India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-5 from the Abdul Kalam island under Chandipur Interim Test Range off the Odisha coast. It was launched with the help of a mobile launcher and has a strike range of 5,000 km.
The missile is a three-stage missile, 17 metres tall, two metres wide and capable of carrying 1.5 tonnes of nuclear warheads.
The missile is developed by the Strategic Forces Command and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Agni-5 is the most advanced in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.
According to Defence sources, this is the seventh trial of the state-of-the-art Agni-V ballistic missile. It was last tested on June 3, 2018.
“It was a user associated trial and strategic force command with DRDO scientist conducted it,” sources further said.
Defence sources added that the missile also has advantages of enhanced mobility, higher reliability, longer shelf life and less maintenance.
