News of Bahrain
World21 August 20252 min read

New Delhi test-fires ballistic missile ahead of US tariff hike

India yesterday test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, a government statement said, in an apparent show of strength ahead of a threatened US tariff increase. The Agni-5 missile w

Editorial Team Legacy

Published 21 August 2025, 8:00 · Updated 18:13

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New Delhi test-fires ballistic missile ahead of US tariff hike

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

India yesterday test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, a government statement said, in an apparent show of strength ahead of a threatened US tariff increase.

The Agni-5 missile was successfully launched in India’s eastern Odisha state, with authorities saying it “validated all operational and technical parameters.”

The test-fire came a week before US tariffs are set to double from 25 percent to 50 percent, unless In- dia meets President Donald Trump’s demand that it stop buying Russian oil.

India last tested the Agni-5 missile in March 2024.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this month that, in the face of US tariffs, India was seeking self-reliance with energy independence and the development of its own defence systems.

Agni, meaning “fire” in Sanskrit, is the name given to a series of rockets India developed as part of a guided missile development project launched in 1983.

The Agni-5 employs technology that enables it to carry several nuclear warheads, so they can split up and hit different targets.

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