New Delhi: Days after a violent clash with Chinese troops in Tawang, India test-fired Agni-5, a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that can hit targets up to 5,000 km away, meaning the missile could reach Beijing. Can Officials said the test provided a significant boost to the country’s strategic deterrence.
The missile was test-fired from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast amid India’s long border line with China.
The Agni-5 missile project aims to boost India’s nuclear deterrence against China, which has missiles like the Dongfeng-41, which have a range between 12,000-15,000 km.
Agni-5 has a range across Asia, including the northern part of China and some areas of Europe.
Agni 1 to 4 missiles have a range of 700 km to 3,500 km and have already been deployed. Two people with knowledge of the matter told that the Agni-5 missile has been successfully tested.
India had conducted a similar test of the missile in October last year as well. The successful test firing of the missile paves the way for induction into the Strategic Forces Command which looks after India’s strategic assets.
The missile has a high degree of accuracy to hit the targets. Its height is 17 meters and it is capable of carrying a weapon weighing 1.5 tonnes.
In June, India successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni-IV ballistic missile at night, boosting India’s military capabilities.
After the test, the Defense Ministry said it reaffirmed India’s policy of having a ‘credible minimum deterrent capability’. India has been steadily increasing its overall military strength over the years.
During that time India has successfully tested many missiles. In May, the extended range version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was test-fired from a Sukhoi fighter jet.
This was the first launch of the extended range version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30MKI aircraft. An anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command in April.
(with agency inputs)