New Delhi:
India's indigenously developed intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile 'Agni-V' was successfully test-fired on Thursday. The country test-fires the ICBM Agni-V from the integrated test range (ITR) at the Abdul Kalam island off the Odisha coast.
Indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the missile was launched from launch pad complex – 4 of the ITR.
Agni-V is able to carry a nuclear or traditional warhead of about 1.5 tonnes.
The three-stage, 17.5-metre tall and two-metre wide Agni-V weighs around 50 tonnes. The accuracy level of the missile, which has a strike range of 5,000-8,000 km, is far higher than its earlier variants – Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-III and Agni-IV.
The missile, with a strike range of around 5000 km, serves as an ideal counter to China's military muscle. It will give India the cutting edge in long-range strike capability.
We have successfully launched nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V today: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Chennai (File pic) pic.twitter.com/6KivWbmZg6
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018
Agni V is nuclear capable, with a payload capacity of 1,500 kg of the high-explosive warhead.The missile is about 17 metres long, 2 metres wide and weighs about 51 tonnes.
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It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. It is the fifth variant in the series of medium to long range Agni missiles. Agni I, II, III have already been inducted for military use.
The successful induction of Agni V will give India long-range strike capability. The very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most advanced Micro Navigation System (MINS) ensures that the missile reaches the target point within few metres of accuracy designated within no time.
The missile has previously been tested in 2012, 2013 and 2015. Elite Club of Nations with ICBM's over 5500 km range - Once the Agni-V is inducted, India will join the super-exclusive club of countries with ICBMs (missiles with a range of over 5,000-5,500km) alongside the US, Russia, China.
Prime Minister reserves the exclusive right to launch the missile - If ever the situation arises then these missiles can be launched only after the orders of the Prime Minister of India and no one else.
The ICBM Agni-V was last tested on December 16, 2016, which was described as the fourth and last test of the missile.
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The 17.5-metre long Agni-V was first tested in an 'open configuration' in April 2012 while the second one took place in September 2013. The third and fourth tests were held in January 2015 and December 2016 respectively.
