NEW DELHI: India will next month test a new long-range nuclear-capable missile which can strike targets more than 5,000 kilometres away, a defence research spokesman said on Wednesday.
The announcement came three months after India successfully tested its Agni-IV missile, which was previously the longest range missile possessed by the armed forces capable of travelling 3,500 kilometres.
"The trial of Agni-V is planned for March and its individual technologies and sub-systems have been tested and everything is fine," a spokesman for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) told AFP.
"Agni-V is a highly accurate and state-of-art missile system which can carry nuclear weapons," the official said, declining to disclose the size of the warhead it could carry.
Agni means fire in Sanskrit language.
The DRDO spokesman said India, which carried out a string of nuclear detonations in 1998, was developing an array of ballistic missiles as a "deterrence" and the move should not be seen as a threat to any country.
"Our strategic missiles are for deterrence and are not country-specific. They are meant to ensure peace," the spokesman said.
The Agni series is being developed by the DRDO under an Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme launched in 1983.
India is among the world's top 10 military spenders. It plans to splurge $50 billion by 2015 to upgrade its million-plus military.
India, which will soon clinch a deal for 126 warplanes that can carry nuclear-tipped bombs, has fought three wars with Pakistan since their independence in 1947.
It also fought a brief but bloody conflict with uneasy neighbour China in 1962 over their border dispute, which remains unresolved despite several rounds of high-level negotiations.
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@INDIANmuslim:
failed attempt by a pakistani, your commenting style shows who you really are. stop acting like world Islamic court. search what was the cause of Gujarat riot first. take care of Peshawar, its burning now.
*india should also not forget what they did with us in gujrat riots and samjota express *
@joy: ur right Joy and ABC will claim it is made in Pakistan
@ Nand.......pls give ABC a handkerchief made in China......NOT INDIA
@Tony Singh: Longer range missiles are harder to intercept, due to their faster descend.
Hence, using 5,000KM range missile to hit Pakistan, with the launch deeper into the Indian territory means higher hit probability. also, Pakistanis can not detect the launch by its IR signature, if it is from deeper parts of India.
Makes Sense ?
A repeat of old news.
India have developed Missiles etc. to tackle any possible threat from China. And Pakistan is taking care of any possible threat from India. China says it has amassed huge Arms to counter the mighty USA and USSR.
Ultimately, who is actually responsible for making the green earth as a vast godown of Arms.
It is Scientists or USA or USSR?
@ABC: Sour grapes. Need a handichief made-in-India?
hey dear Indians say thanks to Russia, for your technology and chines economic growth that threatened the west to provide you whatever you need... isn't it? lol
@Hindu Indian: Bro... Ahmed is an indian...
Probably every time Indian Missiles make some news, Pakistan rushes to China for advice on how to counter it. At some stage, China will say: solve it yourself. If not they will simply supply a counter missile which Pakistan will broadcast as fruit of its wonderful scientists. Its well known that AQKhan stole nuclear blueprints and hence Pak bomb. Luckily Missiles have been supplied in ample measure by China, an all weather friend till it suits its needs
@PakistanZindaBaad
Insha Allah this test also will be failed, as most of the Indian missiles tests!
I would not be worried about a few test failing. Everyone fails ocasionally when they are developing a new technology. Failures are the stepping stones to success. We learn a lot for the rare failures.
HOWEVER, I would be worried if we NEVER fail, since that would mean there is something fishy about the whole thing. Either the missile systems are a fraud or they are just simply bought from another country which has already tested them e.g North Korea.
@ahmed: The last time i checked Tribune i saw the Taliban having the heads of Pakistani Soldiers for breakfast. I am really disgusted to make the above statement, but please realise they are not your friends , atleast not anymore.
Taliban attacks US soldiers when they take lunch and dinner. Rest of the time they are in caves..lol.. If this is called as winning the battle then they have definitely won.
As far as Missile test is concerned, this is not for Pakistan. No need to worry. Until unless pakistan attack India, they will not do anything. So pls keep Pak army under control and we will have good relations.
And one more thing if you watch the old youtube videos(failed tests) again and again you will start believing that this is happening everyday. This is called as "mere exposure effect" in psychology.
India's frequency of sending rockets in space is very high and some are bound to fail, especially when you are taking a big step (from PSLV to GSLV)..
And in Pakistan,Few People think more about Khalistan,Nexalite then we Indian. Khalistan is past and only 2% Sikh want Khalistan whereas in Indian Army Sikh comparis 20% in officer rank.So forget to think about disintigrating India.We will not do the mistakes that Pak did in East Pakistan as we believe in "Unity in Diversity".
"It was Pakistan which Created Bangladesh,We only liberate it". Gen Jagjit singh Arora.
Don't worry PAK. It is for China and may b for USA. (As India is a potent threat for USA in Future-Admitted by US Defence secratary)
Indian rockets are sending satellites into precision orbits for three decades. Why should this missile be a surprise to anyone in PAK.
Insha Allah this test also will be failed, as most of the Indian missiles tests!
Pakistan Zinda Baad
If India wants to be friends to Balochis, it can be done on equal basis. We will increase our pressure in Balochistan to keep cxausing damages to Pakistani Army. This will keep most of Pakistan's resources tied in Balochistan..India needs to set its priorities right.
@SOHAIL: "once upon a time ??" They are still standing tall. And there is a difference between defeating them and hiding in caves just to come out when they leave to declare they have won. Mujahideen and taliban are bunch of cowards who use children and old people as their shield. On one to one combat your heroes will bit dust in no time. But well, a madrassah scholar like you can never understand that. Be happy in your false achievements.
@SOHAIL: The Pashtuns have been and are among the most backward tribal people, who have been occupied for 95% of their entire existence by invaders. Where is the case for them ever defeating US, Russia or Britain?
@pakistanibaloch:
should i talk about target killings in balochistan and karachi??....
u ppl only blabber nonsense and keep dividing the world....no matter how much i quote good for sikhs u will be stuck up in 1984...get a life
@pakistanibaloch: Dude - it is pathetic that you had to dig up an example from almost 30 years back. We don't have problems in Punjab any more - but the others in the North east and the Maoist issues continue. Still, none of these are serious independence movements, so don't get your hopes up. This is an article published to upset the poor Pakistanis - who actually have nothing to do with this missile - it is focused on China. For you guys, Agni II is enough.
@2 in 1: once upon a time there were three empires british ,russia ,america ...mujahedeen and taliban defeated them all ...who is the next?
This one is meant for China, not Pakistan, so calm down everyone.
@2 in 1: unity or killing of sikhs in1984???
http://youtu.be/t59CoaZuaOA
http://youtu.be/97wlCrUDN5w
@khalistan DA singh: @pakistanibaloch: hahahaahaa again funny :D you are really naughty!. if then just give up all costly missile programs. who wants to follow a failed example? our strength lies in our unity. you and we all know that, so.........
@Tony Singh: to cover india we even donot need any missile.it will be covered through taliban,khalistan,aassam,manipur china AND taliban :D
@Indian kashmiri: REALLY :D
Now Pakistanis cannot say Indian missile program is "Pakistan specific". @pakistani baloch: To cover Pakistan one does not need a long range missile.
@pakistani baloch: :D hahaha funny, really enjoyed.
We should start improving our indigenous missile capability as well.
**no matter we have better missile than india's looooong range missile