India successfully test fires nuclear-capable Agni-V for second time

India test fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable 'Agni-V' long-range ballistic missile from a base off Odisha coast. (Reuters)

India on Sunday successfully test-fired its inter-continental surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-V, with a strike range of over 5,000 km and capability of delivering a nuclear warhead with high precision, from a base off Odisha coast.

The missile had its maiden launch last year.

"A symbol of DRDO's technological excellence and India's strength, Agni-V missile took off majestically at about 0850 hours from the launch complex of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheelar's Island," a DRDO official said.

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Describing the second trial of Agni-V, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, as fully successful, the official said the missile flew on a predefined path and reached its destination with expected precision.

"India's inter-continental surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni V, capable of delivering nuclear warhead with high precision, was successfully launched today in a repeat of the spectacular maiden launch last year," a DRDO release said.

The indigenously developed missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne, is capable of striking a target more than 5000 km away. It is about 17-metres-long and 2-metres-wide with a launch weight of about 50 tonnes.

The missile, powered by three-stage solid rocket motors, had a flawless launch in auto mode and followed its entire trajectory in textbook manner, dropping three motors at predefined stages into the ocean, the release said.

Ships located in mid-range and at target point tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event. All the radars and electro-optical systems, ship-based and those based on ground stations along the path, monitored the performance parameters of the missile and displayed information in real time.

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All the systems and sub-systems of the missile, such as the launch system, navigation system, control systems, rocket motors and the re-entry package performed well.