Context: Recently, DRDO, or Defence Research and Development Organisation, successfully test fired an extended range version of the indigenously developed 'Pinaka' rocket.

• Earlier In March the DRDO also successfully test-fired a missile with a unique propulsion system - one based on solid fuel ducted ramjet (SFDR) technology from the ITR in Chandipur.

About Agni Prime Missile

• It is a new generation advanced variant of the Agni class of missiles.
• It is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
• It is a next-generation, nuclear-capable weapon made fully of a composite material.
• It is a canisterised missile with range of 1,000-2,000 kilometres.
• It has been designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• It can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg or a nuclear warhead.
• It is a double stage missile which is lighter and much sleeker than its predecessor Agni-1.
• The ballistic missile weighs 50% less than Agni 3 and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion.
• It can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period and transported all across the country as per operational requirements.

Agni-P (Prime) in side by side comparison looks like a mini-variant of the bigger Agni-V and actually.

• it does incorporate many of the technologies that were exclusively developed for the Agni-V program that includes:-
• first for India of integrating hermetically sealed tandem twin canister made of composite materials that allow easier storage of missiles and quicker salvo launches but also makes it a tad difficult for the satellite to pick them up when on the move. 

Key Features

• Two-Stage solid fueled Agni P (Prime) uses an all-composite structure that includes the casing that not only reduces its weight considerably by also improves its range.
• It is four delta fins for terminal maneuver indicating maneuvering warheads that can defeat not only ballistic missile defense system but also be used as an Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile (ASBM) when a new variant is developed based on the Agni-P (Prime).
• Agni-P (Prime) also features a ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (INS) and a modern micro-navigation system (MINS) borrowed from Agni-V.

About AGNI Missile

• The Agni series of ballistic missiles is being developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme of the DRDO.
• The Agni missile family consists of three deployed variants.
• The Agni-I, Agni-II and Agni-III are in service with the Indian Army.
• The Agni-I is a short or intermediate-range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-II is a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with two solid fuel stages.
• The Agni-III is a two-stage ballistic missile which can support a series of warhead configurations and a total payload of 2,490kg for a range of 4,500km.
• The Agni-IV is a two-stage nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile.
• The Agni-V is an Indian nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile.

Range of other Agni Missiles

• Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
• Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
• Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
• Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road mobile launcher.
• Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.