New Delhi/Balasore: India has successfully test-fired its indigenously developed Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile, marking a major boost to the country’s nuclear deterrence capabilities.
The launch took place from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, and officials confirmed that the test validated “all operational and technical parameters.”
With a range of up to 5,000 kilometres, the Agni-5 missile is capable of striking targets across nearly all of Asia, including the northernmost parts of China, and extending into certain regions of Europe. The latest test underscores New Delhi’s determination to strengthen its long-range strategic capabilities amid heightened security challenges.
The defence ministry said the launch was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, which manages India’s nuclear arsenal. “Intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-5 was successfully test-fired… the launch validated all operational and technical parameters,” the ministry said in its statement.
The Agni-5 is the most advanced in the Agni series of ballistic missiles, which already includes Agni-1 to Agni-4 with ranges between 700 and 3,500 kilometres. These systems have been deployed as part of India’s operational nuclear forces.
India successfully test-fires Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-5 from ITR Chandipur, Odisha on 20 Aug 2025. All operational & technical parameters validated. Launch conducted under the aegis of Strategic Forces Command.
Read here: https://t.co/K83tUAAaXy@rajnathsingh…
— Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) August 20, 2025
The country has also developed the short-range, nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile, with a range of 350 kilometres and a payload capacity of 500 kilograms, as well as the Agni-I, which can carry a 1,000-kilogram payload to ranges of up to 900 kilometres.
More recently, India test-fired the newly developed surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay,’ a conventional tactical weapon with a range of 150–500 kilometers and a payload capacity of between 500 and 1,000 kilograms.
Defence experts say this diversification of missile systems reflects India’s dual strategy of maintaining both strategic deterrence and conventional battlefield readiness.
The Agni-5 test comes at a sensitive geopolitical moment. Relations between India and China remain tense following the deadly 2020 border clash, despite recent diplomatic overtures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned visit to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
India’s missile program is also viewed in the context of its long-standing rivalry with Pakistan, which is armed with nuclear weapons. The latest test was conducted just months after a military flare-up between the two neighbours, underscoring the fragile security environment in South Asia.
