Reference: Times of India
Context: China says it successfully fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, a rare public test that analysts said was meant to send a message to the United States and its allies amid heightened regional tensions.
About DF-41:
- Origin: In 1980, China test-fired its first ICBM, the DF-5.
- Estimated range: 12,000 to 15,000 kilometers
- Stock: China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023 and is likely to have more than 1,000 by 2030.
About Intercontinental Ballistic Missile:
- Range: ICBMs have a range greater than 5,500 km and are primarily designed to deliver nuclear warheads.
- Countries: 8 nations have operational ICBMs—US, Russia, China, France, UK, India, Israel, and North Korea.
- India’s ICBM: Agni series
- Despite being nuclear-armed, Pakistan does not possess ICBMs
