This month, the Indo-Pacific Defense Forum reported that India successfully conducted a test of its longest-range ballistic missile, the Agni-5, in August from a launch site in Odisha, according to India’s Strategic Forces Command. Developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the three-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) has a range that exceeds 5,000 kilometers. It’s capable of carrying a nuclear payload to targets in China and Pakistan, amid ongoing border disputes.
Following a 2024 trial of a variant with a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV), which lets a single missile carry multiple warheads, the test showcased a standard configuration. However, analysts believe it also demonstrated that the technology is ready for future submarine-launched capabilities.
