While the Agni-V is officially categorised as an LRBM, DRDO scientists said that the successful launch of a missile with a range of over 5,000 km is an ample demonstration of the capability to launch an ICBM. Missiles with a range of above 5,500 km are usually referred to as ICBMs. While there were media reports in the past few years that the government is keen to cap the missile-range to 5,000 km, DRDO sources insisted that no policy in this regard had been officially laid down. The Agni-I, II, III and IV missiles with ranges of 700 km, 2,500 km, 3,000 km and 3,500 km respectively had been launched in previous years. The Agni missiles upto the Agni-III have already been inducted in the armed forces.
“India’s maiden Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) AGNI-V (A-5) was successfully flight-tested today. The flawless auto-launch of the missile started at 8.04 am.
The missile took off from the launch pad at Wheeler’s Island in Orissa at 8.07 am and started rising exactly the way it was designed for. The missile, with a range of more than 5000 km, followed the entire trajectory in copybook style perfection as the three stages of Propulsion dropped and fell at appropriate intervals into the Bay of Bengal. The three propulsion stages, developed completely indigenously by DRDO, performed exactly the way they were intended to. The indigenously-developed Composite Rocket Motors performed well, signifying the country’s stride and complete self-reliance in this complex propulsion technology. Ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the Vehicle and witnessed the final event. Radars and electro-optical systems along the path monitored in real time all the parameters of the missile,” the ministry of defence (MoD) said.
The MoD added that the missile’s “very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) ensured the Missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy”.
Dr Saraswat further said, “We are going to conduct two more tests and that will be validation tests... and then the production of this system will start. It is going to take a year maximum.” He added, “We go from here to many other missiles which will have capability for MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle), for anti-satellite system, which will also be built using this technology for launching micro, mini and nano satellite to meet the requirement of the armed forces on very, very short notice.”