Agni-V vs Agni-VI: Specs Compared

ABallistic missiles

Agni-V

Intermediate-range ballistic missile Reported Intercontinental ballistic missile capability

BBallistic missiles

Agni-VI

ICBM

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

Agni-VLength

17.5 m

Length source ↗

Agni-VILength

20–40 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Agni-Vlarger figure on 1 of 4

Warhead mass+17%

Agni-VIlarger figure on 3 of 4

Length+71%
Mass+18%
Range+47%

Counts only measures both sources give with the same scope. A larger figure is not a better system.

Measured figures

Head to head

16 of 21 rows sourced on both sides

17.5m

20–40m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

17.5 m

Length

Single source

17.5 m^[source]

20–40 m

Length

Single source

20 - 40.00 m^[source]

Diameter

All recorded figures & sources

2 m

Diameter

Single source

2 metres (6 ft 7 in)^[source]

2 m

Diameter

Single source

2 m^[source]

50,000–56,000kg

55,000–70,000kg

Mass

All recorded figures & sources

50,000–56,000 kg

Mass

Single source

50000–56000 kg^[source]

55,000–70,000 kg

Mass

Single source

55,000 - 70,000 kg^[source]

29,451km/hMaximum; 8.17 km/s

Speed

All recorded figures & sources

29,450.9952 km/h

Maximum; 8.17 km/s

Single source

29,400 km/h

Maximum; Terminal phase: Mach 24 (

Single source

Terminal phase: Mach 24 (29,400 km/h; 18,300 mph; 8.17 km/s)^[source]

29,450.9952 km/h

Maximum; 8.17 km/s

Single source

29,400 km/h

Maximum; Mach 24 (

Single source

Mach 24 (29,400 km/h; 18,300 mph; 8.17 km/s)^[source]

7,000–8,000kmOperational; Operational range

10,000–12,000kmOperational; Operational range

Range

All recorded figures & sources

7,000–8,000 km

Operational; Operational range

Single source

2,500–3,000 km

Operational; air-burst or bunker buster variant

Single source

7,000–8,000 kilometres (4,300–5,000 mi) 2,500–3,000 kilometres (1,600–1,900 mi) (air-burst or bunker buster variant)^[source]

10,000–12,000 km

Operational; Operational range

Single source

10,000–12,000 kilometres (6,214–7,456 mi)^[source]

3,000–4,000kgWarhead weight

3tWarhead weight

Warhead mass

All recorded figures & sources

3,000–4,000 kg

Warhead weight

Single source

7,500–8,000 kg

air-burst or bunker buster

Single source

3,000–4,000 kilograms (6,600–8,800 lb) 7,500–8,000 kilograms (16,500–17,600 lb) ( air-burst or bunker buster )^[source]

3,000 kg

Warhead weight

Single source

3 tonnes^[source]

Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.

Configuration

Details

Agni-V and Agni-VI configuration
Specification	Agni-V	Agni-VI
Type	Intermediate-range ballistic missile Reported Intercontinental ballistic missile capability^[source]	ICBM^[source]
Place of origin	India^[source]	India^[source]
In service	Active^[source]	Under development^[source]
Used by	Strategic Forces Command^[source]	Indian Armed Forces^[source]
Designer	Defence Research and Development Organisation^[source]	Defence Research and Development Organisation^[source]
Manufacturer	Bharat Dynamics Limited^[source]	Bharat Dynamics Limited^[source]
Unit cost	₹ 50 crore (US$5 million)^[source]	—
Warhead	3-6 (tested) 10-12 warheads Nuclear MIRVs^[source]	Strategic nuclear weapon with 10-11 MIRV capability^[source]
Engine	Three-stage solid rocket^[source]	Four stage rocket + MaRV^[source]
Propellant	Solid fuel^[source]	Solid^[source]
Guidance system	RLG - INS + multi- GNSS + redundant micro-inertial navigation^[source]	—
Launch platform	8 × 8 Tatra TEL Rail Mobile Launcher (Canisterised Missile Package)^[source]	—
Transport	Road^[source]	Road mobile^[source]
Source measurement	—	In June 2011, for the first time then IAF Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik vehemently argued in favour of broadening India's nuclear strike capabilities beyond the immediate neighbourhood. Naik, who was also the head of the Chiefs of Staff committee, stated, "India should pursue an ICBM programme to acquire ranges of 10,000 km or more. Breaking out of the regional context is important as the country's sphere of influence grows. We have no territorial designs on any country, but India needs the capability to match its sphere of influence."^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In October 2011, The Pioneer published a report questioning DRDO 's ability to independently develop seeker technology (guidance technology) suitable for ICBMs , that could enable the missile to traverse long distances in excess of 10,000 km. The same report also asserted Russia's willingness to help India with seeker technology. The authenticity of the pioneer report is disputed by at least one foreign newspaper, with the counter-claim that the involvement of Russia is probably inflated out of proportion, because if the report about Russian involvement is true, Russia may be suspected of violating the Missile Technology Control Regime . In response to the scepticism, a top DRDO scientist asserted that India has all the equipment and technology needed to develop ICBMs, "but where the warhead should go or what the range should be will have to be a political call."^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage On 20 June 2011, Indian Defence News published an article titled India Serious About 10,000 km ICBM which stated that India is seriously contemplating to enhance the reach of its strategic missiles and that the Ministry of Defense is considering a DRDO proposal to develop intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting targets 10,000 km away. Building an ICBM has international ramifications and the ultimate decision to go ahead with the proposal would be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In May 2018, reports confirmed the development of another ICBM in the Agni series, a three-stage Agni VI missile. It was proposed that the missile will be developed in 2024 or so and will have an even longer range, up to 8,000 km to 12,000 km. The Agni VI will be sleeker than the Agni-V and capable of carrying at least 10 nuclear warheads, capable of targeting multiple targets at the same time.^[source]Agni-VI · History / Recent developments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage As per people related to Agni VI development, government officials carefully watched 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and how ICBM played its role in geopolitics. It is speculated that India might go ahead with a technology demonstrator by 2025 in order to validate computer simulations aiming to reach even the farthest corner of China from a safer survival distance. The Agni VI programme is already on track and DRDO is simultaneously working on SLBM variant.^[source]Agni-VI · History / Recent developments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage It is reported to be the latest and most advanced version among the Agni missiles . According to sources, Agni-VI missile is likely to carry up to 10 MIRV warheads and will have a strike range of 12,000 km, though DRDO has refused to confirm the missile's range. A senior DRDO scientist was quoted as saying that the new generation Agni-VI missile will be sleeker, easily transportable and would be readily deployed. It will have the capability to be launched from submarine and from land-based launchers.^[source]Agni-VI · Missile Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

FORCETALLY

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Agni-V

Agni-VI

Type

Intermediate-range ballistic missile Reported Intercontinental ballistic missile capability^[source]

ICBM^[source]

Place of origin

India^[source]

In service

Active^[source]

Under development^[source]

Used by

Strategic Forces Command^[source]

Indian Armed Forces^[source]

Designer

Defence Research and Development Organisation^[source]

Manufacturer

Bharat Dynamics Limited^[source]

Unit cost

₹ 50 crore (US$5 million)^[source]

—

Warhead

3-6 (tested) 10-12 warheads Nuclear MIRVs^[source]

Strategic nuclear weapon with 10-11 MIRV capability^[source]

Engine

Three-stage solid rocket^[source]

Four stage rocket + MaRV^[source]

Propellant

Solid fuel^[source]

Solid^[source]

Guidance system

RLG - INS + multi- GNSS + redundant micro-inertial navigation^[source]

—

Launch platform

8 × 8 Tatra TEL Rail Mobile Launcher (Canisterised Missile Package)^[source]

—

Transport

Road^[source]

Road mobile^[source]

Source measurement

—

In June 2011, for the first time then IAF Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik vehemently argued in favour of broadening India's nuclear strike capabilities beyond the immediate neighbourhood. Naik, who was also the head of the Chiefs of Staff committee, stated, "India should pursue an ICBM programme to acquire ranges of 10,000 km or more. Breaking out of the regional context is important as the country's sphere of influence grows. We have no territorial designs on any country, but India needs the capability to match its sphere of influence."^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In October 2011, The Pioneer published a report questioning DRDO 's ability to independently develop seeker technology (guidance technology) suitable for ICBMs , that could enable the missile to traverse long distances in excess of 10,000 km. The same report also asserted Russia's willingness to help India with seeker technology. The authenticity of the pioneer report is disputed by at least one foreign newspaper, with the counter-claim that the involvement of Russia is probably inflated out of proportion, because if the report about Russian involvement is true, Russia may be suspected of violating the Missile Technology Control Regime . In response to the scepticism, a top DRDO scientist asserted that India has all the equipment and technology needed to develop ICBMs, "but where the warhead should go or what the range should be will have to be a political call."^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

On 20 June 2011, Indian Defence News published an article titled India Serious About 10,000 km ICBM which stated that India is seriously contemplating to enhance the reach of its strategic missiles and that the Ministry of Defense is considering a DRDO proposal to develop intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of hitting targets 10,000 km away. Building an ICBM has international ramifications and the ultimate decision to go ahead with the proposal would be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).^[source]Agni-VI · History / Preliminary research; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In May 2018, reports confirmed the development of another ICBM in the Agni series, a three-stage Agni VI missile. It was proposed that the missile will be developed in 2024 or so and will have an even longer range, up to 8,000 km to 12,000 km. The Agni VI will be sleeker than the Agni-V and capable of carrying at least 10 nuclear warheads, capable of targeting multiple targets at the same time.^[source]Agni-VI · History / Recent developments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

As per people related to Agni VI development, government officials carefully watched 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and how ICBM played its role in geopolitics. It is speculated that India might go ahead with a technology demonstrator by 2025 in order to validate computer simulations aiming to reach even the farthest corner of China from a safer survival distance. The Agni VI programme is already on track and DRDO is simultaneously working on SLBM variant.^[source]Agni-VI · History / Recent developments; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

It is reported to be the latest and most advanced version among the Agni missiles . According to sources, Agni-VI missile is likely to carry up to 10 MIRV warheads and will have a strike range of 12,000 km, though DRDO has refused to confirm the missile's range. A senior DRDO scientist was quoted as saying that the new generation Agni-VI missile will be sleeker, easily transportable and would be readily deployed. It will have the capability to be launched from submarine and from land-based launchers.^[source]Agni-VI · Missile Description; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage