NEW DELHI: India on Monday successfully carried out the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile, capable of deploying multiple warheads, under its 'Mission Divyastra', joining a select group of nations having such a capability. The missile, which carries 2 to 10 nuclear warheads, can strike at a distance of 5500 km. It will have 20 countries, including China, under its striking range.
It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who announced the success of the 'Mission Divyastra' test which used the indigenously developed MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-Entry Vehicle) technology. With this, India became a member of the MIRV club along with the US, Russia, the UK, France and China. The technology was jointly developed by DRDO and Bharat Dynamics.
The test was conducted from APJ Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast. Warnings were given to airplanes etc.
The Prime Minister appreciated the DRDO scientists for developing the MIRV technology. The central government informed that the head of the MIVR mission is a woman. Many women are involved in the project.
The test was carried out on the same day when the Chinese vessel Xian Yang Hong 01 anchored 260 nautical miles (about 480 km) off the coast of Visakhapatnam.
Goes into space and re-enters earth's atmosphere
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
Range: 5500 km
Weight: 50,000 kg
Length: 17.5 meters
Maximum speed: 24 times the speed of sound
Agni-4 Range- 4,000 km
Agni-3- 3,000 km
Agni-2- 2,000 km
Agni-1- 700 km.
20 countries within reach
1. China
2. Japan
3. South Korea
4. North Korea
5. Indonesia
6. Thailand
7. Malaysia
8. Pakistan
9. Afghanistan
10. Iran
11. Russia
12. Iraq
13. Egypt
14. Syria
15. Germany
16. Ukraine
17. Greece
18. Italy
19. Sudan
20. Libya