Agni-3 long range missile launched successfully from Orissa

Balasore (Orissa), Feb.7 (ANI): India on Sunday successfully test-fired and launched the long-range Agni-3 missile from an interim testing rangehere.

The missile, which has a range capability of 3500-kilometers, was flight tested by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at 10:50 a.m. from Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Orissa.

The missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy and met all the mission objectives. Two down range ships located near the target tracked and witnessed the missile reaching its target accurately.

This was the fourth flight test in the Agni-3 series. The missile is 17 meters long and two metres in diameter. It was powered by a two-stage solid propellant system with a pay load capability of 1.5 tons.

During the course of flight, the missile reached a peak height of 350 kilometers and re-entered the atmosphere successfully tolerating skin temperatures of nearly 3000 degree Celsius.

The missile is equipped with a state of the art computer system, navigated with a most advanced Navigation system and guided with an innovative guidance scheme. The navigation system used for guidance is first of its kind. Number of Radars and electro optical tracking systems along the coast of Orissa monitored the path of the missile and evaluated all parameters in real time.

The launch is part of the pre-induction trial. The Indian Army (the user) carried out the total launch operations guided by DRDO scientists. The missile will be fully inducted into the armed forces.

Mission Director Sri Avinash Chander and Project Director Dr V.G. Sekaran guided and controlled the complete missile integration and launch activities.

The Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and Director General, DRDO, Dr V.K. Saraswat witnessed the launch.

Dr V.K. Saraswat and Sri Avinash Chander congratulated all scientists and employees of DRDO and industry partners for the launch.

The Agni-3 is considered India's nuclear deterrent against China. It has been jointly developed by the DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). (ANI)