Agni-5 Ballistic Missile: India on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, successfully test-fired its Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha. The test, carried out under the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), validated all major operational and technical parameters, strengthening India’s strategic deterrence capabilities.
The Agni-5 missile, developed indigenously by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has a range of up to 5,000 kilometers. Classified as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the weapon system has been designed keeping in mind India’s long-term security needs and changing regional threats.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the successful launch demonstrates India’s growing technological edge in missile systems and its commitment to maintaining a credible minimum deterrent policy. The Agni-5 is part of the Agni missile series, which forms the backbone of India’s nuclear-capable strategic arsenal.
A Continuation of Advanced Trials
This test follows the March 11, 2024 trial, where DRDO successfully equipped the Agni-5 with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology. MIRV allows a single missile to carry and deploy multiple warheads at different targets simultaneously, drastically increasing its effectiveness.
The latest test, while not MIRV-equipped, was focused on validating the reliability, accuracy, and operational readiness of the missile under live conditions. Defence analysts have hailed it as a “force multiplier” in India’s defence architecture, especially in view of rising strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region.
Strategic Significance
With a strike range covering most of Asia, including critical regions in China, as well as parts of Europe, the Agni-5 enhances India’s second-strike capability. It signals not just technological advancement but also India’s firm resolve to safeguard its sovereignty in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed that India remains committed to its no-first-use policy, and that the development of such weapons is solely for deterrence and national security.
