Wheeler Island, Odisha: India has successfully test-launched its long range ballistic missile, Agni-5, which can carry a nuclear warhead in the east as far as all of China and in the west all over Europe. (Analysis: What Agni-V means for India)

The test-launch, done from Wheeler Island at 8:43 am, off the Odisha coast, for the second time in two years, is seen as a major step in India’s efforts to become a regional power that can counter the dominance of China.(Pics: Test-launch of Agni-5)

The Agni-5 is about 17 meters long and weighs 50 tons. It is a three-stage missile designed to carry an over 1 ton warhead with a range of 5,000 kilometers, allowing it the farthest reach among all Indian missiles.

The versatile missile system can be launched from a road mobile vehicle or even from a special railway wagon where it can be kept hidden and moved around at will. (Missiles of the world: a look at countries’ nuclear arsenals)

The first test of the Agni-5 missile was conducted on April 19, 2012 when the guidance system – critical in determining the efficiency of missile – worked perfectly.

The development of Agni-5 began in 2009 according to DRDO it will now be rolled into production mode with and induction likely in 2015

Agni-5 gives India the ability to launch nuclear weapons from land at will from any where in India. It will give India the ability to hit back or have second-strike capability even after a nuclear

The INS Arihant, an indigenously-made nuclear-powered submarine is undergoing sea trials and expected to join the Indian Navy by 2016-2017. (Nuclear reactor on INS Arihant goes critical; huge step forward for India’s N-triad)

India has also proven its ability to launch nuclear missiles from under the sea. Over a dozen successful test of K-15 missiles – nuclear missiles which can be launched from a submarine – have been conducted in the last several years.

IG