Chandipur (Odisha), August 21: India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile Agni-5 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, the Ministry of Defence announced in an official statement.
The launch, conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
This comes close on the heels of two other successful missile trials. On July 18, India test-fired the short-range ballistic missiles Prithvi-II and Agni-I from the same test range in Chandipur. These trials also met all mission objectives under the Strategic Forces Command.
Earlier, on July 16, the country achieved another milestone when it successfully destroyed two aerial high-speed unmanned targets at high altitude in Ladakh using Akash Prime, an upgraded variant of the Akash Weapon System developed for the Indian Army.
The Akash Prime system, customised for operations at altitudes above 4,500 meters, incorporates the latest upgrades including an indigenously developed Radio Frequency seeker. Based on user feedback, the weapon has been enhanced to improve operational effectiveness, reflecting the strength of India’s indigenous defence ecosystem.
The Army Air Defence and DRDO, in collaboration with Defence PSUs such as Bharat Dynamics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, and other industry partners, successfully validated the Akash Prime Weapon System during the first production model firing. Officials said the trials will pave the way for its timely induction, significantly bolstering India’s air defence capabilities in high-altitude regions.
