Agni-V_ IC Ballistic Missile launched from wheeler island

Dr. Manmohan Singh

Agni-V successfully launched| With over 5,000 km range, Agni V was test-fired at around 0805 hrs from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.

The first test of India's most ambitious nuclear missile, the over 5,000-km range Agni-V, took place early on Thursday morning, a day after it was planned originally.

The test flight of the first-of-its-kind missile was to take place from Wheeler Island at around 2000 hours but it was put off due to safety reasons and bad weather at the test range.
The missile will take 20 minutes to reach its target area in southern Indian Ocean. DRDO has deployed tracking devices and stations all along the route of the test flight to collect data on the missile's trajectory.
The tracking stations will also record the speed and homing in of the missile on to the target.
Agni-5, with a range of over 5000 kms, is a three-stage, all solid fuel powered, 17-metre tall missile with capability to carry various forms of payload.It can be launched from land-based mobile platform and has the capability of hitting multiple targets.The successful test launch of the missile will be a major leap forward for India in the area of military technology and military deterrent capability, making it the fifth country in the world to possess such a technology.
Only the US, Russia, France and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM.Senior military officials and the agencies which had participated in development of the missile were present at the Wheeler Island to witness the test launch.Following the successful test launch, DRDO plans to conduct more such tests of the missile over the next one year after studying and analyzing the parameters achieved in each subsequent trial.On the timeline fixed for fully developing Agni-5, DRDO Chief Dr V K Saraswat had said another one year of testing will be involved.In November last year, DRDO had successfully test fired the 3,500 km range Agni-4 missile giving muscle to India's deterrent capability against the military adversaries. Agni-V missile test fired from Wheeler Island, Odisha. just now as per reports from the channels: India to test fire Agni-V,the 5000-KM version of nuclear capable missile of India is in final phase of testing and is likely to be tested within 24 Hours. India join the league of nations like US, Russia, UK, France and China having ICBMs. The first test of the indigenously designed Agni-5 by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will take place at Wheeler Island in Balasore, Odisha between 9 and 10 am, sources said.DRDO plans to conduct more tests of the missile over the next one year after studying and analysing the parameters achieved in each subsequent trial before its induction into the Armed Forces. Agni 5 missile is 17-metre-long and is a three-stage, solid fuel-powered weapon system with latest navigation systems to accurately hit the target. India already has Agni-3 and Agni-4 intermediate ballistic missile which are capable of hitting a target at more than 3,500 km.
Agni-V, touted as India’s most ambitious strategic missile, will follow last year’s test of the country’s most advanced surface-to-surface missile — Agni-IV.The three-stage Agni-V and the two-stage Agni-IV are poised to add credible deterrence against countries having long-range missiles, Media report said.
Agni-V will feature Multiple Independently-Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs) with each missile being capable of carrying 3-10 separate warheads.India has  Rs 20,000 crore worth production orders for Akash missile.By 2020, India will be among the leading countries in the missile development,reports experts.
Media  official said that DRDO was trying to set up an independent Centre for Directed High Energy Weapons System which would focus on the use of lasers in weapons system.On ‘Prahar’, he said the 150-km range guided missile was being put into weaponised mode.”It is the most cost-effective missile in its class. Army has shown good interest and we are sure it will get inducted,” the official said.