Agni-5 Missile

Why in the News?

India successfully tested its Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha.

• The Strategic Forces Command carried out the test, confirming the success of all operational and technical requirements.
• The Agni-5 is India’s longest-range missile (up to 5,000 km), developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• The missile enhances India’s strategic deterrence capability.

About Agni-5:

• Type: Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) variant.
• Has a range of about 5,000 km, able to cover the entirety of Asia and parts of Europe and Africa.
• Features:
  • Equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) capability, it underwent successful testing in early 2024.
  • Designed to hit several targets in one launch.
• Purpose: Strengthens India’s nuclear deterrence and ensures second-strike capability.

Agni Missile Series (Agni-I to Agni-IV)

Agni-I

• Range: 700 – 1,200 km.
• Type: Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM).
• Inducted: 2004.
• Use: Effective against short-distance threats (e.g., Pakistan).

Agni-II

• Range: 2,000 – 3,500 km.
• Type: Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM).
• Inducted: 2011.
• Mobility: Rail and road mobile launcher.

Agni-III

• Range: 3,500 – 5,000 km.
• Type: Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM).
• Payload: Heavier warhead, solid-fuel propulsion.
• Covers: China’s interior regions.

Agni-IV

• Range: 3,500 – 4,000 km.
• Key features include enhanced navigation, a robust heat shield for re-entry, and mobility across road and rail.
• Improvement: Better accuracy and lighter compared to Agni-III.

Significance

• The Agni series forms the backbone of India’s nuclear deterrence under the Nuclear Triad.
• By developing Agni-5, India becomes part of the exclusive group of countries with intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, alongside the USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK.