Indian Army AGNI III

Indian Army AGNI III missile model goes past, during full dress rehearsal of Republic Day Parade in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. Republic day parade will be held on Jan. 26, 2008, where India will showcase its military might and economic strength. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

In many other respects, the Agni-5, which is scheduled to make its first flight in early-2011, carries forward the Agni-3 pedigree. With composites used extensively to reduce weight, and a third stage added on (the Agni-3 was a two-stage missile), the Agni-5 can fly 1,500 km further than the 3,500-km Agni-3.

“The Agni-5 is specially tailored for road-mobility,” explains Avinash Chander, Director, ASL. “With the canister having been successfully developed, all India’s future land-based strategic missiles will be canisterised as well”.

Made of maraging steel, a canister must provide a hermitically sealed atmosphere that preserves the missile for years. During firing, the canister must absorb enormous stresses when a thrust of 300to 400 tonnes is generated to eject the 50-tonne missile.

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China spooked by India’s Agni-5

Agni-5, India’s latest long-range nuclear-capable missile under development, can target China’s northernmost city of Harbin, a leading Chinese newspaper has claimed amid a slew of strident anti-India articles over the status of Arunachal Pradesh.

“India’s Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) has made its forthcoming Agni-5 missile highly road-mobile, or easily transportable by road, which would bring Harbin, China’s northernmost city within striking range if the Agni-5 is moved to northeast India,” the People’s Daily reported.

Harbin is the capital of China’s Heilongjiang Province.

The paper, the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party, noted that the Agni-5 which has a range of 5,000 km is similar to the Dongfeng-31A showcased during China’s National Day Military Parade on October 1 in Beijing.

India is going to test-fire the missile in early 2011, the report claimed.

The report came two days after China raked up its claim over Arunachal Pradesh, questioning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit there on October 3.

Reacting strongly to the Chinese objection to Singh’s visit, India said the comments were disappointing as the state is an inalienable part of the country and such remarks do “not help” the process of talks on boundary issue.

A number of state-run Chinese papers have stepped up rhetoric against India on the boundary issue through their articles.

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