India successfully carries out trials of nuclear-capable ''Agni-5 missile''

Tags: Defence Science and Technology National News

India on 15 December successfully carried out the night trials of the Agni-5 nuclear-capable ballistic missile. The test comes days after a clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang district.

Important facts

• Agni 5 missile capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy.

• The test was conducted to validate new technologies and equipment on the missile, which is now lighter than before.

• Defense sources said the test proved the capability of extending the range of the Agni 5 missile if required.

• The trial was aimed at enhancing the range of the Agni-5 missile if required.

About Agni 5 Missile

• Agni-5 is an ingeniously built advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). 

• It is a fire-and-forget missile, which cannot be stopped without an interceptor missile.

• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) is the brain-child of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, who aimed at making the country self-sufficient in the field of missile technology. 

• The program had five missiles P-A-T-N-A, Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash.

• It was aimed at boosting India's nuclear deterrence against China, which has missiles such as the Dongfeng-41, which have a range between 12,000-15,000 km.

• The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed.

Agni Class of Missiles

• Agni 1 : Range of 700-800 km.

• Agni 2: Range more than 2000 km.

• Agni 3: Range of more than 2,500 Km

• Agni 4: Range is more than 3,500 km.

• Agni-5: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.

• Agni-P (Prime): It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. It will replace the Agni I missile.