'AGNI-III to be test-launched early next year'

Hyderabad, Nov 24: The Agni-III missile, India's long-range missile would be test-launched again early next year, Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) Director D S Avinash Chander said today.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Avinash said all technical issues had been sorted out.

He said it may be recalled that the nuclear capable Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-III developed a snag during its launch earlier this year.

The ASL had mastered the use of composites, he said, adding that they had been used both in Agni-I, with a range of 700-800 km, and Agni-II, with 2,000-km range.

The composites had been extensively used in Agni-III as metals could not withstand the high temperature as it re-entered the atmosphere, he said.

UNI