Update" Agni-II to be testfired soon

Defence scientists are preparing for a user's trial of surface-to-surface Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), Agni-II, from the defence base off the Orissa coast this week. The indigenously developed missile will be fired from the launching complex-IV at the Wheeler's Island near Dhamra. "Preparations are on in full swing. If everything goes as planned, the missile will be testfired between May 12 and May 14," said a source at the integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-Sea. It also said the test may be deferred by four-five days if there are problems reported during the preparations. Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientists are excited because this user trial will pave the way for the maiden test of Agni-IV that is now under development. "The successful tests of Astra missile from the ITR have encouraged the scientists for user trial of Agni-II. They are doing everything to ensure it's a success story," a source said. This missile is part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), while the other missiles include Prithvi, Trishul, Akash and Nag. Agni II has appropriate on-board thrusters fitted on the second stage of the missile. Both stages of Agni-II have a solid propulsion system which allows the missile to be mobile and flexible. The Agni-II missile, which is 20 metres long, has a diameter of one meter and weighs 16 tonne, can neutralize a target at over 2,000 km range. It can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg and its range can also be increased to 3,000 km depending upon the payload. The missile will be used by 555 Missile Group of the Army. "Agni-II can be fired from a rail-mobile launcher and is also available in road-mobile configuration. This lends flexibility and reduces vulnerability to first strike. It is in fact a ready-to-fire missile with a launch time of about 15 minutes," said a defence scientist, who added that Agni-II, along with Agni-I and Agni-III form the triad of the country's minimum, credible, nuclear deterrence.

Update

In a step towards making the 2,000-km-plus Agni-II fully operational, the Army is slated to conduct a "training test-firing'' of the nuclear-capable missile on May 19. This will be the first "training user-trial'' of Agni-II to give the Army requisite confidence and capability to fire the surface-to-surface missile on its own without the help of defence scientists. The test of Agni-II, which weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a 1.15-tonne payload or warhead, will be undertaken from the test range at Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast. Army has already undertaken the "training trials'' of 700-km Agni-I, which is designed to plug the operational gap between Prithvi (150-350 km) and Agni-II missiles. As reported by TOI earlier, with active help from China and North Korea, Pakistan has stolen a march over India in the missile arena. The only nuclear-capable ballistic missile in India's arsenal which can be said to be 100% operational as of now is the short-range Prithvi missile. Though Agni-I and Agni-II ballistic missiles are being "inducted'' into the armed forces, it will take "some time'' for them to become "fully-operational in the numbers required''

Posted in: India,Missile,Nuclear