Agni-5 Test: India Showcases Expanding Missile Arsenal Amid Rising Global Uncertainty
In a significant demonstration of India’s growing strategic strength, the indigenously developed Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha.
The Defence Ministry confirmed that the launch was carried out under the Strategic Forces Command, validating “all operational and technical parameters.”
The missile, with a strike capability of 5,000 kilometres, places almost the entire Asian continent—including northernmost China—as well as parts of Europe within India’s credible reach.
India’s Strategic Significance Amid Global Conflicts
The latest test comes at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, with wars raging in multiple theatres across the globe and tensions simmering in Asia.
India, which only four months ago emerged from a brief but fierce military standoff with Pakistan, has been steadily strengthening its deterrence capabilities.
While officials refrained from linking Wednesday’s launch to recent conflicts, the timing underscores India’s resolve to demonstrate readiness and self-reliance in matters of national defence.
Agni-5 and Beyond: Expanding the Missile Program
The Agni-5 tested this week is a variant of India’s intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) class system, capable of ranges up to 7,000 kilometres.
Reports suggest that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already working on an upgraded variant with an extended reach of 7,500 kilometres, further reinforcing India’s global strike capability.
Last year, India achieved a landmark milestone with the maiden flight test of the MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle)-capable Agni-5, allowing the missile to carry and release multiple nuclear warheads aimed at different targets simultaneously.
This technology not only enhances India’s deterrence but also brings it into the league of advanced nuclear powers like the US, Russia, and China.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently hailed the dedication and innovation of DRDO scientists, lauding their role in making India self-sufficient in advanced defence systems.
A Family of Agni Missiles
India’s Agni missile series has become the cornerstone of its nuclear deterrence strategy.
- Agni-I: Short-range, 700–900 km, capable of carrying 1,000 kg payload.
- Agni-II: 2,000 km range.
- Agni-III: 3,000 km range.
- Agni-IV: 3,500 km range.
- Agni-V: 5,000–7,000 km, with MIRV capabilities under development.
These missiles ensure India’s ability to respond decisively to any aggression, covering threats across its extended neighbourhood and beyond.
Complementing Arsenal: Prithvi and Pralay
India has also continued refining its short-range ballistic missile capabilities.
- The Prithvi-II, with a 350 km range and 500 kg payload, remains nuclear-capable and integral to India’s strike forces.
- The Agni-I and Prithvi-II, both tested last month, reinforce India’s flexible nuclear deterrence.
- Adding to this, July saw the successful test of ‘Pralay’, a new tactical surface-to-surface missile with a range of 150–500 km and payload capacity of 500–1,000 kg. Unlike the nuclear-capable Agni series, Pralay is designed for high-precision conventional strikes, filling a critical gap in India’s battlefield capabilities.
Broader Defence Preparedness
The missile tests underscore India’s wider strides in defence modernisation. Beyond missiles, India is ramping up indigenous production of fighter jets (Tejas Mk-1A, AMCA in the pipeline), drones, artillery systems, naval warships, and air defence networks.
Together, these reflect a comprehensive drive to secure the nation in an era where global conflicts in Europe, West Asia, and the Indo-Pacific have heightened uncertainty.
The Road Ahead
As India deepens strategic partnerships while pursuing Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in defence, the Agni-5 test stands as a strong reminder of how far the nation has come from its early missile development days in the 1980s under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).
Today, India is not only defending its sovereignty but also positioning itself as a responsible global power, capable of ensuring peace through strength in an increasingly unstable world.
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