India tests Agni-V missile, capable of reaching China

Mangaloretoday/ PTI

New Dehli, April 19, 2012: India has successfully test-fired Agni-V, its first Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Agni-V is capable of reaching deep into Asia and Europe, a move that would bring the emerging power into a small club of nations with intercontinental defense capabilities.

 

It’s Mission Successful for India - Agni V, the country’s first Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), has been successfully test-fired. The missile was launched from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast at 8:07 this morning. The test launch was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed due to bad weather.

 

 

"The mission was successful. The missile hit the target in the Indian Ocean in a perfect way," Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief VK Saraswat declared moments after the launch.

The indigenously developed, nuclear-capable missile has a strike range of 5,000 kilometres. It is about 17 metres long, two metres wide and weighs around 50 tonnes. The sophisticated missile travels faster than a bullet and has the capacity to carry 1000 kilograms of nuclear weapons.

 

Only six countries - including the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, China and France - so far possess this technology. India will break into this exclusive ICBM club once the Agni-V is ready for induction by 2014-2015 - after several more tests.


Agni-V can be configured to launch small satellites and can be used to even shoot down enemy satellites in orbits. Once fired, it cannot be stopped. It can, however, be launched only after a decision by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).

After the test flight of the missile was declared successful, Defence Minister AK Antony called the DRDO chief to congratulate him. "The nation stands tall today. We have joined the elite club of nations (who possess the ICBM capability)," Mr Antony reportedly told him over the phone. "The immaculate success of Agni V is a major milestone in the country’s missile research and development programme," he added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too called Mr Saraswat to congratulate him over the feat. He also praised DRDO scientists for their "tireless efforts". "The nation stands together in honouring the scientific community who have done the country proud," he conveyed via twitter.

"DRDO and other organisations have worked tirelessly in our endeavour to strengthen the defence and security of our country. Today’s launch represents another milestone in our quest for our security, preparedness and to explore the frontiers of science," he added.