New Delhi, April 19: After the cancellation of test-flight of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 a day ago due to bad weather, India on Thursday successfully test fired the 5000 km range missile.
Agni-5 was launched from a test range at Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa at 0807 hours and took 15 minutes to reach its target in Southern Indian Ocean.
The three stage solid fueled, ICBM Agni-5 was scheduled for launch on Wednesday at 2000 hrs from Wheeler Island test range on east coast of the country Orissa state. The 17-metre tall missile is capable of carrying nuclear payload, and could be a matter of concern for countries like China and Pakistan.
India's Defence Minister A K Antony described the maiden test flight of the ICBM Agni-5 as an "immaculate success" and a "major milestone".
"The nation stands tall today. We have joined the elite club of nations (to possess the ICBM capability)," Antony told the DRDO Chief Dr V K Saraswat on phone after the test flight of the missile was declared successful.
"The immaculate success of the Agni-5 is a major milestone in the country's missile research and development programme," he added.
Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the Agni-5 achieved all the mission parameters and has turned out to be a huge success.
With the successful test fire of Agni-5, India will be fifth country in the world, after the US, Russia, France, China, to possess ICBM technology.
Earlier in November 2011, DRDO had successfully test fired the 3,500 km range Agni-4.
New Delhi, April 19: After the cancellation of test-flight of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 a day ago due to bad weather, India on Thursday successfully test fired the 5000 km range missile. Agni-5 was launched from a test range at Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha at 0807 hours and took 15 minutes to reach its target in Southern Indian Ocean.
The three stage solid fueled, ICBM Agni-5 was scheduled for launch on Wednesday at 2000 hrs from Wheeler Island test range on east coast of the country Orissa state. The 17-metre tall missile is capable of carrying nuclear payload, and could be a matter of concern for countries like China and Pakistan.
India's Defence Minister A K Antony described the maiden test flight of the ICBM Agni-5 as an "immaculate success" and a "major milestone".
"The nation stands tall today. We have joined the elite club of nations (to possess the ICBM capability)," Antony told the DRDO Chief Dr V K Saraswat on phone after the test flight of the missile was declared successful.
"The immaculate success of the Agni-5 is a major milestone in the country's missile research and development programme," he added.
Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the Agni-5 achieved all the mission parameters and has turned out to be a huge success.
With the successful test fire of Agni-5, India will be fifth country in the world, after the US, Russia, France, China, to possess ICBM technology.
Earlier in November 2011, DRDO had successfully test fired the 3,500 km range Agni-4.
