New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- India on Thursday successfully test-fired the intermediate-range, nuclear-capable Agni Prime missile, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on X, posting video of the dramatic lift-off.

The canisterised missile, with an estimated range of 2,000 km, was launched from a specially prepared rail-mounted launch bed towed by an Indian Railways locomotive - a deployment that signals a step-change in launch mobility.

North Korea has previously claimed similar railway-borne launches in 2021.

The rail launch allows forces to disperse and move launchers across the network, increasing survivability and shortening reaction times.

Practically, a rail-based firing option lets the armed forces use remote rail links as launch...