An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard along a road in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)India has flexed its military muscle by successfully launching a nuclear-capable ballistic missile, amidst heightened tensions with neighboring Pakistan.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh praised the Indian army and defense scientists for their “remarkable achievement” on Thursday, July 17. The test firings of the Prithvi-II and Agni-I missiles from an integrated range off the southeast coast demonstrated India’s strategic deterrence capabilities. The launch follows a period of conflict with Pakistan, including India’s airstrikes on May 7 as part of Operation Sindoor, which were in retaliation to the Pahalgam terrorist attack in the contested Jammu and Kashmir region. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the attack that killed 26 civilians, a claim Pakistan denies.
The international community held its breath as the two nuclear-armed nations exchanged airstrikes over four days until US President Donald Trump intervened to establish a ceasefire that remains in effect. India reported 21 civilian and 8 military casualties, while Pakistan counted 40 civilian and 13 military fatalities from the hostilities. India’s Strategic Forces Command recently carried out these missile trials, which “validated all operational and technical parameters,” the defense ministry confirmed, reports the Express.
Both sides claimed civilian casualties during their conflict in May(Image: Getty)The Prithvi-II missile features a strike capability of approximately 217 miles, can deliver warheads weighing up to 500 kg, and possesses nuclear capacity. The nuclear-armed Agni-I missile provides an enhanced operational range reaching 560 miles and accommodates a heavier 1,000 kg warhead, Indian defense officials reported.
Before these evaluations, India had also launched its domestically-produced Akash Prime missile in Ladakh. “Short-range ballistic missiles, Prithvi-II and Agni-I, were successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha on July 17,” the ministry stated, noting: “These tests were conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.”
Both countries traded airstrikes for four days(Image: Getty)Officials characterized the Akash Prime deployment as demonstrating “exceptional performance” of India’s homegrown air defense technology during Operation Sindoor. A separate ministry announcement revealed: “India on July 16 achieved a significant milestone by successfully destroying two aerial high-speed unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh by Akash Prime, the upgraded variant of Akash weapon system for the Indian Army.”
Akash Prime missiles can function at elevated altitudes exceeding 4,500m and incorporate radio frequency targeting capabilities. “Based on the operational feedback from users, various upgrades are made to improve the operational effectiveness, demonstrating the advantage of the ecosystem created for the indigenous weapon system,” the statement asserted.
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