Bengaluru’s Prime Toolings Unveils ‘Agnira’ — India’s First 155mm Ramjet Artillery Shell
Bengaluru-based Prime Toolings has announced the development of Agnira, India’s first solid-fuel ramjet-powered 155mm artillery projectile, aimed at redefining long-range, high-speed battlefield artillery.
This next-generation munition — currently in the prototyping phase — was unveiled with an open call for collaborations under India’s Make in India and MSME Ministry initiatives. The shell promises to combine the raw punch of conventional artillery with the extended range and accuracy traditionally reserved for missiles.
Specifications at a Glance
As per official promotional materials released by Prime Toolings, Agnira boasts:
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Range | 20 km to 45 km |
| Altitude | 3 km to 7 km |
| Speed (Mach) | Mach 2 – 3 |
| Initial Mass | 25 – 35 kg |
| Warhead Mass | 10 – 20 kg |
| Diameter | 155 mm |
| Length | 1.2 meters |
| Propulsion | Solid Fuel Ramjet |
How Agnira Works: Ramjet in Artillery Form
Agnira’s most innovative feature is its solid-fuel ramjet propulsion. Unlike traditional artillery shells that rely on kinetic momentum after firing, Agnira sustains thrust mid-flight using atmospheric oxygen, significantly extending its range and speed.
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Ramjet Activation: The shell is fired from a standard 155mm artillery gun. Once it achieves a threshold velocity (~Mach 1+), the ramjet system activates, drawing in air through the nose cone, mixing it with onboard solid fuel, and combusting it — enabling sustained supersonic flight at Mach 2–3.
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Extended Range & Precision: This propulsion approach overcomes drag and ballistic trajectory limitations of conventional rounds, allowing precision strikes up to 45 km while maintaining high terminal speed — a key feature for defeating mobile or fortified targets.
Strategic Implications
The Agnira projectile could become a game-changer in India’s tactical strike doctrine, allowing ground forces to engage targets beyond conventional artillery reach, while still using standard howitzer systems.
Key advantages:
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Rapid Deployment: Uses existing 155mm artillery platforms like the Dhanush or M777.
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High Mobility: Lightweight and compact (1.2 meters long), suited for rapid fire missions.
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Smart Munitions Potential: Future versions could integrate terminal guidance, GPS, or seeker heads for enhanced precision.
With speeds exceeding Mach 2 and an altitude ceiling of 7 km, Agnira could challenge emerging UAVs, mobile radar units, and command posts — particularly in mountainous terrain where maneuverability is constrained.
“Made in India” Momentum
Prime Toolings, an MSME-certified company, is actively seeking collaborators for production, integration, and refinement under India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat defense manufacturing push. Their goal is to field-test Agnira within a few development cycles and provide India with an indigenous alternative to costly imported smart shells like the Excalibur.
India’s artillery landscape may be on the cusp of transformation. The Agnira shell — compact, lethal, and supersonic — promises to bring missile-like performance to cannon-based platforms. If successful, it could put India in the elite club of nations with ramjet artillery capability, rivalling U.S. and Russian smart munition technologies.
As Prime Toolings boldly states: "Coming Soon... Looking for Collaborators."
Agnira might just be the fiery spearhead India’s gunners have been waiting for.
