“Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile ‘Agni 5’ was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha,” the Defence Ministry said.
India on Wednesday carried out a successful test of its Agni-5 ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha, the Defence Ministry said, calling the launch a validation of the country’s strategic capabilities.
The missile was fired under the command of the Strategic Forces Command, which oversees India’s nuclear arsenal. “Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile ‘Agni 5’ was successfully test-fired from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha on August 20, 2025. The launch validated all operational and technical parameters. It was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command,” the ministry said in a statement.
The Agni-5, developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was first tested in April 2012. With a range of more than 5,000 kilometres, it places most of Asia, including China, within reach. The missile is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads, making it a key component of India’s deterrence strategy.
The Agni-5 can carry up to three nuclear warheads, and work is underway on newer variants expected to extend its range to about 7,500 kilometers. Future versions are also being designed with bunker-busting capability, giving the missile the ability to strike heavily fortified targets.
Wednesday’s launch comes amid growing attention to India’s expanding arsenal, which includes both land-based and submarine-launched missiles.
The test has drawn concern from across the border. The Strategic Vision Institute, a think tank in Islamabad, warned Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir that India’s missile program poses “serious risks” to regional stability. It argued that India’s progress accelerated after joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) in 2016, giving it access to advanced missile systems, as per a report by The Times of India.