India shocks world by firing ICBM capable of striking China to become global NUCLEAR POWER
INDIA has successfully launched its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of striking anywhere in China, the Indian Defence Ministry has revealed.
By Joshua Nevett
DailyStar.co.uk
18th January 2018
The Agni-V long-range ICBM was launched from the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast at 9:53am local time this morning.
The nuclear-capable missile, believed to be India’s most advanced ICBM, has a range of more than 5,000km, meaning it can strike the vast majority of China and Europe.
The 17-metre tall, two-metre wide sophisticated missile, which can carry a 1.5 tonne nuclear warhead, travelled for 19 minutes and covered 4,900km.
In a statement of intent, India’s defence ministry hailed the test as a “major boost” to the nation’s defence capabilities.
“We have successfully launched nuclear capable ballistic missile Agni-V today,” defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today.
Dramatic footage shows the Agni-V being blasted into the sky off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha.
Having successfully launched the Agni-V, India has joined an exclusive club of countries, including Russia, the US and China, with ICBMs with ranges of more than 5,000km.
The launch is likely to infuriate China and Pakistan, which both condemned India when it last tested the missile in December 2016.
A border dispute in the Himalayan region of Doklam led to heightened military tensions between Beijing and New Delhi in 2017.
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