India is going to test fire the 5000 kilometre range Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni 5 in Wheeler island off the Orissa coast.

Briefing about the missile, DRDO chief V K Sarawat has said that various military officials and the agencies that took part in the development of Agni 5 will be present when the missile will be test fired.

With this missile, India finds place among the countries such as US, Russia, China and France for having the capability of launching an inter-continental ballistic missile. DRDO has also said that the country will be test firing more such missiles after a year.

It may be recalled that DRDO has test fired 3500 kilometer range Agni 4 in November 2011.

All the countries that have the capacity to launch ICBM will today focus their attention on the present test fire of the missile. It will also tell the other countries that India is strong enough to defend itself during the war.
Notably, Agni itself is a greatest project being taken up by the DRDO. (Phani)