The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has scheduled a maiden launch of the Agni-V missile, which has a range of more than 5,000 kilometres (3,100 miles), between Wednesday and Friday.
The exact launch date is flexible "because this is our longest-range missile and there are many logistics issues and hence we don't plan for one day," DRDO spokesman Ravi Gupta told AFP.
In the latest display of India's growing military might, the test of the indigenously-developed Agni-V will be carried out from a coastal range in the eastern state of Orissa.
"Agni-V is a 5,000-plus kilometre range missile and it is to meet our present-day threat perceptions, which are determined by our defence forces and other agencies," Gupta said from the test site.
The planned launch comes four months after India successfully tested the Agni-IV missile, which is capable of travelling 3,500 kilometres.
India is among the world's top 10 military spenders, with Jane's Defence Weekly forecasting its total purchases between 2011 and 2015 will top $100 billion.
It traditionally sees neighbours Pakistan and China as its prime external threats.
Military spending was boosted by 17 percent to $40 billion in last month's budget, following a 12 percent increase the previous year.
The Agni-V would in theory be able to strike targets across Asia and some parts of Europe.
Only China, Russia, France, the United States, Great Britain and Israel are thought to have such long-distance missiles.
India conducted a string of atomic detonations in 1998 and declared itself a nuclear-weapons state but it refuses to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The test plan has not attracted the international criticism aimed at reclusive North Korea, which last week carried out a rocket test that ended in failure.
COMMENTS (55)
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Nomi: Also, you missed the invaders between 900-1200. Mohammad Ghazni/Ghouri etc? Who famously raided repeatedly to loot the wealth of various states much south of Indus?
Nomi: I didn't say all of India was ruled by foreigners for 1,000 years. I said it faced invaders for 1000 years. Some of its territories were ruled by these foreign invaders.
Even in your calculations you leave out the time when portions of India that was ruled by various colonial powers between 1600-1900. Dutch, Portugese, Danish, French & British directly or thru some private companies ruled various parts of India. Mughal Rule itself didn't end with Aurangzeb.
Even if India was invaded by foreign forces for 1,000 years, it is still less than 15% of its existence as a Indus/Indian civilization/nation. But, that's not the point. It took less than 5% of it's existence for Kashmir to be ethnically cleansed of Hindus at sword point by invasions of Turkic, Tajik & Mughal rulers.
Besides, even till 1700s, India was among the top 3 economies in the world with about 17% of world trade. All it took was about 200 years of Colonial subjugation, where the wealth of India was taken away and its economic vitality was numbed, impoverishing India.
And FYI - I am an Indian.
@some one Pakistan buying missiles from North Korea? This is the biggest joke of the decade!! Pak has its own nuclear capabilites separate from North Korea. Also you had earlier mentioned North Korea failing at missile tests. The failed missile tests were carried out by Taiwan and NOT North Korea. It just shows your level of knowledge. I will not be surprised if you claim that all people from the far east are Chinese…lol
Lol was the only part of your comment which was not extremely funny
@some one: Which country tested the missile that failed, Taiwan or N Korea? Your replies to @G.Din are confusing me.
@G Din
If you were referring to the recent missile test failed by North Korea, then you should be knowing that one failed test does not mean N Korea does not have missile capabilities altogether. Not that I am supporting N Korea's aggressive build up of arms....nor does it in anyway affect Pakistan's nuclear and missle capabilities which are independent...though I do not support any nation's build up of destructive weapons (pak included)
@Cautious: "...how does technology developed by others create “vast applications” for India or Pakistan? " I spoke about India, not Pakistan. Unlike Pakistan which buys/barters its missiles from/with N. Korea, all missiles of India are "swadeshi" (home-grown), not bought. So, India has had to innovate/develop its missiles and nuclear technologies on its own. All technologies have universal application. Technologies developed for Moon-landing have been used all over the place. Then, too, people like you cribbed about the monies spent to send a man to the Moon.
@Faesal: By the way Faisal. its Pakistan who is sending their strategic assets in China to support Muslim rebels there, In fact no other country in any time in history (not even Nazi Germany) has made so many enemies in such short period of time as Pakistan has.
fellow Indians..dont get worked up by silly comments ...you should realise that all Pakistan has to do is to name a town/city/sports stadium after a foreign despot and cash/ arms comes rolling in...they can't and wont appreciate what India is all about...just let them be....
This is an unfortunate expense for a poor country, but it has not much options.
India was invaded by many other nationals for over a 1,000 years, and that led to the downfall of what once was the richest nation on earth, becoming one of the poorest.
Afghans, Khazaks, Uzbeks, Mangols, Portugese, French, British et. al. raided India and subjugated portions of India.
So, cost of Freedom is eternal vigilence and preparedness. So, while it is unfortunate that India spends about 2.5% of GDP on defense, it perhaps may not have any choice but to do so.
Only consolation is - it's defense spend vis-a-vis GDP is less than USA/China. Just enough to defend - not to attack.
@Faesal: if a failed state can dream of attacking a massive democracy, why cannot India hope to defend itself from China. Logic buddy.
@gujranwala987:
The most impressive thing about your comment is that it got through the mods
@Faesal: The only enemy pakistan has are its own people, get rid of your kinds and kinds of hafiz sayed and u wont need no missile to fire upon india or train those terrorists as strategic agents.
@ G Din
Yeah right --- how does technology developed by others create "vast applications" for India or Pakistan? Your both 3rd World countries with large egos which would rather waste money trying to impress the developed World rather than spend the money on the basics which the developed World takes for granted.
I am shocked that india which has the largest slum dogs population is wasting its resources on this useless missile test but has no money to provide their clothless and homeless slum dogs a decent life.
@hyderabadi:
yep! these are the times when they are suddenly worried about our drinking water, education, medicine etc.
@some one: "USA, Russia, China, India, Noth Korea, Pakistan and Iran (may join soon)…." North Korea's missile launch failed which also means the missiles Pakistan was going to paint green and claim as its indigenous failed, too. Exclude the last three out of this list! @Yuri Kondratyuk: @Binbin: "@Ali Tanoli:Don’t understand what cats and missile have to do with each other ??" He talked about "male" cats and carriers ahich have a direct relation to ICBM's which none else in the world has a clue about!
@Cautious: "Waste of resources — why not get the basics like clean drinking water and proper sanitation down before spending money on expensive military toys that will never be used." Technologies developed for "expensive military toys" Have vast applications, not necessarily for military purposes. @Faesal: "China will tear apart them before these indians even know it. " Just for that, you get a Beijing lollipop and a pat on your back. Good boy!
@Faesal:
FOR EVERY 1 STEP INDIA TAKES CHINA TAKES 10 STEPS
your statement is true but temme sumthin....just coz sum1 is walking in front of u...will u stop walking??....
You ever notice that anytime Pakistan and India start talking like real neighbors one or the other military goes off and does a missile test? Pretty clear to me that both countries military do their best to keep this rivalry going so that they can maintain their status and large budgets. Despite the missiles, nukes and high tech weaponry both countries are 3rd World countries that desperately need sanitation, clean drinking water and education -- time to grow up and spend the money on your people rather than the military elite.
'If you want peace be prepared for war', a motto which India is forced to follow to preserve its sovereignity. This one is for China with love who has been showing its dirty teeth to India lately.
someone said it rightly..if you want ti live in peace..prepared for war.
Pakistanis on ET are jealous.;-)
This is only a first step to show the world India means business and ready to match any nation who has any mischeivous idea in their minds. India has to do a lot more in economy as well as technology to acquire the position in the comity of world powers
@Faesal: hahahha yes
hahahhah NO
@Faesal: hahahha yes
@some one:
dude....days of nuclear testing are over.....theres a difference between "NUCLEAR CAPABLE" and "NUCLEAR"....
this missile will have a conventional warhead of same size and shape...missile testing is done only to see its range and functioning
does any1 in their sane mind will attach a nuclear warhead to every missile testing??....
There is not even a 0.0001% chance of India using this missile against Pakistan or China. What is a more probable risk is a nuclear Gas leak in India which could affect the Indians. have you guys forgotten the assam and bhopal tragedies? I as a human being will condemn these nuclear tests, whether they are done by India or Pakistan or USA, or China or Russia or whoever. An evil is an evil- whether done by a friend or by a foe.
India has many enemies in this hostile region because india has made too many enemies becuase india gets brave cos them know they have usa and israel on there back.India needs these intercontinental missiles. However Pakistan doesn't we only have one enemey India and we have sufficient amount of warheads and ballistic missiles to give a befitting reply to india.
both india and pakistan should be feeding their poor people instead of wasting resources on these useless toys!!!!!
@ Cautious. Ashoka the great thought war kills so many people and therefore became a Buddhist. Result we all know. India became a weak state slowly and invaders started looting our wealth. Mughals though developing navy is a waste of resources. Result was British domination of seas and finally the colonization of India. If even after all this Indians did not learn the lessons, even God won't forgive them.
@Yuri Kondratyuk
I dont know about the snake example...but dont tell me that testing a nuclear missile is not going to harm this earth and life on it, whether its tested in a desert (where it will kill thousands of non violent snakes and other creatures in the desert) or whether it is tested in the ocean (which will destroy marine life) not to talk of the environmental damage.
Gandhi would be sad to see this happening if he were alive, unless you are trying to say that Gandhi's outer preachings were different to his inner idealogy (which I will not agree to)
@some one:
To quote an example from scriptures, a non-violent snake isn't allowed to bite, but, it is still allowed to hiss to protect itself.
where are we heading to? USA, Russia, China, India, Noth Korea, Pakistan and Iran (may join soon)....all busy creating more and more dangerous weapons to destroy this earth and life on it (be it humans, animals or plants)..sad. If Gandhi was alive he would be crying today..His nation is doing the opposite of what he believed in.
@Faesal:
Only a bozo would think that there would be a war between India and china....the trade between them is in excess of USD65 billion and targeted USD100 billion in two years..
Indian leadership is not immature as Pakistani leadership. They know what's in country's interest...
Keep dreaming of a war between India and china ....
ET wrong picture that is not amissile
@Faesal:
Why does China develop missiles that are capable of reaching US? Are they crazy too?
@Binbin:
Dude, Its a waste of resources for not just these two countries but any country ... that been said, You need to wake up to the fact that Indians also show a much greater concern over whatever Pakistan does in this field. An advice would be visiting this site more regularly where your brethren leave their foot mark everyday.
@Ali Tanoli:
Thanks for the correction, but what you said still doesn't make any sense. Anyway, I recommended your comment for the sheer fun of it.
Why is this even news?!!! If India can send a spacecraft to the moon which is @ 400,000 kms away, then 5000 kms is peanuts.
@Cautious: How come Pakistanis are so concerned about India's "wasted resources" ?? Indian's don't seem to show the same concern for Pakistan's "wasted resources" ?
@Cautious:
You are talking absurd mate. Point is, there is already so much money being pushed for better infrastructure & education but not every penny is ulitized efficiently courtsey corruption. So putting in more money wouldn't really help rather than govt should plan that all these projects/initiatives are implemented in a proper way.
@Faesal We will not bombard China. We just want them to know that in case China attacks India, we will also nuke their cities. Just a way of escalating the cost of Chinese aggression.
Waste of resources -- why not get the basics like clean drinking water and proper sanitation down before spending money on expensive military toys that will never be used.
"The test plan has not attracted the international criticism aimed at reclusive North Korea" That is all that counts. End of story.
What's with 5000km range? Who these warmongers wanna bombard, Beijing? In their dream, China will tear apart them before these indians even know it.
i mean male cat not mail sorry guys.
We have saying in Hindko lang (Kay Billa ladoo be huey tey) mean how much weight will carry a mail cat if he become a carrier its exectlly applies to india.