India Launches Ballistic Program Aimed At China

India has successfully conducted the maiden flight test of an indigenously developed ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple warheads, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday, a development that enhances the country’s nuclear deterrence against rivals China and Pakistan.

The intercontinental ballistic missile called Agni-5, which in Sanskrit means “fire,” is equipped with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles, or MIRV technology, that allows it to launch multiple attacks in one go across different locations, according to two senior serving government officials.

The missile technology has been under development for the past several years by state-run Defense Research and Development Organization, or DRDO. With the flight test, India has joined the league of a few elite nations such as the U.S., China, Russia and France that have this technology.

The flight test was conducted from an island in eastern India’s Odisha state, according to a statement from India’s Defense Ministry.

India has been developing and testing its Agni series of missiles for more than a decade as it looks to catch up with China’s military strength. It first tested the Agni-5 series in 2012, and since then has been adding technological advancements to it and retesting. The country has said its Agni-5 program is in line with India’s stated policy to have a credible minimum deterrence and its commitment to no first-use of nuclear weapons.