Agni V ready for test

India’s indigenous 5,000-km range Agni-V nuclear-capable missile that can hit targets in northernmost China is ready for testfiring, defence minister A K Antony said but declined to state when this would happen. The missile was developed following the denial of technology to India. He said Indian scientists working in many critical areas have proved that India can overcome sanctions and denials. Later, Antony declined to give any date for the test-firing of the Agni-V, India’s only inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). Allaying apprehensions that the defence sector would lose able hands with the retirement of present generation of scientists, the defence minister assured that new blood would be injected.