India’s missile programme is one of the most advanced in Asia — developed primarily by DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and subsequent initiatives, spanning the full spectrum from short-range Prithvi to the intercontinental Agni-V and the hypersonic HSTDV.
From the anti-tank Nag to the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, India’s missile systems are a high-frequency topic in UPSC Prelims, SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, and Defence-focused competitive exams. This page gives you a complete, updated list with range, type, propulsion, and exam-critical facts for confident revision.
⚡ Quick Facts
- IGMDP launched 1983 under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — gave India 5 core missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Akash, Nag — mnemonic: PATNA.
- BrahMos — India-Russia joint venture (BRAHmaputra + MOScow); Mach 2.8–3.0; world’s fastest operational cruise missile; first exported to Philippines (2022).
- Agni-V — India’s first ICBM-class missile; range 5,000–8,000 km; can reach entire China and parts of Europe; nuclear-capable; canisterised version tested 2023.
- Prithvi — India’s first indigenously developed ballistic missile; IGMDP; named after “Earth”; used by all three armed forces in different variants.
- Mission Shakti (27 March 2019) — India became the 4th country to demonstrate Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capability, after USA, Russia, and China.
“BrahMos was developed solely by India” — WRONG. BrahMos is a joint venture between India (DRDO) and Russia (NPO Mashinostroyeniya). Also: Agni-V is ICBM-class, NOT a true ICBM (Agni-VI, still under development, will be India’s first true ICBM). And the IGMDP mnemonic is PATNA — not PATAN or ATNAM. Hot MCQ
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🚀 Complete List of Indian Missile Systems
| # ↕ | Missile ↕ | Type | Range ↕ | Propulsion | Platform / Deployed By | Key Exam Fact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prithvi-I | Ballistic (SRBM) | 150 km | Liquid propellant | Indian Army | India’s first indigenous missile; IGMDP; named after “Earth” Hot |
| 2 | Prithvi-II | Ballistic (SRBM) | 250–350 km | Liquid propellant | Indian Air Force | Air Force variant of Prithvi; IGMDP series |
| 3 | Prithvi-III (Dhanush) | Ballistic (Ship) | 350 km | Liquid propellant | Indian Navy | Naval variant; ship-launched; called Dhanush |
| 4 | Agni-I | Ballistic (MRBM) | 700–1,200 km | Solid (single-stage) | Indian Army | Shortest-range Agni; IGMDP; nuclear-capable Hot |
| 5 | Agni-II | Ballistic (IRBM) | 2,000–3,500 km | Solid (two-stage) | Indian Army | Mobile launcher (road and rail); nuclear-capable; covers most of Asia |
| 6 | Agni-III | Ballistic (IRBM) | 3,000–5,000 km | Solid (two-stage) | Indian Army | Nuclear-capable; can strike across entire subcontinent + China |
| 7 | Agni-IV | Ballistic (IRBM) | 3,500–4,000 km | Solid (two-stage) | Indian Army | Advanced guidance system; nuclear-capable; improved accuracy |
| 8 | Agni-V | Ballistic (ICBM-class) | 5,000–8,000 km | Solid (three-stage) | Indian Army (Strategic Forces) | India’s first ICBM-class missile; reaches entire China + parts of Europe; nuclear; canisterised (2023) Hot |
| 9 | Agni-VI | Ballistic (ICBM — Dev) | 8,000–12,000+ km | Solid | Under Development | True ICBM; MIRV (Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle) capability planned |
| 10 | Trishul | Surface-to-Air (SAM) | 9 km | Solid | Indian Navy (originally) | IGMDP missile; now largely replaced; meaning “Trident” in Sanskrit Hot |
| 11 | Akash | Surface-to-Air (SAM) | 25–30 km | Ramjet | Indian Army & Air Force | IGMDP; indigenously developed; air defence; exported to Armenia (2022) Hot |
| 12 | Akash Prime | Surface-to-Air (SAM) | 25–30 km (+altitude) | Ramjet | Indian Air Force | Better performance at high altitudes; new seeker head; improved Akash |
| 13 | Akash-NG (Next Gen) | Surface-to-Air (SAM) | 60–80 km | Dual-pulse solid | Indian Armed Forces | Next generation Akash; higher range and speed; improved air defence coverage |
| 14 | Nag | Anti-Tank (ATGM) | 4–7 km | Solid | Indian Army | IGMDP; meaning “Cobra”; fire-and-forget capability Hot |
| 15 | Helina (Helicopter-launched Nag) | Anti-Tank (ATGM) | 7–8 km | Solid | Indian Army (Army Aviation, ALH Dhruv) | Helicopter-launched variant of Nag; for Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Dhruv) |
| 16 | BrahMos | Supersonic Cruise | 290–500 km | Solid booster + Ramjet | Army, Navy, Air Force | India-Russia joint venture; Mach 2.8–3.0; world’s fastest operational cruise missile; exported to Philippines (2022) Hot |
| 17 | BrahMos-A (Air-launched) | Supersonic Cruise | 350+ km | Solid booster + Ramjet | Indian Air Force (Su-30MKI) | Launched from Su-30MKI; first air-launched supersonic cruise missile test 2019 |
| 18 | BrahMos-NG (Next Gen) | Supersonic Cruise (Dev) | 300+ km | Miniaturised | Under Development | Smaller, lighter version; for more platforms including fighters |
| 19 | BrahMos-II (Hypersonic) | Hypersonic Cruise | 600+ km | Scramjet | Under Development | Hypersonic version; Mach 8; jointly developed; under development |
| 20 | Nirbhay | Subsonic Cruise | 1,000–1,500 km | Turbojet + solid booster | Indian Army & Air Force | India’s answer to US Tomahawk; subsonic; loitering; terrain-hugging; multiple tests |
| 21 | Astra | Air-to-Air (BVRAAM) | 80–110 km (Mk-1) | Solid | Indian Air Force (Tejas, Su-30MKI, Jaguar) | First indigenous BVRAAM; deployed on Tejas, Su-30MKI; Astra Mk-2 under development Hot |
| 22 | K-15 (Sagarika) | SLBM (Submarine) | 700–750 km | Solid | Indian Navy (INS Arihant-class) | India’s first SLBM; launched from INS Arihant; completes nuclear triad sea-leg Hot |
| 23 | K-4 | SLBM (Submarine) | 3,500 km | Solid | Indian Navy (INS Arihant, Arighat) | Medium-range SLBM; nuclear-capable; India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent |
| 24 | K-5 / K-6 | SLBM (Under Dev) | 5,000–6,000 km | Under Development | Planned for future SSBNs | Longer-range SLBM; part of India’s credible minimum deterrence at sea |
| 25 | Prahaar | Tactical Ballistic | 150 km | Solid | Indian Army | Quick-reaction tactical missile; high accuracy; replaces Prithvi for short-range role |
| 26 | Pralay | Quasi-Ballistic | 150–500 km | Solid | Indian Army | Conventionally armed precision strike; evasive trajectory; inducted 2022 |
| 27 | Shaurya | Hypersonic Glide | 700–1,900 km | Solid | Indian Army (Strategic Forces) | Canister-launched; hypersonic glide vehicle; nuclear-capable |
| 28 | HSTDV | Hypersonic Demo | — (test vehicle) | Scramjet | DRDO (Technology Demonstrator) | Tested Sept 2020; Mach 6; India became 4th country to test scramjet-powered flight (after USA, Russia, China) Hot |
| 29 | PDV (Prithvi Defence Vehicle) | BMD Interceptor (Exo) | 2,000 km altitude | Solid | Indian Armed Forces | Part of Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme; intercepts at high altitude |
| 30 | AAD (Advanced Air Defence) | BMD Interceptor (Endo) | 150 km range | Solid | Indian Armed Forces | Lower-altitude interceptor; part of two-tier BMD system with PDV |
| 31 | Mission Shakti (ASAT) | Anti-Satellite (ASAT) | LEO (~300 km) | Modified PDV | DRDO / Strategic Forces | 27 March 2019; shot down Microsat-R; India = 4th country with ASAT capability (USA, Russia, China first) Hot |
| 32 | Rudram-1 | Anti-Radiation Missile | 250 km | Solid + Ramjet | Indian Air Force (Su-30MKI) | India’s first indigenous anti-radiation missile; destroys enemy radar systems Hot |
| 33 | SANT | Air-to-Ground | 100 km | Solid | Indian Air Force (HAL helicopters) | Helicopter-launched; anti-airfield; developed from Nag missile |
| 34 | QRSAM | Surface-to-Air (Mobile) | 25–30 km | Solid | Indian Army | All-weather mobile air defence; to replace Spyder and OSA-AK systems |
| 35 | VL-SRSAM | Naval Air Defence (SAM) | 40–50 km | Solid | Indian Navy | Ship-borne vertical-launch air defence; replaces older Barak-1 |
| Letter | Missile | Sanskrit Meaning | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | Prithvi | Earth | Surface-to-Surface Ballistic | Operational |
| A | Agni | Fire | Ballistic Missile (MRBM to ICBM-class) | Operational (Agni I–V) |
| T | Trishul | Trident | Surface-to-Air | Largely replaced |
| N | Nag | Cobra / Snake | Anti-Tank Guided Missile | Operational |
| A | Akash | Sky | Surface-to-Air (Medium Range) | Operational; exported to Armenia (2022) |
| Component | Delivery Vehicle | Key Asset | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏔️ Land-based | Agni series (I–V) | Agni-V (ICBM-class, 5,000–8,000 km) | Operational |
| ✈️ Air-based | Fighter aircraft delivery | Jaguar, Mirage-2000 (nuclear role) | Operational |
| ⚓ Sea-based | K-15 (Sagarika) + K-4 on INS Arihant / INS Arighat | INS Arihant (SSBN, commissioned 2016) | Operational (K-15); K-4 near operational |
⚖️ Compare Two Missile Systems
📝 Key Notes & Memory Tips
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was India’s landmark indigenous missile initiative — launched in 1983 under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (DRDO), earning him the title “Missile Man of India.” The five core missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, Akash — mnemonic: PATNA. IGMDP was formally closed in 2008 after achieving its objectives. Legacy: India became a missile-capable nation with full-spectrum indigenous capability across all categories.
- BrahMos = BRAHmaputra + MOScow — India-Russia joint venture (BrahMos Aerospace)
- Type: Supersonic cruise missile; Mach 2.8–3.0 — fastest operational cruise missile in the world
- Three variants: Land (Army), Ship (Navy), Air-launched from Su-30MKI (Air Force)
- Range: Originally limited to 290 km (MTCR compliance); extended to 450–500 km after India joined MTCR in 2016
- First exported to Philippines (2022) — landmark in India’s defence export ambitions
- Agni-I: 700–1,200 km (can reach Pakistan’s major cities)
- Agni-II: 2,000–3,500 km (most of Asia)
- Agni-III: 3,000–5,000 km (entire subcontinent + China)
- Agni-IV: 3,500–4,000 km (advanced guidance)
- Agni-V: 5,000–8,000 km (ICBM-class; entire China, parts of Europe; first tested 2012; canisterised 2023)
- Agni-VI: Under development; 8,000–12,000+ km; MIRV capability
Key fact: Agni-V is India’s first ICBM-class missile — this is the most tested Agni fact.
- Date: 27 March 2019
- Operation: India shot down its own satellite (Microsat-R) at ~300 km in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
- Vehicle: Modified Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor
- Significance: India became the 4th country to demonstrate ASAT capability (after USA, Russia, and China)
- PM Narendra Modi announced it live on national television
- Criticism: Space debris created; USA criticised; India said debris would naturally decay within weeks
- Land: Agni series (I–V) — operational
- Air: Jaguar and Mirage-2000 aircraft for nuclear delivery
- Sea: INS Arihant (India’s first SSBN, commissioned 2016) + INS Arighat (commissioned 2024) carry K-15 (Sagarika, 700 km) and K-4 (3,500 km) missiles
- India’s doctrine: Credible Minimum Deterrence + No-First-Use (NFU)
- INS Arihant = India’s first indigenously built SSBN — the sea leg is the most survivable and critical for credible deterrence
P = Prithvi (Earth) | A = Agni (Fire) | T = Trishul (Trident) | N = Nag (Snake/Cobra) | A = Akash (Sky)
All five are named after Sanskrit/Hindi words for natural elements or mythological symbols — easy to remember as the capital of Bihar.
“1K → 3K → 4K → 4K → 5K+ (ICBM)”
Agni-I ≈ 1,000 km | Agni-II ≈ 3,000 km | Agni-III ≈ 4,000 km | Agni-IV ≈ 4,000 km | Agni-V ≈ 5,500+ km (ICBM-class)
Each Agni number roughly doubles or significantly increases the previous range.
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The IGMDP was launched in 1983 under the direction of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — which earned him the title “Missile Man of India.” The programme developed five core indigenous missiles: Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash (mnemonic: PATNA). IGMDP was formally closed in 2008 after achieving its objectives. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is the father of India’s space programme; Dr. Homi Bhabha is the father of India’s nuclear programme.
BrahMos is a joint India-Russia venture. The name combines BRAHmaputra (India’s river) and MOScow (Russia’s capital) — reflecting the bilateral collaboration. It is a supersonic cruise missile flying at Mach 2.8–3.0, and is manufactured by BrahMos Aerospace. India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, allowing India to extend BrahMos range beyond the original 290 km limit. BrahMos was first exported to the Philippines in 2022.
Agni-V has a range of approximately 5,000–8,000 km, making it India’s first ICBM-class ballistic missile. With this range, it can strike targets across the entire Chinese mainland, including its most distant cities, as well as parts of Europe and Africa. It was first tested in 2012 and a canisterised version was tested in 2023. It uses solid propellant and has three stages. Agni-VI (under development) will be India’s first true ICBM.
On 27 March 2019, India became the FOURTH country in the world to demonstrate Anti-Satellite (ASAT) capability, after the United States, Russia, and China. In Mission Shakti, a modified Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) interceptor destroyed India’s own satellite (Microsat-R) at an altitude of approximately 300 km in Low Earth Orbit. PM Narendra Modi announced the achievement live on national television.
The K-15 (Sagarika) ballistic missile, with a range of approximately 700–750 km, is India’s first submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). It is deployed on INS Arihant — India’s first indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), commissioned in 2016. INS Arihant is the cornerstone of India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent and completes the third leg of India’s nuclear triad. INS Chakra is a leased Russian nuclear attack submarine (SSN); INS Vikrant is India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier.
✅ Key Takeaways
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was India’s landmark self-reliance initiative in missile technology, launched in 1983 under Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at DRDO. The five core missiles produced were Prithvi (surface-to-surface ballistic, “Earth”), Agni (ballistic missile series, “Fire”), Trishul (short-range surface-to-air, “Trident”), Nag (anti-tank guided missile, “Cobra”), and Akash (medium-range surface-to-air, “Sky”) — remembered by the mnemonic “PATNA.” IGMDP was formally concluded in 2008 as its objectives were largely achieved, and India had demonstrated a comprehensive indigenous missile programme.
BrahMos is a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya through BrahMos Aerospace. The name derives from India’s Brahmaputra river and Russia’s capital Moscow. It flies at Mach 2.8–3.0, making it the world’s fastest operational cruise missile currently in production. BrahMos can be launched from land, ship, submarine, and aircraft (Su-30MKI). Its original range was limited to 290 km under MTCR guidelines, but after India joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, extended-range variants up to 500 km were developed. India completed its first export sale of BrahMos to the Philippines in 2022 — a landmark in India’s defence export ambitions.
India’s nuclear doctrine (formally articulated 2003) is based on Credible Minimum Deterrence (CMD) and a No-First-Use (NFU) policy — India commits to not being the first to use nuclear weapons but reserves the right to massive retaliation if attacked. A nuclear triad refers to nuclear delivery from three platforms — land (Agni series), air (Jaguar and Mirage-2000 aircraft), and sea (submarine-launched ballistic missiles). India completed its nuclear triad with the commissioning of INS Arihant (India’s first SSBN) in 2016, carrying K-15 Sagarika missiles. INS Arighat, the second SSBN, was commissioned in 2024. The sea-based leg is considered most survivable and therefore critical for credible deterrence.
Indian missiles are tested in UPSC Prelims (Science & Technology, Defence), SSC CGL, NDA, CDS, CAPF, and Banking General Awareness. Key tested facts include: IGMDP’s five missiles and the “PATNA” mnemonic; Dr. Kalam as the “Missile Man of India”; BrahMos as the world’s fastest operational cruise missile and India-Russia joint venture; Agni-V as India’s first ICBM-class missile (5,000–8,000 km range); Mission Shakti (27 March 2019, India’s ASAT test, 4th country); K-15 Sagarika and INS Arihant for India’s nuclear triad; India’s MTCR membership (2016); and the first export of BrahMos to Philippines (2022). The Agni range progression (I through V) and BrahMos are the highest-tested missile facts in almost every defence and science GK section.
