Agni-II adds fire power to N-deterrence

He said, “We have reached a point from (where) now on nobody from anywhere will dare to threaten us.”

In a film recorded at the operational room in the launch area, Fernandes congratulated the scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) associated with the project. He described it as a “great day for India”. Agni-II is a two-stage solid-fuel IRBM with a range in the region of 3,000 km. It is believed to be about 20 m long, with a total topped up weight of 16 ton and can carry a1000 kg warhead.

Describing the `substantial differences’ between this and the earlier tested version, Dr K Santhanam, Chief Advisor (Technologies) in the DRDO, said the “AII-O1 test was conducted in operational configuration, utilising superior telemetry”. The other significant difference between the two versions is the mobile launched capability of Agni-II. This was demonstrated in a short film on today’s launch.

The missile lifted from a rail-mobile launcher at 9.47 am and reached its splashdown point 11 minutes later, after covering a distance of more than 2000 km. The Defence Minister said, “It was at the scheduled time, and the flight went without any hitch. Under constant observation from various stations and ships, the flight demonstrated perfection of a very high order in missile technology. There was extraordinary teamwork involved.”

Confirming the operationalisation of Agni-II as a weapons system, Fernandes said, “It demonstrates our mobile launch capability. This will allow us to movein rugged areas with a compact weapons system”. On the question of the warhead, he said the missile can “carry special weapons payload”. While the flight data received from the various stations tracking the missile is still to be fully analysed, “the advanced navigation and guidance systems, the sophisticated on-board packages, were all tested successfully,” he added. Confirming the fact that the Agni programme had been put on hold since the last test flight in 1994, Fernandes said, “As with the Pokharan tests, we started the programme as soon as we came into government (sic)”.

In reply to a question about restraint, he said, “We don’t need to be told by anybody about restraint”. He then thanked the Prime Minister, who he said, “has taken tremendous interest in the programme. And for the support he has given to us in the Ministry of Defence and the DRDO”. While the indigenous nature of the Agni-II launch puts India in a select league of countries, it is the success of the solid propellantpackage that has evoked considerable interest in the strategic community here. “Once you operationalise a solid-fuelled surface launched capability, then it isn’t too long before a submarine launched version can be tested,” said a naval officer.