India’s Agni Missile Systems: Strengthening India’s Nuclear Deterrence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12724/ajss.47.4Keywords:
Agni missiles, nuclear deterrence, Inter-continental rangeAbstract
Over the years, India has been able to acquire a credible minimum nuclear deterrence. In this, the Agni missile system is integral to India‟s counter second-strike capability especially against China. The Agni category missiles are solid propelled ballistic missiles, ranging from short range missiles to intermediate range missiles (700-5000kms) with road and rail mobility providing greater chances of survivability during an enemy attack. This strengthens its scope of launching a counter/second strike. This makes India one of the few countries in the world with the ability to potentially decapitate its enemy by preserving its arsenal in the first attack from the enemy. This article provides a deep analysis of India‟s Agni missile systems.
References
Army Technology. (2018). Agni ballistic missile system. Retrieved from https://www.army-technology.com/projects/agniballisticmissile/
Auner, E. (2012). India announces successful Agni-5 test. Arms Control Association. Retrieved from https://www.armscontrol.org/ act/ 2012_05/India_Announces_Successful_Agni_5_Test
Bagia, P. (2017). Nuclear-Capable Agni-IV missile tested successfully: 5 facts. NDTV. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/ india-news/nuclear-capable-agni-iv-missile-tested-successfully-5-facts-1644166
BBC. (2001). Indian missile test angers Pakistan. BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1121731.stm
Bobb, D. (1989). Agni: India successfully launches its first intermediate range ballistic missile. India Today. Retrieved from https:// www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19890615-agni-india-successfully-launches-its-first-intermediate-range-ballistic-missile-816170-1989-06-15
Burke, J. (2012). India‟s missile fails to rattle China. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/apr/19/india-missile-china-agni-v
Business Standard. (2017, May 4). India successfully test fires nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile. Retrieved from https:// www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/india-successfully-test-fires-nuclear-capable-agni-ii-118022000228_1.html
Business Standard. (2017a, April 27). Agni-III missile successfully test-fired off Odisha Coast. Retrieved from https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/agni-iii-missile-successfully-test-fired-off-odisha-coast-117042700505_1.html
Chengappa, R. (1999). Pakistan‟s reply to India‟s testing of Agni-II intensifies deadly nuclear missiles race. India Today. Retrieved from https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/19990426-pakistans-reply-to-indias-testing-of-agni-ii-intensifies-deadly-nuclear-missiles-race-780755-1999-04-26
Chengappa, R. (1999). India puts Nuke arsenal under civilian control, but situation worryingly unclear in Pak. India Today. Retrieved fromhttps://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/defence/story/20030120-india-puts-nuke-arsenal-under-civilian-control-but-situation-worryingly-unclear-in-pak-793556-2003-01-20
Ghoshal, D. (2018). How Agni-V induction will enhance India‟s nuclear deterrence. The Week. Retrieved from https:// www.theweek.in/news/india/2018/08/22/How-Agni-5-induction-will-enhance-India-nuclear-deterrence-china.html
Hindustan Times. (2018). Test fire of Agni-II missile fails to meet all the desired parameters. Retrieved from https:// www.hindustantimes.com/ india-news/test-fire-of-agni-ii-missile-fails-to-meet-all-the.desired-parameters/story-5QOZsAJbE8F8vMALaovjbN.html Hindustan Times. (2016). India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable Agni-5 ballistic missile. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/ india-news/india-set-to-test-launch-indigenously-built-agni-5-missile-today/story-ImTmewEjlvCRrMrBNxJeXO.html Live Mint. (2018). India‟s most potent missile Agni-V to be inducted soon. Retrieved from https://www.livemint.com/ Politics/ VfoupaY23 likA5s4vixvtK/Indias-most-potent-missile-AgniV-to-be-inducted-soon.html
Missile Threat. (2016). Agni-2. Retrieved from https:// missilethreat.csis.org/missile/agni-2/
News 18. (2017). India successfully test fires Agni-III missile. Retrieved from https://missilethreat.csis.org/missile/agni-2/
Pandit, R. (2018). 20 years after Pokhran-II, intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V on Way. The Times of India. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/20-years-after-pokhran-ii-intercontinental-ballistic-missile-agni-v-on-way/articleshow/ 64130922.cms
Parthasarathy, G. (2017, Januray 11). Why Agni-V launch fired up China. Business Line. Retrieved from https:// www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/why-our-agni-v-launch-fired-up-china/article9474120.ece
Patranobis, S. (2018). India‟s „Vision‟ for Indo-Pacific region puts a question mark on „Quad‟. Hindustan Time. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/india-s-vision-for-indo-pacific-region-puts-a-question-mark-on-quad/story-QXA7GJIhKNB7W4NAlkhoBJ.html
Ghosh, D. (2017). Successfully test launch of Agni-V. Press Information Bureau. Retrieved from https://pibindia.wordpress.com/ 2017/ 01/04/successful-test-launch-of-agni-v/
Prasannan, R. (2015). Secret? Tell it to the press. The Week. Retrieved from https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/Abdul-Kalam-and-the-media.html
Rajaraman, R. (2014, July 2). Minimum deterrent and large arsenal. The Hindu. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/minimum-deterrent-and-large-arsenal/article6167350.ece
Rajghatta, C. (2012, April 20). US Refrains from Criticising Agni-V Test, Praises India‟s Non-proliferation Record. The Times of India. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/US-refrains-from-criticizing-Agni-V-test-praises-Indias-non-proliferation-record/articleshow/12738475.cms
Ranghuvanshi, V. (2016). India tests Agni-V ballistic missile. Defense New. Retrieved from https://www.defensenews.com/ space/ 2016/ 12/ 26/india-tests-agni-v-ballistic-missile/
Rout, H. K. (2010). India test-fires nuclear capable Agni-I missile. The Times of India. Retrieved from https:// timesofindia. indiatimes.com/ india/India-test-fires-nuclear-capable-Agni-I-missile /articleshow/6986753.cms
Roy, D. D. (2017). After China‟s comment on Agni-V missile test, India‟s curt response. NDTV. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/after-chinas-comment-on-agni-v-missile-test-indias-curt-response-1642498
Shukla, A. (2016). A lighter Agni-5 could be world‟s most cost effective ICBM. Rediff.com. Retrieved from http://www.rediff.com/ news/ special/agni-5-could-be-worlds-most-cost-effective-icbm/20161230.htm
Subramanian, T. S. (2017, January 2). Agni-IV missile successfully test-fired. The Hindu. Retrieved from https:// www.thehindu.com/ news/ national/Agni-IV-missile-successfully-test-fired/article16977450.ece Taneja, R. (2018a). India successfully test fires nuclear capable ballistic Agni-1 missile: 10 facts. NDTV. Retrieved from https:// www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-successfully-test-fires-agni-1-missile-10-facts-1809270
Taneja, R. (2018b). India successfully test-fires nuclear capable ballistic Agni-II missile: All you need to know. NDTV. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/agni-ii-missile-successfully-test-fired-from-india-all-you-need-to-know-1814867
The Economic Times. (2012). India cut Agni V range from 9000 km-5000 km under NATO pressure: Chinese media. Retrieved from https:// economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/india-cut-agni-v-range-from-9000-km-to-5000-km-under-nato-pressure-chinese-media/articleshow/12829044.cms The Economic Times. (2018b). India‟s agni long-range missiles broke UN limits: Chinese media. Retrieved from https:// economictimes. indiatimes. com/news/defence/indias-agni-long-range -missiles-broke -un-limits -chinese-media/ articleshow/ 56349807.cms
The Economic Times. (2013). Agni Series: India‟s ballistic missile. Retrieved from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ slideshows/ science-technology/agni-series-indias-ballistic-missiles/slideshow/ 23288563.cms
The Express Tribune. (2017). China will not sit still. State-run daily responds to India missile test. Retrieved from https:// tribune.com.pk/ story/ 1285400/china-will-not-sit-still-state-rundaily -responds-india-missile-test/
The Hindu. (2018). Agni-I missile with nuclear weapon carrying capability flight tested successfully. February 6. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nuclear-capable-agni-i-missile-test-fired-successfully/article22665930.ece
The New Indian Express. (2018b). Agni-v success boosts India‟s nuclear deterrence. Retrieved from http://www.newindianexpress.com/ states/ odisha/2018/jun/04/agni-v-success-boosts-indias-nuclear-deterrence-1823440.html
The Times of India. (2018). India successfully test fires nuclear capable Agni-5. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/ india/india-successfully-test-fires-nuclear-capable-agni-5/ articleshow/ 64434530. cms
The Tribune. (2003). Musharraf rules out accidental N-war. Retrieved from https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030111/world.htm#1
The Tribune. (2003). Missile test adds to „Charged Atmosphere‟. Retrieved from https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030111/world.htm#6