India’s indigenously developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni-5’ was on Monday test-launched from Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. This was the fourth and final test of the missile.
The missile, with a strike range of 6,000 km, will balance out China’s military muscle. It will give India long-range strike and have capability of striking even the northernmost parts of China.
India’s armoury currently has the Agni-I (700-km range), Agni-II (2,000-km range), Agni-III and Agni-IV (over 3,500-km range), and the supersonic Brahmos. Agni-V is said to be the most advanced in technology in terms of navigation, guidance, warhead and engine.
Agni V is nuclear capable, with a payload capacity of 1,500 kg of high-explosive warhead.
The missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
The missile has previously been tested in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Once the Agni-V is inducted, India will join the superexclusive club of countries with ICBMs (missiles with a range of over 5,000-5,500km) alongside the US, Russia, China, France and the UK.
