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India joins elite club of states with powerful defence-official

The missile launch was shown in a live broadcast by the local television channels

NEW DELHI, April 19 (Itar-Tass) — Having tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, India has joined the elite club of countries, along with Russia, the United States and China, having a powerful defence potential. This opinion was expressed by a representative of the Indian military leadership.

The Indian armed forces on Thursday carried out a test of the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile that is potentially capable of hitting the European territory. The missile launch was shown in a live broadcast by the local television channels. The launch was carried out from a range on the Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal. The most advanced radar stations were tracking the flight path. The missile was launched at its maximum range - 5 thousand kilometres. The Agni-5 is a three stage solid fuelled missile with composite motor casing in the third stage.

The Agni-5 missile’s mass is 50 tonnes, length - 17.5 metres, diameter - two metres. The missile can carry a nuclear warhead weighing up to one tonne.

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