New Delhi: In a significant step towards boosting the nuclear deterrence against China, India on Wednesday announced that it carried out the latest test of the 5,000 km range Agni-5 missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast.
Agni-5, which broadly falls into the category of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or ICBM, was launched from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha, at 7:50 pm.
The "successful test" of the Agni-V, which brings even the northernmost part of China within its strike envelope, is in line with India's stated policy to have "credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to no first-use (NFU)", said the defence ministry.
The missile uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine and can strike targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India's stated policy to have "credible minimum deterrence" that underpins the commitment to "No First Use".
The missile is the bedrock of India's nuclear deterrent along with submarine-based nuclear missiles, which had not yet been tested to anywhere close to this range.
The first test of Agni-5 was conducted in 2012.
Agni-1 to 5 missiles are designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). At present, apart from the Agni-5, other Agni missiles that India has in its armoury are: Agni-1 with a 700-km range, Agni-2 with a 2,000-km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to more than 3,500 km range.
In June, India test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni Prime ballistic missile - a more advanced version of the Agni class of missiles - from a location off the Odisha coast.