BALASORE: India successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable strategic ballistic missile
Agni-IV with a strike range of 4000 km as part of a user trial from a test range off Odisha coast on Monday.
The surface-to-surface missile was flight tested from launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Dr Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, at about 11.50 AM, supported by a mobile launcher.
While Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army conducted the test, DRDO provided all logistic supports. This was sixth test and third user trial of the missile which is best in its class in the world.
Defence sources said the missile took off majestically, rose to a height of over 850 km, covered the intended range and hit the target with two digit accuracy, meeting all mission objectives and proving the capabilities of the missile.
The successful trial of Agni-IV came close on the heels of a similar test of the long-range missile Agni-V carried out from the same test range on December 26.
The Agni-IV missile propelled by composite solid fuel rocket motor technology was launched from its road mobile launcher indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation in the presence of Union minister of state for defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre and Scientific adviser to defence minister and director-general of Missiles and Strategic Systems G Satheesh Reddy.
The mission met all objectives as monitored and confirmed by the telemetry, electro-optical stations, radar stations along the coast. Down range ships positioned at the target point monitored the terminal event. The test was of greater significance as the system was tested in its deliverable configuration.
The missile was first tested as Agni-II prime on December 10, 2010 which had failed. As Agni-IV it was first tested on November 15, 2011 while it’s second, third, fourth and fifth tests on November 15, 2011, September 19, 2012, January 20 and December 2, 2014 and November 9, last year were successful.
The two-stage sleek missile is 20 meter-long and weighs around 17 tonnes. The successful test paves a way for its serial production.