacity, tested in Mission Divyastra on 11 March 2024
Agni-Prime: a new generation missile of 1,000 to 2,000 km with composite casing and manoeuvrable re-entry; a rail based launch was reported in September 2025, which should be checked
Operator: the Strategic Forces Command, set up in 2003 under the Nuclear Command Authority
Doctrine: credible minimum deterrence and no first use

What Else Should You Remember?

Birth of Agni: named for the Sanskrit word for fire, first flown in 1989
Prithvi names: Prithvi means earth, and the missile was the first IGMDP product
Akash users: the Air Force and the Army have different versions, the Army one with Rajendra radar
QRSAM: Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile, a DRDO system for protecting moving formations
MRSAM: Medium Range Surface to Air Missile made jointly with Israel
Barak-8: the naval version of MRSAM
Fire and forget: the missile locks on the target and needs no further guidance from the operator
Man portable ATGM: Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile tested in 2024
Bharat Dynamics Limited: produces Akash, Nag and others
Pralay: solid fuelled quasi-ballistic tactical missile of 150 to 500 km, tested in 2021
Agni-VI: a longer range missile has been discussed in the media, but there is no official programme
Submarine launched: K-15 Sagarika and K-4, a longer range missile of about 3,500 km, for the SSBN fleet
Testing facility: most tests are at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur and Abdul Kalam Island
Range limit: Agni-V was officially kept at about 5,000 km, though experts estimate more
Link: programme history is in Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
Link to anti-ballistic missile: defence against such missiles is in Anti-Ballistic Missile System
Caution: ranges are approximate and different sources give slightly different figures
Launch vehicles: Agni-I to IV are road mobile, and Agni-V is canister launched from a road or rail mobile launcher
Range definitions: analysts group Agni-III and IV as intermediate and Agni-V as nearly intercontinental
Prithvi night trials: user trials at night have been done by the Strategic Forces Command, such as Prithvi-II trials from Chandipur

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Which missile: type, range and force
Agni series: ranges I to V
Recent: MIRV test, Agni-Prime rail launch
Current affairs link: new tests and induction
Common errors: saying Akash is a ballistic missile or Prithvi uses solid fuel

As an analytical point, the Agni series gives India a land based second strike capability with range across the region, while air defence and anti-tank missiles improve conventional readiness. Reliability and quantities remain strategic issues.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Ranges Agni I to V
Types Air, ground
Recent MIRV

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the BrahMos missile system. Next topic: BrahMos Missile System.

Key People and Terms

MIRV Multiple warheads
Fire and forget Self guided after launch
SFC Strategic Forces Command
SAM Surface to air missile
ATGM Anti-tank guided missile
Canister Sealed launch container

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Prithvi uses liquid fuel; Agni uses solid.
Agni-V first test: 2012; MIRV: March 2024.
Akash range about 25 to 30 km.
Nag range about 4 km.
SFC set up in 2003.

Do Not Confuse With

Akash and Trishul Medium range in service versus short range closed
Nag and Helina Land versus air launched
Agni-IV and Agni-V About 3,500 km versus over 5,000 km

Memory Hook

Prithvi liquid and short; Agni solid and long; Akash guards the sky; Nag kills the tank.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for type, range and the users. These points help.

Deterrence Agni series
Defence Akash, Nag
Trends MIRV, canister

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Describe the missile systems developed by India and discuss their role in credible minimum deterrence.”

How to Answer

Families Five.
Agni Versions.
Doctrine No first use.
Trends MIRV.

GS Relevance

Prelims: range, type and service of each missile, recent tests. GS Paper 3: defence technology, security.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the range of the Agni missiles?

Agni-I has a range of about 700 to 1,200 km, Agni-II over 2,000 km, Agni-III over 3,000 km, Agni-IV about 3,500 km and Agni-V over 5,000 km. All are solid fuelled, nuclear capable surface to surface ballistic missiles. The figures are approximate and sources differ slightly.

What is Mission Divyastra?

Mission Divyastra was the flight test of an Agni-V missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle technology, carried out by DRDO on 11 March 2024 from Abdul Kalam Island. It showed that one missile can carry several warheads to different targets, which makes missile defence harder.

What is the Akash missile?

Akash is an indigenous medium range surface to air missile with a range of about 25 to 30 km, developed by DRDO under the IGMDP. It uses a ramjet motor, can engage multiple targets at once and has been inducted by the Air Force and the Army. A new generation version, Akash-NG, is being developed.

What is the Nag missile?

Nag is a third generation anti-tank guided missile developed by DRDO with an imaging infrared seeker. It is a fire and forget weapon, meaning it guides itself to the target after launch, with a range of about 4 km. An air-launched version is called Helina.

Which force operates India's nuclear missiles?

The Strategic Forces Command, created in 2003, is a tri-service command under the Nuclear Command Authority that controls the operational nuclear weapons of India, including land based Agni and Prithvi missiles. Political control rests with the Political Council chaired by the Prime Minister.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Akash is a surface to air missile.

True

With a range of about 25 to 30 km.

2 Prithvi uses solid propellant.

False

Prithvi uses liquid fuel.

3 Agni-V was tested with MIRV technology in March 2024.