New Delhi, India — India has successfully test-fired its Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon with a strike range of over 5,000 kilometers (3,100 miles). The test, conducted from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, on Wednesday, validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile, according to the Ministry of Defence.The Agni-5, which can be launched from a mobile canister, is a key component of India's nuclear deterrence strategy, particularly in its long-standing strategic rivalry with China. Its range allows it to reach targets across almost all of Asia, including northern China, and extends into parts of Europe.
The successful test is seen as a significant move to strengthen India's defense posture. It follows a series of recent missile tests and comes amid ongoing, though uneasy, efforts to de-escalate tensions with China along their disputed border. While some progress has been made in diplomatic talks and a limited troop disengagement, a considerable trust deficit remains, with both nations continuing to build military infrastructure in the border regions.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-5 is a three-stage, solid-fueled missile. It is equipped with advanced guidance systems and is part of the larger Agni series of missiles, which includes various versions with ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km.
The test also comes after a previous Agni-5 launch in March 2024, which featured a new Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, allowing a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads to different targets. While a few years of testing are needed before the MIRV-equipped Agni-5 becomes operational, it signals India's ambition to join an elite club of nations with this advanced capability.
The test has raised concerns in Pakistan, another nuclear-armed neighbor of India. A Pakistan-based think tank has warned that India's missile program poses "serious risks" to regional stability.
The Indian government maintains that the test is part of a routine user trial to ensure the system's readiness and reaffirms India's commitment to maintaining a "credible minimum deterrence posture." However, the timing of the test underscores the complex security dynamics in the region as India continues to strengthen its military capabilities.
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