Orissa: India successfully carried out the first canister-based trial of its most potent missile Agni-V. The missile has a strike range of over 5000 kms and can carry a nuclear warhead of over one tonne.
The missile was launched from a canister mounted on a road-mobile launcher at Wheeler's Island off Odisha coast. The three-stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from the launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 8.06 hours.
The canister would make the missile fully road or rail mobile, giving a great deal of secrecy and flexibility to the country's strategic strike capability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed scientists for the successful test-firing of 'Agni V' and said the missile is a prized asset for the country's forces.