India successfully tested a long-range ballistic missile, the country's Ministry of Defence announced Thursday (Jan. 18).
The ballistic missile, called Agni-5, launched Thursday morning from a road-mobile launcher based on Abdul Kalam Island in India's eastern state of Odisha, Indian defense ministry officials said. The missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead, flew about 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) in 19 minutes, The New York Times reported.
"All objectives of the mission have been successfully met," defense ministry officials said. "This successful test of Agni-5 reaffirms the country's indigenous missile capabilities and further strengthens our credible deterrence."
Thursday's test launch marked the fifth successful flight of an Agni-5 missile. The missile is 55 feet (17 meters) long and the most advance missile in the Agni series, The New York Times reported. Its name, "Agni," means "fire" in Hindi, the Times added.
Indian President Ram Nath Kovind hailed the successful launch on Twitter.
"Successful test firing of Agni-V ICBM makes every Indian very proud," Kovind wrote in the post. "It will boost our strategic defence."
Ballistic missiles are rocket-launched weapons designed to launch high into space and re-enter the atmosphere to strike targets thousands of miles away.
Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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