(Changing Dateline, leads CA5)

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) Indian scientists today achieved a major milestone in missile technology successfully conducting the flight test of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile AGNI-III this morning.

The 16 meter-long missile, weighing 48 tonnes, lifted off successfully from its Rail Mobile Launcher System leaving a trail of orange and yellow smoke at the Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast, at 10.50hrs.

The 3,000-KM-plus-range missile is capable of carrying a 1.5-tonne payload. The trajectory of the IRBM is computed by the onboard computer system based on the launch and target coordinates.

During the flight the missile has no communication with the ground systems and is autonomous and fully ''intelligent'' to reach its designated target.

With this success, the design team was happy that the problems faced in the previous attempt on July 9 last year had been ''fully understood and solved'', an official spokesperson here said.

The entire flight-path of approximately 15 minutes duration validated all mission objectives -- primarily to establish the performance of the two-stage propulsion in flight and the flex nozzle control system being attempted by Defence Research&Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists for the very first time.

The flight was tracked from ground stations at Dhamra, Intermediate Test Range (ITR), Balasore, Port Blair and two Indian Naval ships in the Indian Ocean.

Commending defence scientists on the success, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister M Natarajan specifically referred to the achievement of high degree of self-reliance in AGNI-III as most of the sub-systems have been developed within the country as a result of synergy between DRDO, Industry (both Public and Private sector) and the Academia.

According to Mission Director Avinash Chander, several 'firsts' have been established by this launch -- including the Flex Nozzle Controls of the Rocket Motor during powered phase, specially- developed composite propellant with high specific impulse for the rocket, Guidance and Control with built-in fault tolerant avionics, withstanding of severe aero-thermal environment experienced during the re-entry phase and Coordinated Mission Management.

Defence Minister AK Antony also congratulated the Defence scientists on today's successful launch and for ''achieving another important milestone in self-reliance'' in this critical strategic system.

He said the successful launch showed that India had matured in the missile technology area and was definitely at par with many other developed countries. ''AGNI-III has confirmed India's strategic capability for Minimum Credible Deterrence....'' Today's historic event was witnessed by Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju, and SA to the Defence Minister M Natarajan, besides a host of senior officials of the Defence Ministry and the Services.

The test of the country's longest-range Surface-to-Surface missile -- having a range of over 3,000 km -- were rescheduled twice during 2003 and 2004 but had to be later put off when some problems in the propulsion systems came to light.

Its maiden test-flight from the Wheeler island on July 9 last year was unsuccessful. According to Defence sources, when the missile was test-fired its second stage did not separate and it fell into the sea.

However, undeterred by the failure of the July 9 test, DRDO decided to go ahead with the programme to conduct the launch.

Accordingly, the defence scientists had worked overtime to ensure a flawless launch of the missile. The earlier failure of the missile was related to material which was rectified before it was test-fired today.

Sources said this time DRDO used a new critical motorcase hardware made of special steel for the test. The new device will increase the range of the missile by 15 to 30 per cent -- The missile was designed to cover a range of 3,500 kms.

In view of long-term security needs, the Government has approved development of the Agni-III missile. Meanwhile, the production of the 700-KM-range Agni-I and the 2,000-KM-range Agni-II had already commenced -- these were likely to be deployed shortly in the Army.

UNI