India test fires nuke-capable missile Agni-5
Further boosting its nuclear deterrence, India today successfully test fired it's longest range nuclear- capable Agni-5 missile, that has a range reaching up to Europe, at an island off the coast of eastern state of Odisha.
"The full range test-flight of the missile has further boosted the indigenous missile capabilities and deterrence level of the country. All the Radars, tracking systems and Range Stations tracked and monitored the flight performance and all the Mission objectives were successfully met," our correspondent from New Delhi reports quoting an official statement.
This was the fourth test of Agni-5 missile and the second one from a canister on a Road Mobile Launcher. All the four missions have been successful, the statement said.
President of India Pranab Mukherjee congratulated scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the successful test flight of Agni-5 saying it will enhance the country’s strategic and deterrence capabilities.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated DRDO on successful test firing of Agni-5 saying that it adds "tremendous strength to our strategic defence.
The Agni-5 missile, with new technology for navigation and guidance, gives India the strategic depth in its military arsenal to contain its enemies, say scientists.
The nuclear-capable Agni-5, which can reach China, Pakistan and Europe, was test-fired from a canister on a launcher truck at an island named after late missile scientist and Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam just after 11:00am.
Once the Agni-5 is inducted, India will join the super exclusive club of countries with ICBMs (missiles with a range of over 5,000-5,500km) alongside the US, Russia, China, France and the UK.
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