India successfully test fires Agni-V, takes a giant stride

India today conducted a successful test-fire of its indigenously developed nuclear capable "Agni-V" ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km from a test range off Odisha coast. Chief of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), V K Saraswat said, the mission was successful. It hit the target in Indian Ocean in a perfect way.

Defence sources said, the three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Wheeler Island near Dhamara at about 0805 hours. They said soon after the maiden launch took place, Agni V witnessed a smooth and perfect vertical lift-off from the launcher. Analysis was done to assess its health parameters after retrieval of date from all the sophisticated wide range of communication network systems.

The test-fire of the first of its kind missile, which was
originally scheduled for yesterday, had to be postponed at the last moment due to bad weather marked by rains and heavy lightning.

The trial of Agni V, considered to be of the category of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrates giant strides taken by India in its integrated missile development programme.Only the United States, Russia, France and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM at present.

The surface-to-surface Agni V is about 17 meter long and two metre wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The sophisticated missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne. Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one- Agni V- is the most advanced version having several new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.