【Text/Observer Network Ju Feng】
According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, at about 19:50 local time on October 27 (22:20 Beijing time), the Indian army successfully launched a ground-to-ground "Agni-5" ballistic missile from Abdul Karam Island.
India successfully test-fired the "Agni-5" ballistic missile Pictured below in the Indian media
A statement issued by the Indian government on the evening of the 27th said that the "Agni-5" missile fell into the Bay of Bengal with "very high accuracy". The successful test launch was in line with "India's policy of having a credible minimum threat, which is the basis for a 'no first use' commitment," the statement said. ”
Indian media "India Express" said that at the time of escalating tensions along the border with China, India tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with nuclear capabilities on an island on its east coast on the 27th, with a range of 5,000 kilometers. As a result, the Indian Express stressed that the missile could strike "almost the whole of China." The Associated Press also used this phrase.
The Indian Express mentioned that strictly speaking, the Agni-5 has not yet reached the standard line of intercontinental missiles (ICBM). At least 5,500 kilometers can be called an icing missile, but the Agni-5 is closest to this standard and has an interstate strike capability, covering parts of Africa and Europe.
The Associated Press said that India has been at war with Pakistan three times since independence in 1947, and india now has the ability to strike at all of Pakistan. Since the 1990s, India has been developing medium- and long-range missiles, nuclear missile systems, while intensifying strategic competition with China.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defense, India's self-developed ground-to-ground "Agni-5" ballistic missile can hit targets more than 5,000 kilometers away, the missile is about 17 meters long, about 2 meters wide, the launch weight is about 50 tons, and can carry multiple nuclear warheads. The 3 stages of the missile are all propelled by solid fuel.
According to the Indian media mint, unlike other missiles in the "Agni" series, the latest "Agni-5" is equipped with a lot of cutting-edge technology in terms of guidance, warhead and power, and many of them are verified during the test firing process.
One official told Mint that the navigation system, the high-precision ring laser gyro inertial navigation system (RINS) and the most modern and accurate micro-navigation system (MINS) ensure that the missile reaches the target point with an accuracy of several meters. In addition, the high-speed computer and fault-tolerant software mounted on the missile, as well as a powerful and reliable bus, can perfectly guide the missile.
Mint said that while the government said the maximum range was 5,000 kilometers, some reports showed that the Agni-5 had a maximum strike range of 8,000 kilometers. The missile also has a nuclear capability, can carry a warhead of about 1500 kg, and has a maximum launch weight of 5 tons.
India currently has the Agni-1 series with a range of 700 km, the Agni-2 with a range of 2000 km, and the Agni-3 and Agni-4 with a range of 2,500 km to more than 3,500 km.
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