India successfully test fires its first indigenous nuclear capable Agni-5 missile

New Delhi: India successfully test fired its indigenously developed, surface-to-surface nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast, on Monday.

The surface-to-surface missile having a strike range of 5,000 km was launched at 1.30 p.m. from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Abdul Kalam Island in Bhadrak district, said Defence Ministry sources. This was the seventh trial of the indigenously-developed surface-to-surface missile, which was successful, they further added.

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Agni-V is a three stage missile, 17 metres tall, two metres wide and capable of carrying 1.5 tonne of nuclear warheads.

"It was an user associated trial and strategic force command with DRDO scientist conducted it," they said.

The missile developed by the Strategic Forces Command and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the most advanced in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.

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The missile is designed to hit the designated target point accurately, guided by the on-board computer with the support of a Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System, the Micro Inertial Navigation System, fully-digital control system and advanced compact avionics, as per the DRDO officials.

"It was an user associated trial and strategic force command with DRDO scientist conducted it," they said.

The first test of Agni V was conducted on April 19, 2012, while the last test was conducted on June 3, 2018.

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