Agni-V successfully test-fired

• India announced that it carried out the latest test of the 5,000 km range Agni-5 missile from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast. The successful test of the Agni-5 missile is in line with India’s stated policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to no first use.
• The missile, which is being inducted into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), will put India’s credible minimum deterrence on a firm footing as no missile in the Indian arsenal has the range to strike targets deep inside China.

Agni-V missile

• Agni-5 is a three stage, solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) with an improved accuracy and shorter launch time over previous Agni series missiles.
• Its operational range is over 5,000 km.
• Unlike earlier missiles, the Agni-V launches from a sealed canister on a road-mobile launcher, compressing the time needed to prepare for launch.

Key features of missile

• The weight of Agni-5 is about 50 thousand kilograms.
• The missile is 1.75 meters long with a diameter of 2 meters.
• A warhead weighing one thousand 500 kg will be placed on top of the solid fuel three-stage rocket booster.
• The ICBM will be 24 times faster than the speed of sound traveling at its fastest speed of 8.16 kilometers per second, achieving a top speed of 29,401 kilometers per hour.
• The missile is equipped with Ring Laser Gyroscope Inertial Navigation System (NAVIC) which works with satellite guidance.