Can India's Agni-5 cover entire China? Here are 5 things to know about ballistic missiles.

 

• The test-firing of the missile from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast took place amid India's long border line with China.

Sources in the defense establishment said that India on December 15 successfully test-fired the nuclear-capable inter-continental ballistic missile Agni-5. The missile has the capability to engage targets beyond a range of 5000 km and is vital to India's self-defense systems.

Defense sources also informed about validating new technologies and equipment on the missile, which were aimed at making the missile lighter. The purpose of this test was to increase the firepower of Agni-5 missile if needed.

The missile was test-fired from Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast amid India's lingering border row with China.

While pre-test warnings were issued to airmen weeks in advance as per protocol, the timing of the actual firing could be seen as a message to China.

Chinese soldiers clashed with Indian soldiers on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Several soldiers from both sides have been injured, but no army casualties have been reported.

The current version Agni IV is capable of hitting targets at a range of 4,000 km while the Agni-III has a range of 3,000 km, and the Agni II can fly up to 2,000 km.

Know here 5 things about India's Agni-5 missile

Agni-5 is an advanced surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is a fire and forget missile, which cannot be intercepted without an interceptor missile.

Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who aimed to make the country self-reliant in the field of missile technology. The five missiles in the program were P-A-T-N-A, Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag and Akash.

According to the Defense Ministry, the missile using a three-stage solid-fuel engine is capable of hitting targets up to 5,000 kilometers with very high accuracy.

Agni-5 which has the capability to hit targets beyond 5000 km range is widely considered as a strategic missile targeted at China as it can reach almost all parts of the Chinese mainland.

Last year, China cited a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 1172 to raise concerns about the launch of the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile by India. The resolution was issued after India's 1998 nuclear tests.