New Delhi/Chandipur: In a major advancement for India's defence capabilities, the Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which is capable of carrying nuclear warheads, was successfully launched on Wednesday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) located in Chandipur, Odisha, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence.

The ministry's announcement stated, "The Agni-5 missile was successfully test-fired from Chandipur on August 20. This launch confirmed all operational and technical specifications and was executed under the Strategic Forces Command's supervision."

This missile is a variant of India's domestically produced ICBM, Agni-5. While it has been reported to have a range exceeding 5,000 km, defence officials have indicated that an enhanced version with a potential range of 7,500 km is currently being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The Agni-5 missile plays a crucial role in India's nuclear deterrent strategy. It features Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, enabling it to carry and deploy several nuclear warheads to different targets in a single launch.

This capability was first demonstrated during the missile's initial MIRVed test on March 11, 2024, conducted from Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

Currently, the missile can carry up to three nuclear warheads at once, significantly enhancing India's second-strike capability and reinforcing its no-first-use nuclear policy.

Developed by the DRDO, the Agni-5 missile is designed to align with India's long-term strategic and security goals. Its land-based and road-mobile design ensures high survivability and deployment flexibility. Experts believe it will serve as a credible deterrent against potential adversaries, regardless of their location.

Future iterations of the Agni-5 are anticipated to include bunker-busting technologies, which will improve its effectiveness against fortified underground targets.

The Agni missile series, which spans from short-range to intercontinental systems, constitutes the backbone of India's nuclear triad. With the Agni-5, India joins an exclusive group of nations, including the United States, Russia, China, France, and the UK, that possess ICBM capabilities with MIRV technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously commended the DRDO team after the March 2024 MIRV test, referring to it as a "technological milestone" in India's defence evolution.

With the successful test conducted on Wednesday, India has reaffirmed its status as a technologically advanced and responsible nuclear power dedicated to maintaining strategic stability.