India Conducts Trials Of Agni-V Missile: Increased Range, Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile

India successfully conducted trials of the Agni-V nuclear-capable ballistic missile off the coast of Odisha yesterday night. The missile, considered India's most powerful, has a range of 5,000 kilometres and can reach targets far beyond that.

 
India Conducts Trials Of Agni-V Missile

Agni V Missile Launch Trial: Location

The launch took place from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha. The successful trial demonstrated the ability to extend the range of the Agni-V missile if necessary.

Distinguishing Features Of Agni V Missile

Range Of Agni V Missile

The first Agni series missile, Agni-1, was tested in 1989, with a range of 1000 Km. There are five Agni missiles. The Agni-5 missile has the longest range in the Agni series, with a range of 5000 kilometres.

Fuel

The missile has a three-stage solid-fuel engine and a great degree of accuracy.

Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles For Agni Missiles

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is attempting to build 'multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles' (MIRVs) for the Agni missiles. A MIRV payload consists of a single missile carrying four to six nuclear warheads, each designed to strike a different target.

Competent

The existing single-warhead Agni-V adds teeth to India's deterrence posture against China, which has missiles like the Dong Feng-41 (12,000-15,000 km) capable of hitting any Indian city.

Ranges Of Existing Agni Missiles

The existing ranges of Agni variants are as given below:
Agni IV: 4,000 km
Agni III: 3,000 km
Agni II: 2,000 km

Increasing India's Military Capability: Overview

Over the previous few years, India has steadily increased its overall military capability.

The extended-range version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was tested in May from a Sukhoi fighter plane.

The current Agni IV model has a range of 4,000km, while Agni III has a range of 3,000km and Agni II has a range of 2,000km.

In May, India tested the extended-range variant of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30MKI jet. Earlier in November, the Andaman and Nicobar Command of the Indian Navy successfully tested an anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile.

No First Use Policy

The defence ministry clarified that the successful trial of Agni-V is in line with the country's state policy to have a "credible minimum deterrent" that reinforces the commitment to "No First Use".

Agni Missiles

The Agni missile is a group of medium to long-range missiles (ballistic) developed by India, led by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Agni missiles are surface-to-surface ballistic missiles with a large range and capability to carry nuclear weapons.

Types Of Agni Missiles In India

Agni-I, the first in the Agni missile family's series, was tested at the Chandipur test range in 1989. Agni-I is used by the Indian Army's Strategic Forces Command (SFC). With a customised weapons load, Agni-I can go 1200 kilometres.

Agni-II- is 20 metres long, 1 metre in diameter, weighs about 18 tonnes and has a range of 2,000-2,500 kilometres. They are said to be part of a "credible deterrence" strategy against China and Pakistan. India conducted the first night test of its nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-II in 2019.

Agni-III-Agni-III was successfully tested for the first time in 2007. It validated the missile's operational readiness while boosting India's nuclear deterrent's reach (3,500 km) to the country's most high-value targets (China and Pakistan).

Agni-III is also said to be the world's most accurate strategic ballistic missile of its range class.

Agni-IV-Agni-IV was tested for its 4,000 km range from Wheeler Island of Orissa. Agni-IV serves as a link between Agni II and Agni III. It can hold a one-tonne warhead. It is designed to improve both kill efficiency and range performance. It can also be launched using a mobile launcher on the road.

Agni-V-Agni-V, the missile causing a stir these days, is India's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It will significantly broaden India's reach, allowing it to strike targets more than 5,500 kilometres away.

Agni-P-It is the Agni series' sixth ballistic missile. Agni-Prime is the Agni Missile Class's next-generation improved version. It is a two-stage canisterized missile with a range of 1000 to 2000 kilometres. It is India's first 'announced' MIRV (Multiple Independently-targetable Reentry Vehicles) missile and is half the weight of Agni-III. Agni-Prime may be launched from a train or a road and kept for a long time. It has the capability of targeting enemy ships in the Indian Ocean.

Agni VI- According to the Defence Research and Development Organization, Agni-VI is an intercontinental ballistic missile in India's early stages of development. The Agni missile program's most recent and advanced iteration will be used with an 8,000-10,000 kilometres range.

For Quick Alerts
Subscribe Now  
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts

--Or--
Select a Field of Study
Select a Course
Select UPSC Exam
Select IBPS Exam
Select Entrance Exam
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X