Why in news?
India successfully conducted the latest test-fire of its most advanced nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile, Agni-5, on August 20, 2025. The launch took place from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, under the Strategic Forces Command's supervision. 

About Agni-5 Missile
The Agni-5 missile is an indigenously developed Indian intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) designed primarily for nuclear deterrence.

Here are the key details about Agni-5:

• Range: Over 5,000 kilometers, with ongoing development potentially extending it up to 7,500 kilometers. This allows it to cover almost the entire Asian continent, including northern China, and parts of Europe.
• Stages: Three-stage solid-fueled missile featuring a composite motor casing for the second and third stages to reduce weight.
• Launch System: Road-mobile, canister-launched, enhancing mobility, storage, and rapid deployment capabilities.
• Payload: Capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicles (MIRVs), allowing multiple warheads to be targeted independently in a single launch.
• Navigation and Guidance: Incorporates advanced ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation, accelerometer, satellite navigation (India’s NavIC and GPS), and thrust vector control for high accuracy.
• Design Features: Use of light composite materials for weight reduction, improved avionics, re-entry heat shielding, and enhanced precision.
• Strategic Role: Key component of India’s nuclear deterrence, especially against China and for credible second-strike capability, aligning with India’s “No First Use” nuclear doctrine.
• Operational Status: The missile has undergone multiple successful test firings, with the latest conducted in August 2025 confirming its readiness and MIRV capability.
• Historical Note: Agni-5 was developed to extend India’s missile reach beyond the 4,000 km range of Agni-IV, to cover strategic targets much deeper into China and beyond.

Agni-5 significantly strengthens India's strategic strike capabilities by providing a long-range, mobile, and highly accurate missile system capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, thereby bolstering India's deterrence posture and strategic flexibility.

Ballistic Missile

• A ballistic missile is a type of missile that delivers warheads to a target by following a ballistic trajectory, which is largely determined by gravity.
• These missiles are powered only during an initial "boost" phase when rocket engines propel them upward and give them velocity.
• After this powered phase, the missile follows an unpowered, curved flight path outside or within the atmosphere before re-entering and descending rapidly toward the target at hypersonic speeds.
• Ballistic missiles differ from cruise missiles, which are continuously powered and guided through the atmosphere. Ballistic missiles can be launched from land-based silos, mobile launchers, ships, submarines, and aircraft.

They are classified according to their range:

• Tactical Ballistic Missiles (TBM): less than 300 km
• Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM): 300 to 1,000 km
• Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBM): 1,000 to 3,500 km
• Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBM): 3,500 to 5,500 km
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM): greater than 5,500 km

The missile's flight is typically divided into three phases:

• Boost Phase: Powered flight where the missile is propelled upwards.
• Midcourse Phase: Unpowered flight along a ballistic trajectory, sometimes through space.
• Terminal Phase: Re-entry and rapid descent towards the target, where it may travel at hypersonic speeds.

 

Agni-5 Missile FAQs
Agni-5 and Ballistic Missile Technology**
 
1. Which of the following best describes the propulsion and structural design features of the Agni-5 missile? 
   A) Two-stage liquid-fueled missile with steel motor casing and fixed launch platform 
   B) Three-stage solid-fueled missile with composite motor casing for the second and third stages and road-mobile canister launch system 
   C) Single-stage solid-fueled missile with aluminum motor casing and silo-based launch only 
   D) Four-stage hybrid-fueled missile with titanium motor casing and exclusively submarine launch capability 
2. The Agni-5 missile's navigation system includes multiple technologies. Which combination below correctly lists its navigation and guidance features? 
   A) Ring laser gyroscope inertial navigation, accelerometer, satellite navigation (NavIC and  GPS), thrust vector control 
   B) GPS-only navigation with traditional mechanical gyroscope and aerodynamic steering 
   C) Star-tracking inertial navigation with manual guidance and radar homing 
   D) Magnetic compass guidance combined with ground-based radar corrections 
3. What strategic advantage does the Agni-5 missile primarily provide to India in terms of its nuclear doctrine? 
   A) Enables first-strike capability against neighboring countries 
   B) Provides credible second-strike capability aligned with India's "No First Use" nuclear      doctrine 
   C) Acts as a tactical battlefield missile for short-range engagements 
   D) Serves as a conventional-only missile system without nuclear payloads 
4. How does the classification of ballistic missiles define the Agni-5 missile based on its range? 
 A) Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) with range up to 1,000 km 
 B) Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (MRBM) with range between 1,000 to 3,500 km 
 C) Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) with range over 5,000 km, potentially                 extending to 7,500 km 
   D) Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) with range below 5,500 km 
5. Which of the following correctly sequences the flight phases of a ballistic missile like Agni-5? 
   A) Terminal Phase → Midcourse Phase → Boost Phase 
   B) Boost Phase → Terminal Phase → Midcourse Phase 
   C) Midcourse Phase → Boost Phase → Terminal Phase 
   D) Boost Phase → Midcourse Phase → Terminal Phase 

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