India successfully test-fires intermediate range ballistic Agni-3 missile

The two-stage solid propellent powered IRBM is under operational purview of the Strategic Forces Command, which is part of India's Nuclear Command Authority and has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Agni missile test fire, IRBM Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, Agni 3 missile test fire, Pune news, Maharashtra government, Indian Express, current affairs

The strategic postures of “credible minimum deterrence” and “no first use” are pivotal to India's nuclear doctrine.

India on Wednesday carried out a successful training launch of the nuclear capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-3 from APJ Abdul Kalam Island, Odisha, as part of routine user training launches conducted by the Strategic Forces Command, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

An MoD press statement said that the launch was carried out for a predetermined range and validated all operational parameters of the system. The 16-meter long missile, weighing more than 48 tonnes, has a range of over 3000 kilometers and is capable of carrying a payload of over 1.5 tonnes. Sources said that flight trajectory was tracked by a number of radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships deployed at the sea.

The two-stage solid propellent powered IRBM is under operational purview of the Strategic Forces Command, which is part of India’s Nuclear Command Authority and has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The first known developmental trial of Agni-3 was conducted in July 2006 but could not yield the expected result. It was subsequently successfully flight tested in April 2007. The system has been successfully tested several times since then.

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The Agni-3 test comes over a month after India’s Strategic Strike Nuclear Submarine, INS Arihant, carried out a successful launch of a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). After the SLBM launch, the MoD had said: “The launch is significant to prove crew competency and validate the SSBN programme, a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability. A robust, survivable and assured retaliatory capability is in keeping with India’s policy to have ‘Credible Minimum Deterrence’ that underpins its ‘No First Use’ commitment.”

The strategic postures of “credible minimum deterrence” and “no first use” are pivotal to India’s nuclear doctrine.

Sushant Kulkarni

Sushant Kulkarni is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express in Pune with 12+ years of experience covering issues related to Crime, Defence, Internal Security and Courts. He has been associated with the Indian Express since July 2010. Sushant has extensively reported on law and order issues of Pune and surrounding area, Cyber crime, narcotics trade and terrorism. His coverage in the Defence beat includes operational aspects of the three services, the defence research and development and issues related to key defence establishments. He has covered several sensitive cases in the courts at Pune. Sushant is an avid photographer, plays harmonica and loves cooking. ... Read More

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