Agni-V successfully test-fired: Why it's India's most lethal missile
Agni-V extends India's reach to Asia, including whole of China, parts of Africa and Europe.
In its first user trial, Agni-V, India’s first inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), was test-fired from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on January 18. After a few similar user trials, the most lethal weapon will be inducted into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which manages the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal. With this, India will also join the super-exclusive club of countries with ICBMs, which includes the US, Russia, China, France and the UK.
The missile is developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
We have successfully launched nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V today: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Chennai (File pic) pic.twitter.com/6KivWbmZg6
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2018
Here are the reasons why Agni-V is being considered as India's most lethal.
It can target whole of China
The first ICBM marks a giant leap in India’s defence sector and this is also a significant step in deterring China along the embattled border. With a range of more than 5,000km, Agni-V is capable of delivering a single 1.5-ton warhead to the northernmost corner of China. Before this variant, India’s stock of intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) included Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-III with ranges of between 700-800km, 2,000-2300km and more than 3,500km respectively.
China, on the other hand, has ICBMs with a range of 12,000km. The first two missiles of the Agni series were developed keeping Pakistan in mind. From Agni-III, the focus shifted to China, and the range was being expanded gradually. Agni-IV is capable of striking targets in China, if launched from northeastern India. Agni-V can target the whole of China even if it’s launched from the southern parts of the country.
A three-stage missile
This is also the first three-stage missile in the Agni series. According to reports, the third stage was also a major technological challenge. It slopes into the warhead stage and has a conical motor. Building a conical motor was difficult as the previous one had cylindrical motors only.
The first rocket engine takes it to a height of about 40km. The second stage pushes it to about 150km and the third takes it to about 300km above the Earth.
It is unstoppable
Once fired, the missile can't be stopped and travels faster than a bullet. It can carry 1,000kg of nuclear weapons. Its innovative technologies include composite rocket motors, guidance ring-laser gyro-based inertial navigation systems, micro-navigation systems and accelerometers to measure its acceleration and detect any change in its vehicular motion.
It will allow weapons designers to use smaller-yield nuclear warheads while increasing the lethality of the strike. So, defence forces will be able to deploy a much larger nuclear force using less fissile material than other nuclear powers.
It can be launched from a canister, from roadside too
Before this trial, Agni-V was tested four times, the first being on April 19, 2012. The next three tests were held in 2013, 2015 and 2016. Of these, two tests have been conducted from a canister. According to reports, the missile's canister-launch version makes it deadlier as it gives the armed forces the option of rapid launch as the missile can be kept in a state of readiness.