India Successfully Test Fires Agni V Missile from APJ Abdul Kalam Island
The Eastern Air Command based in Shillong also conducted a two-day consolidated air combat exercise after the clash
GUWAHATI: Amidst the ongoing hustle between the Indian and the Chinese troops in the Tawang region of the Northeastern State of Arunachal Pradesh, India conducted a successful test of its Agni V rocket system on Thursday, December 15.
One of the latest in the line of indigenous surface-to-surface ballistic missile developed under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. This missile uses a three-stage propulsion system which allows reaching targets up to 5000 km away from the launch site and destroying them with full precision. While the official numbers provided by India show a much smaller target range, China has been continuously complaining that this weapon system has the capacities of an intercontinental ballistic missile. It also has the capacity to deliver a nuclear warhead at a precise destination, thus acting as a deterrent to the nuclear arsenal of China.
The weapon system, if launched from strategic positions in the country, can easily reach key targets inside China. This has been one of the main reasons that India decided to conduct a test fire of the system within a few days of the hustle between Indian and Chinese forces in the Tawang sector. Although the exact details are unknown, both countries are blaming each other for encroaching into their own territory. Neither have the exact numbers of injuries been revealed by the government.
The Eastern Air Command based in Shillong also conducted a two-day consolidated air combat exercise after the clash. Although it was mentioned to be a pre-planned exercise, it was conducted in parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, using several of the assets of the Indian Air Force. C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, Apache and Chinook helicopter and drones were used as a part of this exercise.
The Agni V missile was launched at 5.45 PM IST from the coast of Odisha. Several places in West Bengal, Assam and Manipur reported lights in the night sky post the launch of the missile.
Also Read: China continues to amass forces, build military infrastructure on border with India
Also Watch:
