India successfully tested its nuclear-capable Agni-4 ballistic missile, with the country’s Defense Ministry calling the trial a “routine” night launch.
The locally developed weapon is said to be capable of striking targets around 4,000 kilometres away. It was launched from the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, marking a significant boost to the country's military capabilities.
The defence ministry said the successful test of Agni-4 reaffirms India's policy of having a 'credible minimum deterrence capability'.
"A successful training launch of an Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile, Agni-4, was carried out at approximately 1930 hours on June 6 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha," the ministry said.
"The successful test was part of routine user training launches carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command," it said.
One of a small handful of nations to possess its own nuclear triad – or nuclear arms fired from the land, sea and air – India last tested the Agni-4 in 2018, while a launch for the newer and shorter-range Agni Prime was carried out in late 2021.
-PTI