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With China in mind Agni-V test scheduled for December

NEW DELHI: India finally plans to test its most ambitious strategic missile Agni-V with near ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) capabilities this December after some delay. With high road mobility fast-reaction ability and a strike range over 5000 km Agni-V would even bring China s northernmost regions within its nuclear strike envelope if it is ever required. The armed forces are already inducting the two-stage 3 500-km Agni-III after completion of its developmental and pre-induction trials last year having earlier operationalised the Pakistan-specific Agni-I (700-km) and Agni-II (over 2 000-km) missiles. The Agni-V in turn is meant to add some much-needed credible deterrence muscle against China which has a massive nuclear arsenal with missiles like the 11 200-km Dong Feng-31A capable of hitting any Indian city. For one it will be quite easy to store and swiftly transport the 17.5-metre tall Agni-V by road since its a canister-launch missile system unlike the earlier Agni missiles. If fired from the North-East for instanc it would be able to hit Chinas northernmost city of Habin. For another Agni-V would also carry MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles) payloads being concurrently developed. A single MIRVed missile can deliver multiple warheads at different targets even if they are separated by long distances. We have tested the three (solid-propellant composite rocket motor) stages of Agni-V independently...all ground tests are now over. The integration process is now in progress. We want to test the missile in December not let it spill over to 2012 DRDO chief V K Saraswat told TOI on Friday. This came after defence minister A K Antony addressing the annual DRDO awards ceremony asked defence scientists to demonstrate the 5000-km missile s capability at the earliest. With a launch mass of around 50 tonne and a development cost of over Rs 2500 crore Agni-V will incorporate advanced technologies involving ring laser gyroscope and accelerator for navigation and guidance. It takes its first stage from Agni-III with a modified second stage and a miniaturized third stage to ensure it can fly to distances beyond 5000 km.

                                                                                                               
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