India Successfully Tests Prithvi-II and Agni-I Ballistic Missiles from Odisha.
Defence
On 17 July 2025, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that India successfully test-fired two nuclear-capable, short-range ballistic missiles—Prithvi-II and Agni-I—from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha. Conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), these tests validated operational readiness and technical accuracy amid regional security challenges.
- The launches were carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), the tri-service unit responsible for India’s nuclear arsenal. Both missiles were launched consecutively, with Agni-I lifted off from APJ Abdul Kalam Island and Prithvi-II from Chandipur, marking a coordinated exercise to affirm deterrence capabilities.
- Prithvi-II is a liquid-fuel, single-stage missile with a maximum range of approximately 350 km, capable of delivering conventional or nuclear warheads up to 1,000 kg.
- Agni-I is a solid-fuel, surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 700–900 km, able to carry payloads of around 1,000 kg.
Main Point :- (i) Defence sources and the Ministry confirmed that all mission objectives were met and “operational and technical parameters validated,” including night-time capability, launcher functioning, navigation systems, and accuracy of re-entry —cementing confidence in both delivery systems.
(ii) This back-to-back missile test comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor—the May 2025 India–Pakistan border skirmishes. The tests underscore India’s strategic posture and deterrence readiness, confirming that these short-range nuclear-capable missiles remain integral components of India’s responsive defence strategy.
(iii) This successful dual test reaffirmed India’s commitment to maintaining a robust credible minimum deterrence posture, as enshrined in its nuclear doctrine. It also highlights the continued operational readiness of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and the technological maturity of India's indigenous missile development under DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation).
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