New Delhi: In a strong strategic signal to China amidst the continuing 17-month military confrontation in eastern Ladakh, India tested its most formidable missile, the over 5,000-km range Agni-V, on Wednesday evening.
Agni-5, which broadly falls into the category of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile or ICBM, was launched from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha, at 7:50 pm.
The missile uses a three-stage solid fuelled engine and can strike targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
Agni-5 is widely regarded as a strategic missile targeted at China as it can reach almost all parts of the Chinese mainland. People familiar with the development said it was the first user trial of the missile which can bring the northernmost part of China under its striking range.
India’s successful test-firing comes after China tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile in August.