With China in Range, India Fires N-Capable Agni-V

About 800 scientists, staff and support personnel had been engaged to make the first ever launch of the Agni-V a success, they said.

Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one - Agni-V - is the most advanced version having several new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine, said a scientist associated with the project.

India has at present in its armoury of Agni series, Agni-I with 700 km range, Agni-II with 2,000 km range, Agni-III and Agni-IV with 2,500 km to more than 3,500 km range.

Thursday's succsessful trial has put India into an exclusive club of nations possessing such long-range ballistic missile technologies.

Saraswat had recently said the missile was being integrated at various facilities for the test launch at an appropriate time.

DRDO plans to conduct more such tests of the missile over the next one year after studying and analysing the parameters achieved in each subsequent trial.

Regarding the timeline fixed for fully developing the Agni-V, Saraswat had said another year of testing would be required.