The indigenously developed Agni-5 , an inter continental surface to surface ballistic missile, has been – successfully test fired by India, thus making its entry into the elite club of five nations in the world having similar capability in missile technology. The most notable feature of the feat of our Nuclear Scientists is that this launch has given enough teeth to our missile prowess to move closer to matching China’s capability in the long range missiles and has ventured to make a dent in the race for missile dominance in Asia. This most capable ballistic missile can hit targets any where in China and many parts of Europe. This missile has the capability to carry in its bosom, a nuclear warhead weighing more than a ton and has the striking range of 5500 kilometer.
The missile was test fired from a wheeler island, off the coast of Odisha. The test was described by the DRDO officials as, “overwhelming success and showed the reliability and the maturity of the sub- systems.” According to reports, this sleek missile roared majestically into a clear sunny sky, leaving behind trail of smoke, within a few seconds of its blast off, from the island launch pad. The journey appears to have accelerated towards attaining the mile stone of developing missiles with twice as much striking rate as Agni-5 to stand shoulder to shoulder with China. This missile is the most advanced version of all the indigenously built missiles, having some new technologies incorporated with it in terms of navigation , guidance warhead and engine. It may be recalled that India at present, has Agni-1 with 700 km. range, Agni-2 with 2000 kms. range, Agni3 and 4 with 2500 kms. to 3000 kms range respectively and now Agni-5 is the first one, capable of reaching deep into China and as far as many parts of Europe. This missile, as such, has the potential to form key component of India’s strategic arsenal.
Despite taking giant strategic steps in developing nuclear missiles, India is committed to the policy of “no first use” in deference to its commitment towards world peace and the principal of mutual co-existence. However, to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity coupled with the most sensitive aspect of guarding its nuclear arsenal from any assault, the policy planners and defence experts are conscious of the fact and the country could do more to go in for a nuclear triad in congruence to its policy of developing of capabilities of its credible minimum deterrent doctrine. In other words, the country has to build a three tier missile system, that of traditional strategic bombers, inter continental ballistic missiles and sub-marine launched ballistic missiles. That ensures insulation from an impending enemy attack on all nuclear forces in a first strike and makes the second strike as a sound deterrent. We have surface to surface, surface to air and are working on “Sagarika”, the submarine launched ballistic missile.
The country having traditionally opposed proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, has been mortified to arm itself reasonably adequately to primarily defend itself from the belligerent neighbourhood , one of whom has been abetting , aiding and sustaining proxy war against the country for the last three decades. The missile development programme has got to be seen and analysed in that context. However, with the successful launch of the Agni-5, initiation of production and subsequent induction is not any far and is expected to be in the country’s arsenal by 2015.
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