India Fires Nuclear-Capable ICBM Agni-5
The country’s first long range inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-5 was successfuly test-fired from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast on Thursday.
The maiden test launch of India’s most advanced missile—Agni-V, was put off late on Wednesday evening by a day because of inclement weather conditions.
Official sources said the DRDO scientists who had been working hard for the test launch for more than two weeks decided to call off the test during the last minutes because of heavy lightning in the sky on the north Odisha coastline.
The test firing of the indigenously developed ballistic missile has assumed significance because its success would push India into the elite club of the five militarily powerful nations — US, Russia, UK, France and China who have the capability to develop and launch a nuclear capable inter-continental missile.
The 17.5 metre long missile weighing 50 tonnes can travel up to 5,000 km to hit a target carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads of 110 kg.
If defence sources are to be believed, the prominent missile is scheduled for induction into the armed forces within the next two years. However, it had to be successfully test fired several times during the next one year before its scheduled entry into the forces.