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Indian Missile Systems Explained: Agni, BrahMos, Akash, S-400 — Types & Range

Types, range and capabilities of India's missile arsenal — filter, compare and understand how each system works.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · By Defence Pulse – भारतीय रक्षा समाचार और ताज़ा खबरें Desk

Compare India's Missiles by Range

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Agni-VBallistic 5,000+ km

India's longest-range land-based missile. A test with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV) was carried out under Mission Divyastra in March 2024.

Propulsion: Three-stage solid, canisterised
Launch platform: Road-mobile canister
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

Agni-IVBallistic ~4,000 km

Intermediate-range ballistic missile with composite rocket motors and a ring-laser gyro navigation system.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid
Launch platform: Road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

Agni-IIIBallistic 3,000–3,500 km

Heavier two-stage missile that extended India's deterrence range beyond 3,000 km.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid
Launch platform: Rail / road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

Agni-IIBallistic 2,000+ km

Medium-range ballistic missile operated by the Strategic Forces Command.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid
Launch platform: Rail / road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

Agni-PrimeBallistic 1,000–2,000 km

New-generation, lighter Agni with canister launch; tested from a rail-based mobile launcher in 2025.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid, canisterised
Launch platform: Road and rail-based mobile launcher
Developer: DRDO
Status: Being inducted

Agni-IBallistic 700–1,200 km

The first member of the Agni family to enter service.

Propulsion: Single-stage solid
Launch platform: Rail / road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

ShauryaBallistic ~700 km

Hypersonic surface-to-surface missile derived from the submarine-launched K-15.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid, canisterised
Launch platform: Land-based canister
Developer: DRDO
Status: Developed

PralayBallistic 150–500 km

Conventional quasi-ballistic missile that can change its trajectory in flight, making interception harder.

Propulsion: Solid, quasi-ballistic
Launch platform: Road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: Being inducted

Prithvi-IIBallistic ~350 km

One of the first missiles of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

Propulsion: Single-stage liquid
Launch platform: Road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

BrahMosCruise 290–450+ km

Supersonic cruise missile flying at about Mach 2.8, used by all three services. Extended-range versions exceed the original 290 km.

Propulsion: Solid booster + liquid ramjet
Launch platform: Land, ship, submarine, Su-30MKI
Developer: BrahMos Aerospace (India–Russia)
Status: In service

Nirbhay / ITCMCruise ~1,000 km

Subsonic long-range cruise missile; the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) version uses an Indian-developed turbofan engine.

Propulsion: Solid booster + turbofan
Launch platform: Land-based
Developer: DRDO
Status: Under trials

K-4Submarine-launched ~3,500 km

Submarine-launched ballistic missile that gives India a sea-based nuclear deterrent.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid
Launch platform: Arihant-class SSBN
Developer: DRDO
Status: Being inducted

K-15 SagarikaSubmarine-launched ~750 km

India's first submarine-launched ballistic missile.

Propulsion: Two-stage solid
Launch platform: Arihant-class SSBN
Developer: DRDO
Status: In service

S-400 TriumfSurface-to-air Up to 400 km

Long-range air defence system inducted by the IAF from 2021, where it is known as Sudarshan Chakra.

Propulsion: Solid (multiple missile types)
Launch platform: Road-mobile batteries
Developer: Almaz-Antey, Russia
Status: In service

MRSAM (Barak-8)Surface-to-air ~70+ km

Medium-range surface-to-air missile used by the Navy, Air Force and Army.

Propulsion: Dual-pulse solid
Launch platform: Ships and land batteries
Developer: DRDO & IAI (India–Israel)
Status: In service

Akash-NGSurface-to-air ~70 km (reported)

Next-generation Akash with a canisterised launcher and an active radar seeker.

Propulsion: Dual-pulse solid
Launch platform: Road-mobile
Developer: DRDO
Status: Under trials

AkashSurface-to-air 25–30 km

Indigenous medium-range air defence missile in service with the Army and IAF, and exported abroad.

Propulsion: Integral rocket-ramjet
Launch platform: Road-mobile
Developer: DRDO / BDL
Status: In service

QRSAMSurface-to-air ~30 km

Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile designed to protect moving Army columns.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: Truck-mounted, on the move
Developer: DRDO
Status: Under trials

Rudram-1Air-to-surface ~100–150 km

Anti-radiation missile that homes on enemy radar emissions to destroy air defence networks.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: Su-30MKI
Developer: DRDO
Status: Under trials

Astra Mk1Air-to-air ~100 km

India's first indigenous beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: Su-30MKI, Tejas
Developer: DRDO / BDL
Status: In service

Helina / DhruvastraAnti-tank ~7 km

Helicopter-launched version of the Nag anti-tank guided missile.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: ALH Dhruv, LCH Prachand
Developer: DRDO
Status: Being inducted

Nag (NAMIS)Anti-tank ~4 km

Third-generation fire-and-forget anti-tank missile with an imaging infrared seeker.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: NAMICA tracked carrier
Developer: DRDO / BDL
Status: In service

MPATGMAnti-tank ~2.5 km

Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile with top-attack capability for infantry.

Propulsion: Solid
Launch platform: Man-portable tripod
Developer: DRDO
Status: Under trials

Bar length uses a logarithmic scale so short-range and long-range systems can be compared on one chart. Click a missile for details. Ranges are approximate figures from official statements and open sources.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Missile A

Missile B

Full Table of Indian Missile Systems

Missile	Type	Range (approx.)	Propulsion	Platform	Status
Agni-V	Ballistic	5,000+ km	Three-stage solid, canisterised	Road-mobile canister	In service
Agni-IV	Ballistic	~4,000 km	Two-stage solid	Road-mobile	In service
Agni-III	Ballistic	3,000–3,500 km	Two-stage solid	Rail / road-mobile	In service
Agni-II	Ballistic	2,000+ km	Two-stage solid	Rail / road-mobile	In service
Agni-Prime	Ballistic	1,000–2,000 km	Two-stage solid, canisterised	Road and rail-based mobile launcher	Being inducted
Agni-I	Ballistic	700–1,200 km	Single-stage solid	Rail / road-mobile	In service
Shaurya	Ballistic	~700 km	Two-stage solid, canisterised	Land-based canister	Developed
Pralay	Ballistic	150–500 km	Solid, quasi-ballistic	Road-mobile	Being inducted
Prithvi-II	Ballistic	~350 km	Single-stage liquid	Road-mobile	In service
BrahMos	Cruise	290–450+ km	Solid booster + liquid ramjet	Land, ship, submarine, Su-30MKI	In service
Nirbhay / ITCM	Cruise	~1,000 km	Solid booster + turbofan	Land-based	Under trials
K-4	Submarine-launched	~3,500 km	Two-stage solid	Arihant-class SSBN	Being inducted
K-15 Sagarika	Submarine-launched	~750 km	Two-stage solid	Arihant-class SSBN	In service
S-400 Triumf	Surface-to-air	Up to 400 km	Solid (multiple missile types)	Road-mobile batteries	In service
MRSAM (Barak-8)	Surface-to-air	~70+ km	Dual-pulse solid	Ships and land batteries	In service
Akash-NG	Surface-to-air	~70 km (reported)	Dual-pulse solid	Road-mobile	Under trials
Akash	Surface-to-air	25–30 km	Integral rocket-ramjet	Road-mobile	In service
QRSAM	Surface-to-air	~30 km	Solid	Truck-mounted, on the move	Under trials
Rudram-1	Air-to-surface	~100–150 km	Solid	Su-30MKI	Under trials
Astra Mk1	Air-to-air	~100 km	Solid	Su-30MKI, Tejas	In service
Helina / Dhruvastra	Anti-tank	~7 km	Solid	ALH Dhruv, LCH Prachand	Being inducted
Nag (NAMIS)	Anti-tank	~4 km	Solid	NAMICA tracked carrier	In service
MPATGM	Anti-tank	~2.5 km	Solid	Man-portable tripod	Under trials

Missile Types Explained

Ballistic missiles

A ballistic missile is powered by a rocket for the first part of its flight and then follows a high, arcing path, much like a thrown stone, before re-entering the atmosphere at very high speed. They are grouped by range: short-range (under 1,000 km), medium-range (1,000–3,000 km), intermediate-range (3,000–5,500 km) and intercontinental (over 5,500 km). India's Agni and Prithvi families are ballistic missiles.

Cruise missiles

A cruise missile flies like a small unmanned aircraft, using wings and an air-breathing engine to stay within the atmosphere, often at low altitude to avoid radar. They can be subsonic (Nirbhay) or supersonic (BrahMos), and are known for high accuracy.

Quasi-ballistic missiles

These follow a lower, flatter trajectory than a classic ballistic missile and can manoeuvre during flight, making them harder for missile defence systems to predict. Pralay is India's main example.

Surface-to-air missiles (SAM)

SAMs defend against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and sometimes ballistic missiles. India uses a layered approach: short-range systems such as Akash and QRSAM, medium-range MRSAM, and long-range S-400.

Air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles

Fired from aircraft, air-to-air missiles such as Astra destroy enemy aircraft beyond visual range, while air-to-surface weapons such as Rudram-1 attack radar sites and ground targets.

Anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM)

ATGMs such as Nag, Helina and MPATGM are designed to defeat armoured vehicles. Many use "top-attack", striking the thinner armour on the roof of a tank.

How missiles are guided

Inertial navigation: gyroscopes and accelerometers track position without outside signals — the backbone of most long-range missiles.
Satellite navigation: GPS or India's NavIC updates improve accuracy.
Radar seekers: active or semi-active radar homing guides SAMs and air-to-air missiles to moving targets.
Infrared / imaging seekers: lock on to the heat or image of a target, as used by anti-tank missiles.
Passive anti-radiation seekers: home on to enemy radar emissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest-range missile of India?

Agni-V, with a range of more than 5,000 km, is India's longest-range land-based ballistic missile. In March 2024 it was tested with MIRV technology under Mission Divyastra.

What is the range of BrahMos?

The original BrahMos had a range of about 290 km. Extended-range versions in service can strike targets at around 450 km or more, flying at nearly Mach 2.8.

What is the difference between a ballistic and a cruise missile?

A ballistic missile is rocket-powered and follows a high arcing trajectory, while a cruise missile uses wings and an air-breathing engine to fly within the atmosphere, often at low altitude.

What is India's S-400 called?

The S-400 Triumf long-range air defence system is known as Sudarshan Chakra in the Indian Air Force. It can engage targets at ranges of up to about 400 km.

Which missile does India have on its submarines?

India's Arihant-class nuclear submarines carry the K-15 Sagarika (about 750 km) and the longer-range K-4 (about 3,500 km) submarine-launched ballistic missiles.