INDIA: India is reportedly going to conduct a flight test of the 5,000-km range Agni-V missile. The first user trial of intercontinental-range ballistic missile (ICBM) will be conducted on Thursday.
Elaborate preparation has been done at a defense facility of the Odisha coast for the mission by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army.
Originally, the test was planned to take place in 2020 after the pre-induction trials in 2018. However, the operation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with this, many important tests with Multiple Independently targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRV) were also affected.
The mission has been planned close on the heels of the successful trial of the Agni Prime missile, the first of the new class of Agni series of missiles, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The three-stage solid-fuelled weapon with advanced guidance and new generation propulsion was fired with multiple independently targetable reentry warheads on June 28. Earlier in June, the new Generation Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile Agni Prime (Agni P) was flight-tested.
Also Read: DRDO Successfully Flight Tests New Generation Agni P Ballistic Missile
Considering its importance, the MIRV capability of the missile was secretly tested during a multi-satellite launch and no live launch has been conducted so far. For the first time, the indigenous MIRV technology was tested successfully in the Agni P missile with the weapon delivering two maneuverable warheads at two separate locations. The MIRV capability of Agni-V will give India much-needed deterrence.
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