India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, off the Odisha coast, marking another major step forward in the country’s strategic defence capabilities.
The launch, conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command, “validated all operational and technical parameters” of the missile, defence officials said.
The Agni-5 is a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and is the most advanced platform in the Agni series. The family of missiles forms the backbone of India’s land-based nuclear deterrent.
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India began work on the Agni programme in the late 1980s, and the first Agni missile was test-fired in 1989 as a technology demonstrator. The Agni-5 variant was first successfully tested in April 2012 and has since undergone a series of developmental and user trials.
In October 2021, India conducted a successful test of the Agni-5 from Abdul Kalam Island using an upgraded propulsion system and advanced guidance package. Another test, under operational conditions, was carried out in December 2022. Defence officials said Wednesday’s launch confirms the missile’s readiness for full induction.
With an estimated range of over 5,000 km, the Agni-5 significantly enhances India’s strategic reach and can carry a nuclear or conventional warhead.
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