India Successfully Test-Fires Agni-5 Missile, Capable of Reaching All of China
India has successfully test-fired its most advanced ballistic missile, the Agni-5, in a move that underscores the country’s growing strategic reach and deterrence capabilities.
The launch took place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha, under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command.
The Agni-5 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000 kilometers, making it capable of reaching every part of China and even parts of Europe.
Defense officials confirmed that the missile met all its technical and operational objectives, marking another milestone in India’s indigenous missile development program.
Equipped with a high-accuracy navigation system and a maneuverable re-entry vehicle (MaRV), the missile is designed to evade defense systems and deliver precise strikes. It is also nuclear-capable, placing India among a select group of countries with the ability to deploy long-range ballistic missiles of such sophistication.
The successful test is likely to heighten strategic concerns among India’s neighbors. While the Agni-5 is officially presented as part of India’s doctrine of credible minimum deterrence, its range clearly positions it as a counterbalance to China’s military capabilities.
The development is also being closely watched in Pakistan, which has historically expressed unease over India’s long-range missile advancements.
The Agni-5 is the most formidable in India’s Agni missile series, complementing the shorter-range Agni-I through Agni-IV systems already in service.
Analysts say the successful test reflects New Delhi’s commitment to maintaining a robust strategic arsenal amid growing regional tensions and shifting global alliances.
The launch comes at a time of heightened military modernization across Asia, with India seeking to keep pace with China’s expanding arsenal and to assert its role as a key power in the Indo-Pacific.
With this test, India has once again signaled its readiness to safeguard national security while enhancing its standing as a responsible nuclear power. The Agni-5, now validated through multiple successful trials, is expected to be inducted into the armed forces as a cornerstone of the country’s long-range deterrence strategy.
