The over 5,000 km-range Agni-V missile tested on Thursday had hit within a few metres of the target in the southern Indian Ocean and the test was declared a success since the missile hit well-within the circular error of probability (CEP) around the target, top DRDO sources said.
“The missile hit within (double-digit) metres of the target and it was well-within the CEP,” sources said. If a missile hits either the target directly or falls within the CEP around the target, a missile-test is declared a success.
Sources also said that the test was postponed —in the wake of heavy lightning off the Orissa coast — by a day on Wednesday since “lightning was unsafe for the propellant (of the missile).
“Also, with heavy clouds, you can’t get optical tracking data,” DRDO sources said. DRDO sources also said the success of the Agni-V long-range ballistic missile test can be considered as having Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capability since the missile has the range to cross continents.
Meanwhile, DRDO chief Dr V.K. Saraswat said the DRDO had performed very well as an organisation in the past 10 years.