India successfully test-fired the Agni IV intercontinental ballistic missile today. Here’s all you need to know about the deadly long-range weapon which promises to give a massive boost to India’s military might.
- On Monday, the Strategic Forces Command flight-tested the Agni-IV missile from a road-mobile launcher on the Abdul Kalam Island off Damra village on the Odisha coast.
- The Agni IV is an intercontinental ballistic missile with a strike range of 4,000 km.
- It is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
- Agni IV is nuclear capable, with a payload capacity of one tonne of high-explosive warhead.
- It is the fourth variant in the series of medium to long range Agni missiles. Agni I, II, III have already been inducted for military use. Last month, Agni-V was successfully launched in its final phase of canisterised testing.
- The road-mobile Agni-IV is meant for deterrence against China, which can target any Indian city with its formidable inventory of long-range missiles.
- The sophisticated surface-to-surface missile is equipped with modern and compact avionics to provide high level of reliability.
- Packed with features to correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances, the Agni-IV can reach its target within two-digit accuracy.
- The re-entry heat shield can withstand temperatures in the range of 4000 degrees centigrade and makes sure the avionics function normally.
- The Agni-IV had undergone one failed and five successful tests over the last five years, with the last one being conducted in November 2015.
