BALASORE: Indian army personnel on Thursday successfully test fired nuclear capable surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni-I from a defence base off the Odisha coast. The test was conducted by the strategic forces command (SFC) integrating all the operational systems and the strategic command network.
Defence sources said the indigenously developed missile, propelled by solid rocket propellant system, blasted off from the launching complex-IV located in Wheeler Island, a part of Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 11.15 am. After a vertical lift-off from launch pad, the missile rose into the sky leaving behind a ribbon of smokes.
“The missile went off perfectly well and the performance of all systems had been exactly as expected. It followed the trajectory perfectly and reached the designated target in Bay of Bengal. The missile’s re-entry system worked flawlessly,” said an official.
The launch was undertaken as a part of periodic training activity by the SFC to further consolidate operational readiness. The trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships from its launch till the missile hit the target area with pin point accuracy. The missile used for the test was picked up randomly from the production lot.
According defence sources, the 700-km range missile can be fired from both road and rail mobile launchers. The 15 meters tall missile having a diameter of one meter weighs round 12 tonnes and can carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1,000 kg. It can flies at a speed of 2.5 km/sec.
The need for the Agni-I, a part of minimum credible deterrence, was felt after the Kargil war with Pakistan. It took DRDO 15 months to develop the Agni-I after having completed Agni-II development. The first test of Agni-I was carried out on January 25, 2002.
Prior to the test, armed security personnel in power boats were engaged to patrol around the Wheeler Island and fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea. Heavy security arrangements also were made along the seacoast.
Agni-I has been developed by advanced systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the DRDO in collaboration with Defence Research Development Laboratory (DRDL) and Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.
Commander-in-Chief of SFC Lieutenant General Amit Sharma, Scientific Advisor to defence Minister and DRDO Chief Avinash Chander, DRDO Director-General (Missiles and Strategic Systems) VG Sekaran and ITR Director MVKV Prasad witnessed the launch among other DRDO scientists and army officials.
MILITARY MIGHT
Agni-I has the capability to deliver warheads 700 km away
The missile flies at a speed of 2.5 km/sec
It can carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1,000 kg
DRDO takes 15 months to develop Agni-I after having completed Agni-II
Commander-in-Chief of SFC Lieutenant General Amit Sharma witnesses the test