India on Thursday successfully test-fired nuclear-capable intermediate range ballistic missile,Agni-II,for its full range of more than 2,000 km from the Orissa coast. Carried out by Strategic Force Command of Indian Army Agni-II with a dummy payload of 1,000 kg,was fired at 8.46 am from a rail mobile launcher in Wheeler Island off Orissa coast. After a flight of nearly 600 seconds,the two-stage solid-propelled missile hit a pre-designated target in the Bay of Bengal. Two ships stationed in the vicinity of the target point witnessed the terminal event. Agni-II has already been inducted into the defence services in 2004. Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and DRDO chief V K Saraswat said the latest test met all the mission objectives. It was the third success in a row for Agni variants following the launch of Agni-V in April and Agni-I last month.
