The canisterised missile has a much longer shelf-life, with the container being made of special steel that absorbs the blast of the takeoff.

In the canisterised launch, a gas generator inside the canister ejects the missile up to a height of about 30 metres. A motor is then ignited to fire the missile.

As the launch process happens inside a canister, it takes away the need of a jet deflector on the launcher that is otherwise needed for redirecting the high energy exhaust.

The strength of the surface of the launch pad is not a critical factor either, making it possible to launch the missile from anywhere.

In addition to giving the user more flexibility, a canister-based missile offers the option to launch at a very short notice and with less manpower.

"The last launch was the smoothest so far... there were no glitches and the whole process was finished in around two and half hours," the official said.

The canisterised launch of Agni-5 was done under former DRDO chief Avinash Chander, widely known as the man behind the Agni series of missiles, on the last day of his tenure.

The Agni-5 is the most advanced version of the Agni, or Fire, series, part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme that started in the 1960s.