India successfully test fires 5000KM range ICBM Agni-V from Odisha coast

India successfully test fires 5000KM range ICBM Agni-V from Odisha coast 19/04/2012

ODISHA/BHUBANESWAR:

SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,BUREAU CHIEF,THESE DAYS,ODISHA


India successfully test fires 5000KM range the inter-continental ballistic missile Agni-V from Wheeler Island, Dhamara in Odisha coast. The surface-to-surface missile, Agni-V, which can carry a payload of 1 tonne, is 17-metre long, and 2-metre wide and weighs 50 tonnes.

Agni-5 is a three-stage, all solid fuel powered missile with multiple independent targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) which means the missile can target several areas simultaneously with one-tonne nuclear warhead. The three-stage solid-fuelled Agni-V will be put into test for the first time with some advance and indigenous technology with the support of a canisterised mobile launcher, informed sources, adding that for tracking and monitoring the predetermined trajectory of the missile, sophisticated radars as well as telemetry stations have been positioned at different locations.


After hectic preparations, including obtaining of requisite clearances from various wings and range integration DRDO test-fired Agni-V from the LC-IV of the ITR at Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast on Wednesday (April 19). The maiden flight test of Agni-5, was postponed on Wednesday due to bad weather. With this India joins the select band of elite countries in the world to have the technology of ICBM.


The country already has Agni-I with around 700-km strike range, Agni-2 with nearly 2,000 km, Agni-III and IV with about 3,000 plus km-range.