Army Successfully Test-fires Nuke Capable Agni-II Missile
As a part of user trial, the Army has successfully test-fired nuclear-capable Agni-II missies, with a range of 2000 kms, from the Wheelers Island off Orissa coast, said media reports.
According to reports, the trial was carried out from a rail mobile system in Launch Complex-4 of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at around 9.15 am.
The data pertaining to different parameters of the mission’s objectives was being analysed, said reports citing defence sources.
The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army carried out today’s test of Agni-II Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), which has already been inducted into the services, with logistic support from various laboratories and personnel of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), reports said.
A DRDO scientist said it was a training exercise to familiarise the end-users with different operational conditions, said reports.
A battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and a naval ship located near the impact point in the down range of Bay of Bengal tracked the entire trajectory of the trial, reports said.
The 20-metre long Agni-II is a two stage, solid-propelled ballistic missile. It has a launch weight of 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1000 kg over a distance of 2000 km.
Agni-II was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad, the sources said.
The missile is part of the Agni series which includes Agni-I with a 700 km range and Agni-III with a 3,500 km range, they said, adding that Agni-I has already been inducted and Agni-III is in the process of induction.
(Based on internet reports)
