India is reportedly planning to deploy its most potent nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-V this year. The 5,000-plus km range of Agni-V makes India the eighth nation in the world to have Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities. The canisterised Agni-V gives the forces the requisite operational flexibility to swiftly transport as per requirement on a short notice.
The indigenously developed Agni-V missile, which is undergoing its pre-induction trials would be finally deployed at strategic locations as selected by the armed forces, The New Indian Express (TNIE) reported quoting its defence sources.
The TNIE sources further said that the missile would be officially deployed with the final induction trial in next three to four months, adding it will pave the way for the development of more long-range missiles, which are on the drawing board
The missile is equipped with highly accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation and most modern micro inertial navigation system with advanced compact avionics is capable of taking down targets in the whole of Asia and half of Europe.
DRDO also plans to test some new technologies, including the multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRV), which allows long range missiles to deliver multiple warheads programmed to destroy different targets hundreds of km away from each other and alternatively launch more than one warhead assigned to one target.
This apart, several missions, including maiden flight trial of beyond visual range Astra Mk II having a strike range of over 150 km, user trial of guided Pinaka rockets and developmental test of an advanced version of home grown subsonic cruise missile Nirbhay have been planned in early 2021.
