India successfully test-fires new variant of nuclear-capable Agni-5 missile

India on Wednesday successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the launch met all operational and technical parameters and was carried out under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command.

The tested missile is a variant of India’s indigenously developed intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Agni-5.

Traditionally known to have a strike range of over 5,000 km, defence officials have indicated that an upgraded version with a range of up to 7,500 km is currently in development by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Agni-5 is a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence strategy. It is equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which enables a single missile to carry and deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets in one launch.

This MIRV capability was first demonstrated during the missile’s maiden test from Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, on 11 March 2024.

At present, Agni-5 can carry up to three nuclear warheads, significantly enhancing India’s second-strike capability and reinforcing its no-first-use nuclear doctrine.

Developed by the DRDO, Agni-5 has been designed to address India’s long-term security requirements. Being land-based and road-mobile, it offers high survivability and flexibility of deployment.

Defence experts note that its range and precision make it a credible deterrent against adversaries located both in the region and beyond.

Future variants are expected to be equipped with bunker-busting technologies, making them effective against fortified underground installations and hardened military targets.

The Agni missile family, ranging from short-range systems to intercontinental-class missiles, forms the backbone of India’s nuclear arsenal.

With the successful development and testing of Agni-5, India has joined an elite group of nations — including the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom — that possess ICBM capability with MIRV technology.

—  With inputs from IANS