Agni V tested only for 5,000 km range

COIMBATORE: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) R&D Chief Controller A Sivathanu Pillai on Saturday made it clear that the Agni-V, India’s first Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICMB), was tested only for a range of 5,000 km and not beyond at the Wheeler Island in Odisha on Thursday last.At an informal interaction with journalists, when asked Pillai about China’s claim that the Agni V missile could reach targets in Europe up to a range of 8,000 kms, he said “Agni V has been tested for a range of 5,000 km. Further, extending the range or even testing the capability for an extended range will be considered only after political and diplomatic deliberations.” To a question on China’s pronouncement that India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with her neighbour, Pillai said: “I am not a diplomat to retaliate to what China has said. But I assure that we are self-reliant in the guided weapon system.” Pillai, who is also the founder CEO of the BrahMos Aerospace, a unit of the DRDO which is developing a stealth cruise missile that can steep-dive vertically at the target at supersonic speeds, said the third stage of BrahMos (Block III) test has given desired results in incorporating precision for high manoeuvres at multiple points when it is developed eventually.