India successfully test-fired nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-5. This missile has a strike range of 5,000 km, it was tested from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal, today.
This is the seventh trial of the indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile, and second trial this year.
Agni-V is a three stage missile, it stands 17 metres tall, two metres wide and is capable of carrying 1.5 tons of nuclear warheads.
The Agni-5 is most-advanced in terms of navigation, guidance, warhead and engine. The missile was designed to hit target point accurately, guided by the on-board computer.
The missile enables launch with a very short preparation time as compared to other Agni’s. India’s Agni series – Agni-1 with 700 km range, Agni-2 with a 2,000-km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to more than 3,500-km range.
The first test of Agni V was conducted on April 19, 2012.