India's missile technology at par with global best: DRDO

New Delhi, Apr 20 (ANI): After the successful launch of its Agni-V missile, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) on Friday said India was now at par with the most of the developed nations of the world in the domain of missile and defence technology.

Addressing mediapersons at press conference here, DRDO Director General Vijay Kumar Saraswat said that although the developed nations had achieved advances in missile technology during the last decade, India today had the same level of missile technology in its arsenal.

"Today in the missile technology area we are at par with the world. I have no doubts in claiming that today our country has the same technology as most of the developed nations have achieved, maybe they achieved five years earlier or ten years earlier, but we have achieved today," said Saraswat.

Emphasizing that India was on in a missile race, Saraswat reiterated the stance that this test was not conducted to intimidate any country, adding that development and deployment of Agni-V would be more of a deterrent than an offensive weapon.

"We are not in a missile race, we are not doing or counting that we have achieved this or achieved that. Yes, we wanted to prove it to the nation that India today has capability Long Range Ballistic missiles. But it is not to intimidate anybody, it is not to say that we are trying to use this for any purpose, which is not for the defence of the country. So, as far as we are concerned, we don't worry about the reactions, which are coming from any part of this world," said Saraswat.

He also noted that Agni-V is perfect to India's needs as it served to the specific and current threat posed to the nation.

"With regard to ranges, I have been telling all along, we are building missiles to meet our requirements; our requirements are with respect to our threat profile. Similarly now we have Agni V, which has now taken us to a particular capability. Obviously, our development is with respect to our threat. We don't worry whether others have got missiles of longer ranges or shorter ranges; it is not our concern because they build their missiles based on their threats," he said.

Answering a query on the status of India having the technology of a Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM), Saraswat said that the project was in its development stage and would soon be revealed to the people of the country.

"It is in a development process, which is on and we are developing missiles, which would be launched from under water. We are fairly in an advanced stage of development. As and when we are in a position to demonstrate to the nation, you will come to know," added Saraswat.

India on Thursday test-fired for the first time its strategic missile, the over 5,000-km range Agni-V, joining the super exclusive ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) club that counts just US, Russia, China, France and UK as its members.

The test firing was deemed as a major leap forward in missile technology and military deterrent capability for the country.

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.

The nuclear-capable, three-stage Agni-V, about 50-tonne in weight and 17.5-metre tall, will become fully operational by 2014-2015. (ANI)