Agni-II Test-fired Successfully
India has successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Agni-II missile from a defence base in Orissa, said officials.
According to reports, the surface-to-surface missile, having a strike range of over 2,000 km was test-fired from the Wheeler’s Island near Dhamara in the district of Bhadrak, some 150 km from Bhubneswar at 10.06am.
Sources said that it was a user trial and that the aim of the test was to give the Army confidence to fire the missile on its own.
A part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, the Agni II missile is 20 metres long.
The missile, weighing 16 tonnes, can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg and its range can also be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the pay load.
“It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers. It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing,” the sources said, adding that the Agni II-version of the Agni series of missiles was first test-fired in 1999 from the same location.
