India to test Nuclear and conventional missiles in next two months

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will be testing some of the country's most sophisticated missiles in the next two months.

In October, Prithvi and Agni-II missiles will be test fired, while in November it will be the turn of BrahMos and K-15 missiles. The integrated test range (ITR) at Chandipur in Balasore will also host a three-day target simulation exercise, involving pilotless target aircraft (PTA) for the air force from Monday.

ITR sources said scientists at DRDO are leaving no stone unturned for the successful trials of these missiles that are, at present, considered as the country's most powerful arsenal. Though all the tests will be user trials, the focus will be on Agni-II and K-15 missiles.

"The four missiles had already been tested successfully from the ITR. Those have already been inducted in the Indian army, with the exception of K-15. The fresh trials are intended to gauge the accuracy of these missiles that will be tested with some new technologies," a defence scientist said.

Sources said the scientists involved in the Agni-II programme are working overtime to make this mission successful, as their failure in the last user trial on May 19 had fetched them wide criticism.

While the Prithvi, BrahMos and K-15, all of which are land versions, will be test fired from the ITR at Chandipur, the Agni-II missiles will be tested from the Wheelers' Island, off the Dhamara coast in Bhadrak district.

According to defence sources, the 8.56 metre-high and one metre-thick missile, with a launch weight of 4.4 tonnes, excluding the payload, the Prithvi has a strike range of 150 km. The missile has the capability to carry a payload of 1,000 kg, but if the same was reduced to half, the striking range of the sleek missile could be enhanced.

Agni-II missile, which is 20 meters long and one meter thick with a weight 16 tonnes, can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg and its range can be increased to 3,000 km, depending on the payload. It was inducted in the Army in 2004.

BrahMos is a two-stage missile. It is nine metres tall and weighs 3.9 tonnes with the canister. It can be launched from ships, silos and road and rail mobile launchers. It has a strike range of 290 km and can carry a conventional warhead weighing 300 kg.

Posted in: India,Missile