The Army has equipped its newly raised 444 missile group with the tactical surface-to-surface Prithvi missile. The missile, with a range between 150-200 kilometers, is ‘‘fully operational and ready for deployment’’ according to highly placed sources at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).At a later stage, the 444 missile group is expected to be equipped with the Agni-I missile (first test launched on January 25 this year), from the interim test range at Balasore. Both the Prithvi missile groups (333 and 444) are fully operational and the assets are with two different strike corps, army sources said. The army is presently raising the 555 missile group for the Agni intermediate range ballistic missile. The missile assets are expected to be under the chief of integrated defence staff though the Army will retain control of both Prithvi missile groups. The Agni missile will also be inducted into the Army by the end of this year or early 2003. ‘‘Prithvi is a short range ballistic missile with a conventional warhead. The Army is to acquire the Agni-I medium range (700-900 km range) and Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile.The Agni-I missile has a range of 900 km and does not have to be deployed anywhere close to the border for effectively targeting the adversary. ‘‘Agni-I was originally not part of India’s missile plans. It was in June ’99 after the Kargil conflict that both Defence Minister George Fernandes and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh initiated a discussion on having a missile that would fill the gap between the 150-km range Prithvi and the 2,500 km Agni-II. Work on Agni-I began only in October 1999,’’ sources added.Based on the availability of requisite manpower, the Army will also operationalise the 555 missile group for Agni-II. DRDO also proposes to test the Agni-III missile with a range of 3,500 to 4,000 km. ‘‘The Agni-III is still in the developmental stage and its tests will take place sometime next year,’’ he added.
