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India recently tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile capable of reaching China and Pakistan, its main adversaries. The test was reported by Newsweek, which noted that the Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile can reach these territories.
China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment. Similarly, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has yet to provide a statement.
### Why It Matters
Newsweek published an image of the Agni-5 missile with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) technology, tested on March 12, 2024. India is one of nine countries armed with nuclear weapons, estimated to have around 180 warheads. Its neighbors China and Pakistan possess 600 and 170 warheads, respectively.
Tensions between India and Pakistan remain high following a large-scale conventional conflict in early May. Meanwhile, India also has ongoing border disputes with China, where officials from both countries met for talks in New Delhi on Tuesday.
### What To Know
In a brief statement, India’s Defense Ministry announced that an Agni-5 missile was launched from Chandipur in Odisha, eastern India. The test validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
Damien Symon, an open-source intelligence analyst on X, noted that prior to the launch, three no-fly zones were declared over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, indicating a tested range of 2,975 miles southward.
Based on this test, almost all of China’s territory and parts of Pakistan are within the Agni-5 missile’s reach, extending as far east as Japan, north to southern Russia, west to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and south to waters northwest of Australia. The exact range is not disclosed by India, but intermediate-range missiles typically cover 1,860-3,410 miles.
The Federation of American Scientists classifies the Agni-5 as a “near-intercontinental ballistic missile” with a potential maximum range of 3,728 miles. In March 2024, India tested an Agni-5 incorporating MIRV technology, allowing for multiple nuclear warheads—likely no more than three.
### What People Are Saying
India’s Defense Ministry stated that the test was carried out under the Strategic Forces Command.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported in June that India is believed to have slightly expanded its nuclear arsenal and continued developing new types of nuclear delivery systems.
The Federation of American Scientists noted in a September 2024 report that the Agni-5 can be stored with the warhead permanently mated, meaning it is kept in a sealed, climate-controlled tube instead of being installed before launch.
### What Happens Next
China and Pakistan may follow India’s lead by conducting tests of their nuclear forces. China could reveal new nuclear weapon systems at its highly anticipated military parade scheduled for September 3.
