India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Surface-To-Surface Ballistic Missile Agni-5

“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’,” said the Union Defence Ministry.

File photo of Agni 5 intercontinental ballistic missile. (Getty Image)

New Delhi: In line with the country’s stated policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the surface-to-surface strategic missile Agni-5 around 7:50 p.m. from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha.

The test-firing of the nuclear-capable missile, which can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km with a very high degree of accuracy, can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km with a very high degree of accuracy.

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“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’,” said the Union Defence Ministry.

“The missile, which uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine, is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometres with a very high degree of accuracy,” the ministry added in a release.

Aimed at enhancing India's nuclear deterrence against China which has missiles like Dongfeng-41 having ranges between 12,000-15,000 km, the work on the Agni 5 intercontinental ballistic missile project was started over a decade ago and the missile was tested seven times before, PTI reported.

The successful test-firing of the missile, which has a height of 17 metres and is capable of carrying a 1.5-tonne warhead, came amid a border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

Earlier in June this year, the Defence Research Development Organisation's (DRDO) successfully flight tested a new generation nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni P from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, Balasore.