Missile that can carry nuclear clears key test

Many new technologies developed indigenously successfully tested during the trial, military says

India yesterday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Long Range Ballistic Missile Agni-5, which has a strike range of 5,000km, off the Odisha coast.

The surface-to-surface missile was launched with the help of a mobile launcher from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range at Dr Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal at 9.48am, defence sources said.

This was the sixth trial of the state-of-the-art Agni-5. The missile covered its full distance during the trial which was a total success, they said.

“The flight performance of the missile was tracked and monitored by radars, tracking instruments and observation stations all through the mission,” the sources said.

Unlike other missiles of the series, Agni-5 is the most advanced with new tech in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine, said a Defence Research and Development Organisation official.

Many new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in the trial. State of the art navigation systems had ensured the missile reached the target point with high accuracy, the official said.