Agni-V, India’s most potent long-range nuclear capable ballistic missile, was tested from a defence base at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast on Monday. The surface-to-surface missile, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, has the capability to strike targets anywhere in Asia and parts of Africa and Europe.
The Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile was fired from the launching complex-IV of the Integrated Test Range. It is about 17 metres long, 2 metres wide and can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne upto a distance of more than 5,000 km.
India currently has the Agni-I (700-km range), Agni-II (2,000-km range), Agni-III and Agni-IV (over 3,500-km range), and the supersonic Brahmos. Agni-V is said to be the most advanced in technology in terms of navigation, guidance, warhead and engine. The DRDO is reportedly in the process of building Agni-VI, which will have a strike range of 8,000-10,000 km.
India describe Agvi-V as the “weapon of peace”, reported NDTV. With the induction of this missile, the country joins the US, UK, France, Russia, China, the only other countries to have surface-surface nuclear missile above the range of 5,000-5,500 km, The Economic Times reported.
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