India Conducts Fourth Agni-5 Test-Launch


On December 26, 2016, India conducted the fourth test of its indigenously developed Agni-5 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast. Agni-5 reportedly has the potential to carry either a 1,500 kg high explosive warhead or a 1-ton nuclear warhead. With a range of 5,000- 8,000 km, Agni-5 is the longest ranged missiles in India’s arsenal, with President Pranab Mukherjee tweeting that the Agni-5 “will enhance [India’s] strategic and deterrence capabilities”. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying responded to the test with concerns regarding India’s compliance with UN Security Council rules, and reiterating that India and China “are not rivals, but partners”. India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson responded that “India’s strategic capabilities are not targeted against any particular country” and that “India abides by all the applicable international obligations and hopes that all others do the same”. Once the missile is inducted into the military, India will join the United States, UK, China, Russia, and France as nations possessing an ICBM.