Ballistic Missile Agni-III testfired

Balasore, Orissa, July 9 (UNI) India today successfully testfired the most sophisticated, indigenous, long range solid-fuel, nuclear capable ballistic missile 'Agni-III' from the Integrated Test Range at the Wheeler Island inside the Bay of Bengal off Orissa coast.

Developed by the Hyderabad-based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), the maiden launch missile, aimed at providing a flexible second strike capability to the country, was testfired from the Wheeler island at 1102 hours.

Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Scientific advisor to the Defence Ministry M Natarajan, Agni-III Project Director Avinash Chandra and over 300 defence scientists from the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) and other establishments were present at the island to witness the testfiring of the Missile having a range of more than 3000 kms.

Agni-III was slated for the maiden launch in 2004, but the programme was plagued by technical snags forcing the DRDO to reschedule the launch. It was postponed for the second time in 2005 due to the same problem.

The missile has a two-stage propulsion with an overall diameter of 1.8 meter and is considered a strategic asset as it has the capability to carry conventional and nuclear warheads upto one tonne Agni III, sources said, is reported to have a maximum range of 5,000 km and supposed to have both first and second stages as solid-propellant motors similar to those used on Agni II, with a liquid or solid-propellant third stage.

The tracking of missile path was monitored from Chandipur as well as from Car Nicobar Island besides launching station at Dhamra in Orissa.

President A P J Abdul Kalam had recently visited the island and held discussion with the DRDO scientists.

Other versions of the Agni missile like AGNI-I (700-800 km range) and Agni-II (2,000 km range) had already been inducted into the army as part of the country's minimum deterrent.

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