Agni V Success

Objective Information on Agni V:

1) The Agni V is an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of 5,500 to 5,800 km.

2) Agni V is nuclear capable, with a payload capacity of 1,500 kg of high-explosive warhead.

3) It has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).

4) It is the fifth variant in the series of medium to long range Agni missiles. Agni I, II, III have already been inducted for military use.

5) The successful induction of Agni V will give India long-range strike capability.

6) The missile has previously been tested in 2012, 2013 and 2015.

7) Once the Agni-V is inducted, India will join the superexclusive club of countries with ICBMs (missiles with a range of over 5,000-5,500km) alongside the US, Russia, China, France, UK.

8) Agni-V is capable of striking even the northernmost parts of China

Significance of Agni V Success:

Boost to India’s Arsenal: With this test, Agni-V is now ready for induction into the Strategic Forces Command, which already operates other Agni missiles with a target range from 700 km to 4,000 km, besides Prithvi-II.

Credible Nuclear Deterrence: Successful test-firing of the long-range ballistic missile Agni-V for the fourth time is a significant step towards building a credible nuclear deterrence. With this test and the recent commissioning of the indigenously built nuclear submarine INS Arihant, India is inching towards creating a robust and world-class second-strike capability. For a nation sworn to no-first-use of nuclear weapons, a reliable second-strike capability is an absolute necessity.

Apart from whole of Pakistan, China too in range: India already has nuclear-capable missiles that can reach all of Pakistan and Agni V is clearly intended to provide a similar deterrent capability with respect to China.

Big Boost to India’s Defence Development Structure: Agni V has lived up to the hopes of its creators at the Defence Research & Development Organisation. Agni V missile is “a game-changer” that can perform different roles, from carrying multiple warheads to providing anti-satellite capability and even launching tiny satellites into orbit. Like its progenitor, Agni III, this missile has a two-metre diameter (as compared to the one-metre diameter of Agni I and II). Agni III and V are therefore the first Indian missiles that can potentially be equipped with several warheads each (known as Multiple Independently Targeted Re-entry Vehicles or MIRV). MIRVs, however, pose their own technological challenges, especially the need to considerably shrink the size and weight of nuclear warheads. Despite China's earlier start, its ballistic missiles are still thought to be equipped with single warheads, not MIRVs.

Way Ahead:

Neighbours must start talking with each other on Nuclear Matters: Responsible possession of nuclear-armed missiles for the purposes of deterrence also requires working assiduously to remove sources of friction that can erupt into open conflict. It is also important that India, Pakistan and China start talking to each other on nuclear matters.

* From bases in Qinghai and Yunnan provinces, Chinese missiles too can reach all of India.

* An assessment carried out by an Indian strategic studies group found that Pakistan had a “credible deterrent structure” organised around the solid-propellant Shaheen-1 and -2 missiles.

Nuclear Triad not yet complete or competent: Just a few days ago, the Nirbhay land attack cruise missile meant to carry nuclear warheads failed for the fourth time during a test. There are several such gaps to be filled to ensure a foolproof nuclear triad.

A credible second-strike capability should also be complemented by a modern, powerful military:  The Indian military is in crying need of modernisation across its three arms.

* The Air Force has a huge shortage of fighters;

* The Navy’s submarine arm is far from meeting multiple challenges;

* The Army needs an array of new platforms.

Note: Definition of Nuclear Triad: A nuclear triad refers to the nuclear weapons delivery of a strategic nuclear arsenal which consists of three basic components: land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), strategic bombers, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).