India has successfully test-fired the Agni-V intermediate-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The launch, conducted on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, validated all operational and technical parameters, according to the Ministry of Defence. The test was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.

The Agni-V is a surface-to-surface missile that utilizes a three-stage solid-fuelled engine. It is capable of striking targets up to 5,000 kilometers away with a high degree of accuracy. Designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Agni-V is a canister-launched system transported by truck. It can carry a payload of 1.5 tonnes and weighs about 50 tonnes.

The Agni-V is viewed as a deterrent against China due to its range. It is considered an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). With this test, India reinforces its position as one of the few countries with ICBM capabilities. Currently, only the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, China, France, Israel, and North Korea possess this capability.

The Agni series of missiles includes Agni-I (700 km range), Agni-II (2,000 km), and Agni-III and IV (2,500–3,500 km). The Agni-V is the most advanced in the series, with the first test conducted in 2012. A previous trial of Agni-V, conducted on March 11, 2024, tested the missile's Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, enabling it to strike multiple targets with a single launch.

This successful test firing of the Agni-V missile is a significant boost to India's strategic defense capabilities and strengthens the country's policy of "credible minimum deterrence".