The Agni-5 missile was launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha. (file)
Highlight
- Agni-V ballistic missile can strike targets up to 5,000 km away
- Agni-5 comes under the category of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.
- The missile uses a three-stage solid fuel engine
New Delhi:
India on Wednesday successfully test-fired Agni-5, a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that can accurately hit targets up to 5,000 km away, in what is seen as a strong message to China. .
Agni-5, which roughly falls in the category of an intercontinental ballistic missile or ICBM, was launched at 7:50 pm from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
The missile uses a three-stage solid fuel engine and can strike targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
The successful test-fire of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy of “reliable minimum deterrence”, which underlines its commitment to “no first use”.
The missile is the basis of India’s nuclear deterrent along with submarine-based nuclear missiles, which had not yet been tested anywhere close to this range.
Agni-5 was first test fired in 2012.
Agni-1 to 5 missiles have been designed and developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). At present, apart from Agni-5, other Agni missiles that are in India’s arsenal are: Agni-1 with a range of 700 km, Agni-2 with a range of 2,000 km, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500. km to more than 3,500 km.
In June, India test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni Prime ballistic missile – a more advanced version of the Agni class of missiles – from a location off the Odisha coast.
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