Agni-II plus missile test fails

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10 (ANI): The experimental Launch of Agni-2-P Missile experienced a trajectory deviation immediately after the lift-off from the Wheeler island, off the coast of Orissa this morning, leading to the failure of the mission.

A press release said: "Experimental launch of Agni-2-P Missile experienced a trajectory deviation. Detailed analysis is in progress."

"Many new technologies like Composite Rocket Motor, indigenous Ring Laser Gyro based Navigation System, Road Mobile Launch were being tested in this Mission. Many of these new technologies have been proved," it added.

The Agni-II Plus, a modified version of Agni-II, is an intermediary between Agni-II and Agni-III. It has two stages and both are powered by solid propellants.

Today's failure comes in the wake of a similar failure of Prithvi-II missile on September 24 that dropped off just a few seconds after the launch.

The failure comes 10 days after the successful flight of surface-to-surface missile Agni-1 on November 25. (ANI)