Balasore, August 29
India today successfully test-fired its longer-range missile Agni-II from the Integrated Test Range on the Wheeler’s Island in the Bay of Bengal off the Orissa coast, defence sources said.Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Ministry V.K. Atre and a large number of scientists were present at the launch complex when the missile was launched at 12.55 pm, the sources said.
The sleek 20m missile was fired from a mobile launcher under an overcast sky.
Under development by defence scientists since 1983, this was the ninth test firing of the Agni series of missiles and the third of the Agni-II version today.
The surface-to-surface two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile using solid propellant has a range of 2000-2500 km with the capability to carry a conventional or nuclear warhead weighing up to 1000 kg. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the scientists and engineers. — PTI
