WINGS OF FIRE/AGNI-V test-fired successfully

WINGS OF FIRE

(Published in 'The Hitavada' on April 21, 2012)

By Kartik Lokhande 

With the successful test-firing of longest range ballistic missile ‘Agni-V’ with capability to strike a target in the radius of 5,000 kms and joining the elite club of the US, the UK, China, France, and Russia; India now should look forward to a greater say in international realpolitik. For, Agni-V is not only a scientific success but also a valuable addition to strategic as well as diplomatic empowerment on international platform. The success has one more dimension – indisputable emergence of India as leader of the region.
Though the revealed range of Agni-V is 5,000 kms, which is 500 kms short of the status of inter-continental ballistic missile, successful test-firing demonstrates India’s capacity irrespective of mere technical details. Here, one must understand that India revealed the range with care and to indicate that she does not have extra-territorial ambitions. India’s solid track record in nuclear non-proliferation and declared policy of ‘no first use’ of nuclear capabilities, have earned her immense respect globally. That is why the United States or NATO have hailed India’s achievement, stating that India was a responsible State and would not abuse its power.
However, same is not the case with China. Though the media has accused India of pushing ‘arms race’, Chinese Government has reacted cautiously stating that India is not an enemy State, and described China and India as ‘co-operation partners’. So far, China’s reaction has been aggressive on several counts as she has been working consistently and modifying on European concept of territorial empire. Actually, the Chinese official reaction is triggered by the fact that mainland China is now in the effective strike range of India. Obviously, China does not want to foment any trouble.
Even as she now has added Agni-V to its kitty, India is interested more in pushing its concept of cultural empire, the foundation of its regional diplomacy. Agni-V certainly adds to India’s level of defence-preparedness, in the sense that it can deploy anti-satellite weapons as well as mini and nano satellites into space. All these capabilities increase India’s deterrent power. Now, India can score better over others in strategic and diplomatic exercises with this new-found edge.
Considering these important aspects and impact on world geo-politics, Agni-V can be termed as India’s immaculate success. With Agni-V, India has literally got wings of fire to fly to greater heights in the world order. 

-------------------Press Release issued by Press Information Bureau on April 19, 2012---------------

India launches New Generation Strategic Missile AGNI-V

Setting a new milestone in the country’s Integrated Missile Development Programme, India’s maiden Long Range Ballistic Missile (LRBM) AGNI-V (A-5) was successfully flight tested today. The flawless auto-launch of the missile started at 08:04 hours. Piercing the thin cloud cover, the missile took off from the launch pad at Wheeler’s Island in Odisha at 08:07 hours and started rising exactly the way it was designed for. The missile, with a range of more than 5000 kms, followed the entire trajectory in copybook style perfection as the three stages of Propulsion dropped and fell at appropriate intervals into the Bay of Bengal. The three propulsion stages, developed completely indigenously by DRDO, performed exactly the way they were intended to. The indigenously developed Composite Rocket Motors performed well, signifying the country’s stride and complete self-reliance in this complex propulsion technology. Ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the Vehicle and witnessed the final event. Radars and electro-optical systems along the path monitored in real time all the parameters of the Missile. A number of new technologies developed indigenously were successfully tested in this A-5 Mission. The redundant Navigation systems, very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and the most modern and accurate Micro Navigation System (MINS) ensured the Missile reach the target point within few meters of accuracy. The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software along with robust and reliable bus guided the Missile flawlessly. The Vice-President Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and National Security Advisor (NSA) Shri Shiv Shankar Menon have hailed the launch of the Agni-V. Dr Singh and Shri Antony spoke to DRDO chief Dr VK Saraswat and Programme Director Shri Avinash Chander and greeted the DRDO Scientists on the A-5 success. Air Marshal K.J. Mathews, Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command (C-in-C, SFC), who witnessed the launch, said that the success of Agni-V is a historic event for India. Dr V.G. Sekaran, Director, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL), Dr S.K. Chaudhari, Director, Research Centre IMARAT (RCI), Shri A.K. Chakrabarti, Director, Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Shri S.P. Dash, Director, Interim Test Range (ITR), Shri Guruprasad, Director, Research & Development Engineers (R&DE Engineers, Pune) were present during the launch operations. Shri R.K. Gupta, Project Director guided the team of Scientists and employees of DRDO during the launch activities. - Sitanshu Kar