India successfully test fires Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile Agni V and becomes the sixth nations to develop the capability

Agni V, a long-range surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile, was successfully launched from a canister on a road mobile launcher at the Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

The launch operations were carried out and monitored by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in presence of Scientists from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and other associated officials.

The 7th test launch comes after the last two successful tests conducted on 3 June 2018  and another in the month of January. 

The  Nuclear Capable missile, once inducted in the military, will join an exclusive club of countries like the US, Russia, China, France, and Britain which have intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities. 

"The most notable feature in this missile is the fact that despite its huge range of 5500-8000 km, the missile is canister launched which means that it does not need any pre-built launch site but can be quickly launched from any pre-surveyed location. A huge plus on the survivability providing much higher operational flexibility keeping the NFU in mind," said Lt Gen (Dr) Gen V K Saxena.

 According to DRDO, all the mission objectives were successfully achieved. This launch comes after a series of successful launches of the missile. It further strengthens the country’s deterrence capability, which has been developed indigenously by assiduous efforts of scientists.

Agni-5 is a three stage missile of dimension- 17 metre tall and 2 meter in wide. It is the first long-range intercontinental ballistic missile of India and It is capable of carrying 1.5 tonne of nuclear warheads. Agni V is laced with Carbon to carbon composite materiel uses the most advanced gyroscopes and accelerometers ensuring the accuracy of the missile system. 

According to the reports, the nuclear capable missile is expected to be inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command very soon. Doing so, it will be capable in targeting far-reaching enemy posts across the range of 5000 and will be a credible deterrent and adequate to meet current threat perceptions and security concerns.