Agni-5 ballistic missile

  • December 16, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Agni-5 ballistic missile

Subject :Science and Technology

Context Agni-5 ballistic missile test fire successfully

Agni V Missile:

  • It is the most advanced surface-to-surface indigenously built fire and forgets ballistic missiles.
    • Fire and forgets means: once fired cannot be stopped, except by an interceptor missile.
  • It was successfully launched from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.
  • The three-stage solid-fuelled engine missile is capable of striking targets at ranges up to 5,000 km.
    • With a very high degree of accuracy and can reach most parts of China.
    • It has already been canisterised which improves the ease of handling and operation.
  • The Agni series constitutes the backbone of the nuclear weapons delivery 
    • It also includes the Prithvi short-range ballistic missiles and fighter aircraft. 
    • It has the capability of carrying a nuclear warhead of about 5 tonnes.
  • India has also completed its nuclear triad and operationalised its second-strike capability, with ballistic missile submarine INS Arihant undertaking deterrence patrols.
  • It has been developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
  • Very few countries, including the US, China, Russia, France and North Korea, have InterContinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM).
  • About IGMDP:
    • It was conceived by Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
    • Its aim was to enable India to attain self-sufficiency in the field of missile technology.
    • The 5 missiles developed under this program
    • Prithvi, Agni, Trishul, Nag, and Akash.
  • Agni Class of Missiles:
    • Agni missiles are long-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear bombs.
    • They are the mainstay of India’s nuclear launch capability.
    • Range:
      • Agni I: Range of 700-800 km.
      • Agni II: Range more than 2000 km.
      • Agni III: Range of more than 2,500 Km
      • Agni IV: Range is more than 3,500 km and can fire from a road-mobile launcher.
      • Agni-V: The longest of the Agni series, an Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with a range of over 5,000 km.
      • Agni-P (Prime): It is a canisterised missile with a range capability between 1,000 and 2,000 km. It will replace the Agni I missile.

Cruise missiles vs Ballistic missiles

Cruise MissileBallistic missile
  • A cruise missile either locates its target or has a preset target.
  • It navigates using a guidance system — such as inertial or beyond visual range satellite GPS guidance — and comprises a payload and aircraft propulsion system.
  • Cruise missiles can be launched from land, sea or air for land attacks and anti-shipping purposes, and can travel at subsonic, supersonic and hypersonic speeds.
  • Since they stay relatively close to the surface of the earth, they cannot be detected easily by anti-missile systems, and are designed to carry large payloads with high precision.
  • Ballistic missiles are launched directly into the upper layers of the earth’s atmosphere.
  • They travel outside the atmosphere, where the warhead detaches from the missile and falls towards a predetermined target.
  • They are rocket-propelled self-guided weapons systems which can carry conventional or nuclear munitions.
  • They can be launched from aircraft, ships and submarines, and land.
  • Relative to cruise missiles, they can be detected easily via radars.
Agni-5 ballistic missile Science and tech