INDIA HAS successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable, intermediate-range ballistic missile to a distance of over 5,000km, rendering it capable of striking targets deep inside China’s territories.
The launch yesterday of the 17.5m missile weighing 50 tonnes, from a test range on the country’s east coast, also propels India into the small group of nations capable of firing long-range missiles – Britain, France, China, Russia and the US.
It will further strengthen its nuclear deterrence capability once the missile was inducted into service by 2014-2015 following four or five more tests to confirm its accuracy.
India’s retaliatory, no-first-use strategic deterrence is based on nuclear weapons delivered by sea-based platforms, air and mobile, land-based assets. The latter includes the Agni (meaning fire) missile variants with strike ranges of 700-5,000km.
According to an estimate by the Federation of American Scientists in February 2011, India’s stockpile of nuclear weapons was 80-100.
China had many times more than that number.
“The nation stands tall today,” Indian defence minister AK Antony said after the missile test.
The launch of the state-run Defence Research and Development Organisation-designed Agni5, which cost more than $500 million to develop, evoked a muted response from Beijing.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin declined to discuss the launch at a regular news conference, saying only that the neighbours should work together as strategic partners and not rivals.
However a state TV report on the launch listed the missile’s shortcomings while a Chinese newspaper warned India not to be arrogant and overestimate its strength.
“India should be clear that China’s nuclear power is stronger and more reliable,” declared an editorial in the Global Times published by the Communist Party’s official mouthpiece, the People’s Daily.
“For the foreseeable future, India would stand no chance in an overall arms race with China.
Security analyst C Raja Mohan said: “Agni5 will provide India with badly needed dissuasive deterrence against China which it presently lacks.”
