In a befitting reply to the Pakistan’s recent missile test, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired a new-generation missile Agni-IV, first of its kind in the world, from a defence base off the Odisha coast.
With this, the missile is ready for user-associate trials from next year. DRDO director-general V K Saraswat said the missile had a textbook trajectory and validated all mission parameters. “We would induct the missile in the Armed Forces after one more trial next year,” he said.
This was the second developmental trial of the indigenously surface-to-surface nuclear capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM). The missile was first test-fired on November 15, last year. It has the capability to target many cities in China and most of Pakistan. The missile was test-fired from a road mobile launcher at the Launching Complex-IV of the Wheeler Island near Bhadrak district’s Dhamra coast at about 11.35 am. Its test was deferred following detection of technical snags during final check ups on Monday.
Saraswat said this long-range missile propelled by composite rocket motor technology, was tested for its full capability. The missile launched from the road mobile launcher, reached the pre-defined target in about 20 minutes with an accuracy of less than 100 meters.
Defence sources said the missile equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, fifth generation on board computer and with distributed architecture has the latest features to correct and guide for in-flight disturbances. The Composite Rocket Motor used in the missile system had given excellent performance.
