AGNI 5: INTERMEDIATE RANGE BALLISTIC MISSILE
Context:
- On Wednesday, 20 August 2025, India successfully test-fired its Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), Agni-5, from the Integrated Test Range located at Chandipur, in the state of Odisha.
- The test was carried out under the Strategic Forces Command, which is part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority.
- As per the official statement by the Ministry of Defence, the test:
- Validated all operational and technical parameters
- Demonstrated readiness for deployment in India’s strategic arsenal
- The test involved a variant of the Agni-5 missile, which was designed and developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- This development follows a previous test conducted on 11 March 2024, during which Agni-5 equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology was successfully trialed.
| Specification | Details |
| Type | Surface-to-Surface Ballistic Missile (Nuclear-capable) |
| Classification | Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) |
| Range | Over 5,000 kilometers |
| Fuel Type | Three-stage, solid-fuel propulsion |
| Launch Platform | Canister-based launch system (mobile, road/rail transportable) |
| Developer | Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) |
| Operational User | Strategic Forces Command, under Nuclear Command Authority |
| Warhead Capability | Both nuclear and conventional warheads |
| Special Features | Equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology |
| Launch Site (2025 Test) | Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha |
| Previous MIRV Test | 11 March 2024, successful validation by DRDO |
WHAT IS MIRV TECHNOLOGY?
- Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) refers to a missile’s ability to:
- Carry multiple nuclear warheads.
- Target different locations independently from a single missile launch.
- Strategic Advantages:
- Overwhelms enemy missile defense systems.
- Enhances first-strike and second-strike capabilities.
- Reduces the number of missiles needed to hit multiple targets.
ABOUT AGNI MISSILE SERIES
| Variant | Approximate Range | Stages | Propulsion | Special Features |
| Agni-I | 700 to 1,200 kilometers | One | Solid-fuel | Short-range; primarily tactical use |
| Agni-II | 2,000 to 2,500 kilometers | Two | Solid-fuel | Road and rail mobile; strategic theatre-level use |
| Agni-III | 3,000 to 3,500 kilometers | Two | Solid-fuel | Designed for deeper strike and enhanced payload capacity |
| Agni-IV | 3,500 to 4,000 kilometers | Two | Solid-fuel | Composite materials; improved accuracy; digital control |
| Agni-V | Over 5,000 kilometers | Three | Solid-fuel | Canister-based; MIRV-capable; longest-range missile in service |
MISSILE RANGE CLASSIFICATION (BALLISTIC MISSILES)
| Classification | Range |
| Short-Range Ballistic Missile | Less than 1,000 kilometers |
| Medium-Range Ballistic Missile | 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers |
| Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile | 3,000 to 5,500 kilometers |
| Intercontinental Ballistic Missile | More than 5,500 kilometers |
Although Agni-5 is officially categorized as an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile, its actual operational range exceeds 5,000 kilometers, bringing it close to Intercontinental Ballistic Missile capabilities.
STRATEGIC FORCES COMMAND & NUCLEAR COMMAND AUTHORITY
- Strategic Forces Command:
- A tri-service command responsible for the operational management of India’s nuclear arsenal.
- Executes the orders of the Nuclear Command Authority.
- Nuclear Command Authority:
- Apex body overseeing the policy, command, and control of nuclear weapons.
- Operates under India’s No First Use (NFU) doctrine and Credible Minimum Deterrence
STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE OF AGNI 5
- Enhances India’s long-range deterrent capability.
- Strengthens India’s second-strike capability, crucial for maintaining nuclear stability in South Asia.
- Allows India to maintain minimum credible deterrence under its No First Use
- Equips India to target regions far beyond its immediate neighborhood, including all of Asia and parts of Europe.
- Provides strategic counterbalance to China’s long-range missile arsenal.
- Contributes to technological self-reliance in strategic defence systems.
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