India test fires nuclear-weapons capable Agni-IV missile

Bhubaneshwar, Sep 19: India today test-fired one of its longest range missiles

-IV from an island off the

coast.

The nuclear-weapons capable missile, designed to hit targets nearly 4000 kms away, was launched from Wheeler Island around 11.45 a.m. Scientists working for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) used a mobile launcher during the third trial of the surface-to-surface missile.

The last test launch was done on Nov 15, 2011. Agni-IV can carry a payload of 1,000 kg, yet the missile's composite rocket motor casings means it is not as heavy as Agni-III. The latter will be test-fired by the Strategic Forces Command on Sep 21.

A high performance on-board computer with distributed avionics architecture and high speed reliable communication bus and a full Digital Control System were used to control and guide Agni-IV to the target.

The sophisticated missile has two stages of solid propulsion. The payload, with a re-entry heat shield can withstand temperature of more than 3000 degree Celsius, a DRDO scientist said. It is equipped with modern and compact avionics to provide high level of reliability, he added.

According to defence sources, the state-of-the-art Ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode have been incorporated into the missile system in guidance mode.

OneIndia News(with PTI inputs)