India today successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile ‘Agni-5’, which has a strike range of over 5,000 km and can carry a nuclear warhead of over one tonne, from Wheeler’s Island off the Odisha coast.
The three stage, solid propellant “missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8.06 hours,” ITR Director M V K V Prasad said.
Prasad told PTI that the canister version of the Agni-5 missile was successfully test launched today.
“The missile, witnessed a flawless ‘auto launch’ and detailed results will be known after all data is retrieved from different radars and network systems.”
An eyewitness said, “The sleek missile, just within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch-pad roared majestically into a clear sunny sky leaving behind a thin orange and white column of smoke and within seconds it pierced the sky”.
Today’s launch was the third developmental trial of the long-range missile. The first test was conducted on April19, 2012, and the second test on September 15, 2013, from the same base.
The indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Agni-5 is capable of striking a range more than 5,000 km. It is about 17 metres long, 2 metres wide and has a launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne.