Agni V will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence: PM Modi

Congratulating the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and its scientists on the successful test firing of Agni V, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said it will add tremendous strength to the country's strategic defence.

"Successful test firing of Agni V makes every Indian very proud. It will add tremendous strength to our strategic defence," said Prime Minister Modi.

"The successful test firing of Agni V is the result of the hard work of DRDO and its scientists. I congratulate them," he added.

India today successfully test-fired its home-grown long range intercontinental surface-to-surface nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni V from the Abdul Kalam Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.

The state-of-the-art surface-to-surface missile developed by the DRDO was test fired successfully from the launch complex 4 of the Integrated Test Range.

The three-stage solid propellant Agni V missile is capable of striking a target more than 5,000 kilometres with nuclear warhead carrying capacity of more than one tonne. It is about 17 metre long, 2 metre wide and has launch weight of around 50 tonnes.

This is the fourth developmental and second trial of the long range missile. Unlike other missiles of Agni series, the latest one 'Agni-V' is the most advanced having new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine.