In a major leap for India's defence prowess, the indigenously manufactured Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile with a strike range of 5,000 kilometres was successfully test-fired on Wednesday.
The test launch was conducted at the Chandipur test site in Odisha, the Ministry of Defence said in confirmation. "The launch tested all operational and technical parameters. It was conducted under the auspices of the Strategic Forces Command," said the ministry.
The Agni-5 places nearly the whole of the Asian continent, including China's northernmost parts, as well as parts of Europe, in India's strategic domain. The missile tested recently is a derivative of the Agni-5 ICBM, which has a longer range of around 7,000 km.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Agni-5 is being constantly improved. In June, there were reports that DRDO was developing a new version with a longer range of 7,500 km.
India tested the first MIRV-capable Agni-5 for the first time in 2023, a technological breakthrough that enables one missile to release several nuclear warheads at various targets, enhancing the nation's deterrence.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the scientists of the programme on their contribution to the nation's security.
India also conducted a test of the Agni-5 in March last year. Earlier versions of the Agni series — Agni-1 to Agni-4 — have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and are already in the arsenal of the armed forces.
India has conducted several other successful tests of missiles over recent months:
Prithvi-II: A nuclear-tipped ballistic missile with a range of 350 km and a payload capacity of 500 kg that can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
Agni-1: Short-range ballistic missile with a range of 700–900 km and a payload capacity of 1,000 kg. Both Prithvi-II and Agni-1 form an integral part of India's nuclear deterrence program.
Pralay: Field-tested in July, this new tactical surface-to-surface missile is capable of carrying 500–1,000 kg payloads and is intended for conventional attacks.
India continues to solidify its status as a prominent military power with these developments, demonstrating an increasingly diverse arsenal of both strategic and tactical missile systems.
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