Agni V missile expected to be operational by 2015

Agni V missile expected to be operational by 2015

August 6th, 2013

According to Tessy Thomas, director, Agni Missile Project, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), two or three more successful test firings, the Agni V missile is likely to be operational by 2015.

Salient features of Agni V

• Intercontinental ballistic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
• Part of the Agni series of missiles, one of the missile systems under the original Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
• Range of 5,500–5,800 km.
• It will allow India to strike targets across Asia and into Europe.
• A 3 stage solid fuelled missile with composite motor casing in the second and third stage.
• Carry MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles) payloads. A single MIRV equipped missile can deliver multiple warheads at different targets.
• Incorporate advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerometer for navigation and guidance.
• First successfully test-fired by DRDO from Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa on April 19, 2012. With this, India joined an “elite nuclear club” that also included China, Russia, France, the US, the UK and possibly Israel.