AGNI-V BALLISTIC MISSILE
News: India
test-fires Agni-V ballistic missile having range of 5,000 km
What's in the news?
● India
successfully test-fired nuclear-capable
ballistic missile Agni-V that can strike targets at ranges up to 5,000 km,
marking a significant boost to the country's strategic deterrence, people
familiar with the development said.
Key takeaways:
● The
test-firing of the missile from the APJ
Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast came amid India's lingering border row
with China.
● The
Agni-V project is aimed at boosting
India's nuclear deterrence against China which is known to have missiles
like Dongfeng-41 having ranges
between 12,000-15,000 km.
● The
launch operations were carried out and monitored by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).
○ SFC
is a part of India’s Nuclear Command
Authority (NCA) which was created in 2003 to manage India’s nuclear
arsenal.
○ NCA
is India’s nodal authority responsible for command, control and operational decisions
regarding India’s nuclear weapons program. It has an Executive Council (headed
by National Security Advisor) which gives input to the Political Council
(headed by the Prime Minister). The Political Council, authorizes a nuclear
attack if need be.
Agni-V Ballistic Missile:
● Agni-V
can bring almost the entire Asia
including the northernmost part of China as well as some regions in Europe
under its striking range.
● It
is the most advanced surface-to-surface
indigenously built fire and forgets ballistic missile.
○ Which
once fired cannot be stopped, except by an interceptor missile.
● The three-stage solid-fueled
engine missile is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km.
● The
Agni series constitutes the backbone of the nuclear weapons delivery.
● The
Agni 1 to 4 missiles have ranges from 700 km to 3,500 km and they have already
been deployed.
○ It
also includes the Prithvi short-range
ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft.
○ It
has the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead of about 1.5tonnes.
Go back to basics:
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP):
● It
was conceived by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
● Its
aim was to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile
technology.
● The
5 missiles developed under this program are Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, Akash.
Agni Class of Missiles:
They
are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability.
Range:
● Agni I:
Range of 700-800 km.
● Agni II:
Range more than 2000 km.
● Agni III:
Range of more than 2,500 Km
● Agni IV:
Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road-mobile launcher.
● Agni-V:
The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM)
with a range of over 5,000 km.
● Agni-P (Prime):
It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000
km. It will replace the Agni I missile.
Very
few countries, including the US, China, Russia, France and North Korea, have
InterContinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM).