Global Defence Experts Dissect India’s Agni-5 Test-Fire

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Experts weigh launch of Agni-5 as an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, noting its range of 4,790 km and strategic implications

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, August 20, 2025 —India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its Agni-5 ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The test, conducted under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command, validated all operational and technical parameters of the system, said the Ministry in a media statement.

The Defence Ministry officially described the Agni-5 as an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). Analysts, however, pointed to NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) data indicating a tested range of 4,790 km, placing the missile at the cusp of intercontinental capability.

Defence analyst Damien Symon noted in a post on X the extended range in a map-based assessment, while scholar Christopher Clary said that “even at these ranges, India’s Agni-5 can hit at least three continents.” He added that the test is likely to stir reactions in Pakistan’s strategic community, which has long argued against being singled out for developing long-range missiles.

Interestingly, observers noted a shift in official terminology, with the government now calling Agni-5 an IRBM instead of the ICBM label often used in the past. Commentator Dany remarked, “something interesting that government is now calling Agni-5 an IRBM instead of the ICBM that we use to see.”

Speculation also emerged over US surveillance activity in the region during the test. Clary pointed to reports of naval and air assets possibly monitoring the launch, though he said definitive signs such as Cobra Ball flights were not confirmed.

With three separate NOTAMs issued for this launch — each progressively longer — analysts suggested there may have been a missile or trajectory switch for political reasons.

The Agni-5, part of India’s nuclear-capable missile arsenal, has long been viewed as a cornerstone of New Delhi’s credible minimum deterrent, underscoring the country’s ability to project power well beyond its immediate neighbourhood.

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