India’s surface-to-surface Agni-II ballistic missile, with a strike range of 2 thousand kilometres was today test-fired successfully from the Abdul Kalam Island, off Orissa coast at 0838 hrs. As part of user trial, the Strategic Forces Command with logistics support from Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) carried out the test.
Defence sources said the test was aimed at re-establishing the operational effectiveness of the weapon system. The successful launch once again proved the reliability of the medium range surface to surface missile.
The two-stage missile equipped with advanced high accuracy navigation system, guided by a novel scheme of state of the art command and control system was propelled by the solid rocket propellant system. The surface-to-surface missile can carry a nuclear payload of 1 thousand kilograms.
The range of the 21-metre long missile weighing 17 tonnes can also be increased to 3 thousand kilometres by reducing the payload. Agni missile series being developed by DRDO as a deterrent against nuclear-armed neighbours are among India’s most sophisticated weapons.
The test came two weeks after India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile as part of a user trial by the Army from a test range in Odisha.