Agni-V launch today would be landmark for India's missile technology, says former Air Chief

Bangalore, Apr 18 (ANI): Stating that the launch of Agni-V will be a landmark achievement as far as the missile technology is concerned, former Air Chief, Fali Homi Major, on Wednesday this will give a huge edge to the country in as far as its nuclear capability is concerned.

"The launch of the Agni-V when it takes place will firstly prove that we have a demonstrable deterrence available in the country with a five thousand kilometer range, which is in itself a big statement to make, and an entry into the elite club of just about four other countries, who have this capability. It will be a landmark achievement as far as our missile technology of the country is concerned," said Major.

"Agni-IV was a 3,500 kilometer range missile and this is a 5,000 kilometer range missile. Better warhead carrying capacity and better accurate navigation system. This will give a huge edge to the country in as far as its nuclear capability is concerned, he added, when asked how advance is this ballistic missile in comparison to the previous, Agni-IV, both technically and capacity wise.

Major said the launch of Agni-V give India a huge demonstrable deterrence capability against anybody having evil desires, and added that it is a huge achievement for the scientists of the country.

"It will give the country a huge demonstrable deterrence capability against anybody, who has evil desires over this country. And technologically, it is a huge achievement for our scientists in the country," said Major, when asked asked that what difference will it make if India gets success in test firing this missile taking note of the fact that only four countries US, China, Russia and France possess this inter-continental ballistic missiles.

" And indeed a huge opportunity for our Indian industries to have more or less made most of the components and the computers, technology, it's almost indigenous. And for that we need to give our scientists a big applause, they have done a fine job," he added.

Responding to a question on how may more tests will be required prior to inducting this ballistic missile , Major said: "I cannot say how many, but it is fully operationalised and deployed, it will undergo a few more tests."

India will test fire its 5,000 km range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V on Wednesday evening from a test range in Wheeler island off the coast of Odisha.

The test fire will be as major leap forward in missile technology and military deterrent capability.

India will join an elite group of nations such as the US, Russia and China with inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) when it tests the over 5,000-km-range Agni- 5.

India has in November last tested the 3,500-km-range Agni-IV missile giving muscle to India's deterrent capability against the military adversaries.

Agni-V is a solid fueled intercontinental ballistic missile. It will greatly expand India's reach to strike targets well beyond 5,500 km away. (ANI)