If launched from central India this range was not sufficient to reach targets on the extreme eastern and north-eastern region of China.

[18] Senior defence scientist M. Natarajan disclosed in 2007 that DRDO was working on an upgraded version of the Agni-III, known as the Agni-V, and that it would be ready in 4 years.

[24][25][26] Indian authorities believed that the solid-fuelled Agni-V is more than adequate to meet current threat perceptions and security concerns.

[32] The Agni-V is a three-stage solid fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile with composite motor casing in the second and third stage.

With composites used extensively to reduce weight, and a third stage added on (the Agni-III was a two-stage missile), the Agni-5 can fly significantly more to inter-continental range.

[24] Du Wenlong, a researcher at China's PLA Academy of Military Sciences, told the Chinese news agency, Global Times, that the missile has a range of around 8,000 kilometres (5,000 mi).

[38] On 15 December 2022, the first night trial of Agni-V was successfully carried out by the SFC, after which media reports stated that the missile is now 20 percent lighter due to the use of composite materials that can increase the range beyond 7,000 km if required.

[39][40] A ring laser gyroscope based inertial navigation system (RLG-INS) is primarily responsible for guiding the Agni-V to its target.

Agni-V uses a system on chip (SOC) based on-board computer (OBC) whose weight is around 200 grams for control and guidance.

During firing, the canister must absorb enormous stresses when a thrust of 300 to 400 tonnes-force (2,900 to 3,900 kN) is generated to eject the 50 tonnes (110,000 lb) missile.

[30] The MIRV capability of Agni-V has been tested indirectly in a discreet manner, according to Bharat Karnad, who was involved in drafting India's nuclear doctrine.

Karnad states that the MIRV capability of the missile's guidance system on chip (SOC) was tested during the multi-satellite PSLV-C20 launch on 25 February 2013.

[44] On 11 March 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the successful completion of Mission Divyastra, the country's maiden flight test of the Agni-V missile using Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology, which was developed in-house.

[45] The MIRV payload of Agni-V is equipped with multiple nuclear warheads, each of which is designed to be delivered at a different speed and along a different trajectory to strike distinct targets hundreds of kilometres apart.

Carbon composites are used in the manufacturing process to ensure that the warhead can survive high temperatures and not disintegrate during the re-entry phase.

[26][49] In February 2012, a source revealed that DRDO was almost ready for the test, but there were scheduling and logistical issues since the missile was to traverse halfway across the Indian Ocean.

[78][79] In November 2021, India tested the nuclear capable version of Agni-5 successfully, followingly the statement received by Defence Ministry was[80] “A successful launch of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile, Agni-5, was carried out on October 27, 2021 at approximately 1950 hrs from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha.”- Ministry of DefenceIn March 2024, India tested the nuclear capable version of Agni-V with MIRV technology successfully, followingly the post on social media platform X by Prime Minister was[81]“Proud of our DRDO scientists for Mission Divyastra, the first flight test of indigenously developed Agni-5 missile with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology.” - Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of IndiaAlso, Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister praised the scientists and team, describing it as an exceptional success.