Agni-II (IAST: Agni, Шаблон:Lit), is the second strategic ballistic missile of Agni (missile) family envisaged to be the mainstay of the Indian missile-based strategic nuclear deterrence. The Agni-II is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with two solid fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile's Re-entry Vehicle (RV). The Agni's manoeuvring RV is made of a carbon-carbon composite material that is light and able to sustain high thermal stresses of re-entry, in a variety of trajectories. The Agni-IIA is a more advanced version of Agni-II, albeit with more sophisticated and lighter materials, yielding a better range and operating regime. Agni-IIA was later renamed as Agni-IV plugging the gap between Agni-II and Agni-III. While the first test of Agni-IV in December 2010 was a failure, the second test flight in November 2011 was a success[1] Agni-II, developed as part of medium- and long-range Agni series of missile systems, has already been inducted into the Armed Forces.[2]
On 17 May 2010, the trial was conducted with a special strategic command force (SSC) of nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometres from the Wheelers Island off Orissa coast thus making Agni-II missile operational by army.[3]US Air ForceNational Air and Space Intelligence Center estimating that as of June 2017 less than 10 launchers were operationally deployed,[4] operated by the 335 Missile Group at Secunderabad using 12 TEL vehicles.[5]
Agni-II can reach all of Pakistan and most parts of south and southeastern China.[6]
