India Successfully Test Fires Agni 5 for the Third Time
India’s Agni 5 is the star of the nuclear-capable missile arsenal. With a claimed range of 5000km, the missile is capable of hitting targets across China and parts of Europe. Agni 5 has been tested successfully two times before and today it again took to the skies.
At 8.06 am today, Agni 5 lifted off from Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha. The 17-meter tall rocket that weighs 50 tons witnessed a flawless ‘auto launch’ from its mobile launcher. All three stages performed optimally. The missile can carry a nuclear bomb weighing 1000 kilograms and can travel faster than a bullet. It can be launched from anywhere on land.
The missile is capable of launching MIRV’s (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles) through which it can drop 2-10 nuclear bombs at multiple locations. This will strengthen India’s second strike capability in case of a nuclear attack on its soil. India hopes to make the Agni 5 a weapon of peace and act as a deterrent for nations considering a nuclear attack on the country.
The development of the Agni 5 began in 2009 followed by tests in 2012 and 2013. Now with the third test, this intercontinental ballistic missile(ICBM) is expected to get inducted into the military by later this year.
