India on Thursday conducted the maiden test of its indigenously developed nuclear capable Agni-V ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km, from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.
The three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8:05am, defence sources said.
Soon after the maiden launch took place, Agni-V witnessed a smooth and perfect vertical lift-off from the launcher and analysis was done to assess its health parameters after retrieval of date from all the sophisticated wide range of communication network systems, they said.
The test-fire of the first of its kind missile, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, had to be postponed at the last moment due to bad weather marked by rains and heavy lightning, the sources said.
The trial of Agni-V, considered to be of the category of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrates giant strides taken by India in its integrated missile development programme.
Only the United States, Russia, France and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM at present.
(My favorite comment: We dont have electric power for 10 hours a day!!! Anyways, we have a missile!!)
Though maybe it’s more like this one:
AFP, April 19
WASHINGTON — The White House Thursday urged restraint among nuclear capable states after India tested a long-range missile, but rejected any comparison between New Delhi’s behavior and that of North Korea.
“We urge all nuclear capable states to exercise restraint regarding nuclear and missile capabilities and continue to discourage actions that might destabilize the South Asia region,†said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
[...]
“I would simply point out because comparisons have been made to (North Korea) that India’s actions and India’s record stands in stark contrast to that of North Korea,†Carney said.