N-capable Agni-II missile test-fired successfully

The 2,000-km plus range surface-to-surface nuclear-capable missile Agni-II was test-fired successfully.

After two successive failures last year,the 2,000-km plus range surface-to-surface nuclear-capable missile Agni-II was on Monday test-fired successfully by Strategic Forces Command SFC from a site on the Orissa coast.

Senior DRDO officials said the pencil-like missile was fired from Launch Complex 4 from the Wheelers Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast at 9:18 am. DRDO sources said the missile achieved its full range and splashed down at the pre-designated target in the sea with high degree of accuracy after a flight duration of about 660 seconds. The missile was tested for the full range and met all the mission objectives. Further data relating to various parameters of the missions objectives were being analysed by scientists.

The officials said two naval ships deployed in the Bay of Bengal tracked the vehicle homing on to the target,while a network of radars,telemetry and electro-optical instruments monitored the trajectory. All mission objectives have been met successfully. With todays test,all the three variants of Agni have been successfully test-fired within three months, the official said. In February this year,the 3,500-km plus range Agni-III and in March the 700-km range Agni-I were successfully test-fired.

The 20-metre long Agni-II is a two stage,solid-propelled ballistic missile. It has a launch weight of 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1,000 kg over a distance of 2,000 km.

During the November 25 test last year,the second stage of the missile did not operate,resulting in failure. It was due to a quality defect in the missile,sources said. In May 2009 test,the Agni-II tumbled into the sea after losing its speed and deviating from its flight path,just before the separation of the second stage of the missile.

Agni-II was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other DRDO laboratories and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics Limited,Hyderabad,the sources said. It has a special navigation system to improve accuracy and a manoeuvering re-entry vehicle enabling it to change course during re-entry. It is equipped with anti-ballistic missile defence counter measures.

Agni-I has already been inducted and Agni-III is in the process of induction.

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Agni missile programme director Avinash Chander monitored the overall pre-launch operations while scientific advisor to the Defence Minister V K Saraswat reviewed the total operations and witnessed the launch.