On Wednesday, India successfully test-fired the Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. Furthermore, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters. In addition, it also highlighted India’s advancing defence technology and, consequently, marked yet another significant milestone in the nation’s overall defence preparedness.
The test was carried out under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), showcasing India’s commitment to its policy of credible minimum deterrence. According to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which designed and developed the missile, Agni-5 is among the most advanced systems in the Agni series.
Powered by a three-stage solid-fuelled engine, the canister-launched surface-to-surface missile can travel up to 5,000 kilometres with high accuracy, enabling it to strike deep inside enemy territory. This capability effectively brings almost all of Asia, including China, within range, making Agni-5 a crucial part of India’s strategic arsenal.
Weighing about 50 tonnes and capable of carrying a 1.5-tonne payload, Agni-5 firmly places India in the elite club of nations with intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability. Only seven other countries—the US, UK, Russia, China, France, Israel, and North Korea—possess such advanced long-range missile systems.
The Agni missile family ranges from Agni-I (700 km range) to Agni-IV (3,500 km range), with Agni-5 as the most sophisticated. Notably, in March 2024, India also tested the missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, enabling a single missile to strike multiple targets simultaneously.
With this successful test, India has not only reinforced its strategic deterrence but also, moreover, showcased its indigenous defence capabilities, thereby strengthening its global standing. Agni-5 stands as a powerful symbol of India’s technological progress and preparedness in safeguarding its national security interests.