India successfully test fires Agni-5

Amid heightened tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, India successfully carried out the night trials of the nuclear-capable Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V.

What is an Agni-V missile?

• Agni V is a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
• It is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 to 5,500 kilometres with a full payload, i.e 1.5 tonnes, with a very high degree of accuracy. It can reach an exceptional Mach 24 speed which is 29,401 km/hr.
• Agni V uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine.
• It is road-mobile and can be transported by a truck and launched via a canister.
• The indigenous missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO)

India’s Agni Team

• Given that it may be used with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MIRV), the nuclear-capable Agni-V missile is a potent addition to India’s defence capability. In other words, the ballistic missile is capable of carrying several warheads.
• Agni-V’s capability will provide India with much-needed deterrence against external threats.
• In the past two decades, India has developed and held successful trials of Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-III, Agni-IV and Agni-V missiles.
  • Notably, India is also working on Agni-VI which will be capable of being launched from submarines as well as from land and will have a strike range of 8,000 to 10,000 km.