The surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid
propellants, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at about 1010 hrs
from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island, about
100 km from here, defence sources said.
"The trial of the sophisticated missile with a strike range of 700 km was successful," a defence scientist said.
Describing the launch as a routine user's trial by the strategic
force command of Indian Army, he said the main objective was to train
the user team to launch the missile.
"It was a practice-drill. The user-team picked a missile at random
from the production lot and fired it with logistic support provided by
Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at ITR," he said.
Agni-I missile has a specialised navigation system which ensures it
reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision, he
said.
The trajectory of the missile, which has an operational strike
range of 700 km, was tracked by sophisticated radars and electro-optic
telemetry stations located along the sea coast and ships positioned near
the impact point in the downrange area.
Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, which can carry
payloads up to 1000 kg, has already been inducted into the Indian Army.
Agni-I was developed by advanced systems laboratory, the premier
missile development laboratory of the DRDO in collaboration with Defence
Research Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat and
integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.
The last trial of the Agni-I missile was successfully carried out on December 1, 2011 from the same base.
Since the missile has already been inducted into the armed forces,
it is important to conduct user trials for training of defence personnel
and improvement of their skills, sources said.
news by: india today.in
news by: india today.in
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