AGNI V on 'GET SET GO'? Know all about nuclear-capable ballistic missile's strengths amid Tawang clash

New Delhi: Amid a face-off with China over Line of Actual Control (LAC) India test successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V has a strike range of up to 5,000 km. With the successful test firing of Agni-V on Thursday (December 15)  from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast marked a significant boost to the country's strategic deterrence.

Following the test, the defence ministry said that it reaffirmed India's policy of having a 'credible minimum deterrence capability."

#video : what a sight! looks like#Agni V missile in flight.. said to have been spotted from various districts in #westbengal (nothing else could be flying along the east coast today)

Or is it the sword-shaped comet seen in #PonniyinSelvan ? #india #defence #tech #ICBM pic.twitter.com/aFyYbm2sXo — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) December 15, 2022

Specifications of Agni-V

The missile has a very high degree of accuracy to hit targets. It has a height of 17 metres and it is capable of carrying a 1.5-tonne warhead.

Can Agni-V hit cover entire China?

With a strike range of upto 5000 km, Agni V  can bring almost the entire Asia including the northernmost part of China as well as some regions in Europe under its striking range.

#AgniV | India successfully carried out a night trial of the Agni V nuclear capable ballistic missile, which can hit targets beyond 5000 km.

Missile test-firing from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.@DRDO_India @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/2c0E247rj0 — DD News (@DDNewslive) December 16, 2022

The Agni-V project is aimed at boosting India's nuclear deterrence against China which is known to have missiles like Dongfeng-41 having ranges between 12,000-15,000 km.

Can Agni-V hit targets at night?

Agni-V has been successfully test-fired however there has been no official word about the night trials of the nuclear-capable ballistic missile.

About Agni-1 to Agni-4

The Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already been deployed. In June, India successfully carried out a night launch of the nuclear-capable Agni-4 ballistic missile, in a boost to India's military capabilities.

India has been steadily enhancing its overall military might in the last couple of years. It has carried out successful tests of a number of missiles during the period.

Other achievements of India in defence sector in recent past

In May, India successfully test-fired the extended-range version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from a Sukhoi fighter jet. It was the first launch of the extended-range version of the BrahMos missile from a Su-30MKI aircraft.

An anti-ship version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile was successfully test-fired jointly by the Indian Navy and the Andaman and Nicobar Command in April.