India test-fires Agni-5 missile with 5,000 km range

Surface to surface ballistic missile, Agni-5 was successfully launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on Wednesday.  Agni-5 is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometers with a very high degree of accuracy. It uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine. The successful launch is in line with India’s policy to have ‘credible minimum deterrence’ that underpins the commitment to ‘No First Use’. The first test of Agni-5 was conducted in 2012.

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. 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.