Agni-V's Impressive CEP Revealed

India's Agni-V has a CEP that is impressive for a missile with more than 5,000 km range and DRDO scientists are striving to reduce it further.

Agni-V second test on September 15, 2013. Photo Credit: DRDO

Following the second test of the missile on September 15, 2013, DRDO Chief Avinash Chander told the press that the current CEP of the Agni-V is 100m, and DRDO scientists hope to reduce it to 10-15m!


Let's see how the 5,000 km plus Agni-Vs CEP compares with the CEPs of other contemporary ICBMs.

The US Midgetman with a range of 11,000 km has a CEP of 90m. Russia's Bulava with a range of 10,000 km has a CEP of 200m. The CEP of Chinese ICBMs like DF-41 and DF-31A is not know.

Second Test Range 

 

It's interesting that DRDO's press release on Agni-Vs second test made no mention of the range to which the missile was tested.

The missile was targeted to its maximum range of 5,000 km during its maiden test on April 19, 2012. Following the test, DRDO scientists had said that in subsequent tests the missile's would be targeted to its 'minimum' and 'middle' ranges.

So was the second test a 'minimum' or 'middle' range test?

Additional Tests 

 

According to DRDO Chief Avinash Chander, at least three to four additional successful flight tests would be needed before the missile could be inducted into service.

Some of these tests would be conducted as user trials.

Both the tests so far have been conducted in the presence Strategic Force personnel.

Production

According to the DRDO press release, which you can peruse at the link below, the second test has paved "the way for initiation of productionisation and subsequent induction."

Canister Launch

The press release and Dr. Chander both say the next launch will be from a canister.

Please visit the link below for more information on the Agni-V project

Agni-5 LRBM