On Thursday, India successfully carried out night trials of the Agni-5, a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that can hit targets beyond 5,400 km.

Agni-5 was fired from Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha to validate the new technology and equipment on the missile. This was the ninth flight of the Agni-5 and was a routine test. The successful test proved that the missile can now hit targets beyond 5400 kilometers i.e. further away than before.

The missile has been made lighter by adding lighter composite material, enabling it to go longer ranges.

The missile uses a three-stage solid-fuelled engine and is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 kilometers with a very high degree of accuracy, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. The successful test of Agni-5 is in line with India’s stated policy to have credible minimum deterrence that underpins the commitment to ‘no first use’, the ministry said. 

The Agni-5 project aims to boost India’s nuclear deterrence against China, which is known to have missiles like Dongfeng-41, which ranges between 12,000 and 15,000 km.

While the test was carried out days after clashes between India and China in Tawang, it had been planned earlier. India had announced its intention to test a long-range missile and issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) well before the incident in Arunachal’s Tawang.

The first test of Agni-5 was conducted in 2012.