Tuesday, November 15, 2011

N-capable Agni-II ‘Prime’ successfully test-fired

India successfully test-fired Agni-II prime ballistic missile from Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast on Tuesday.

The advanced nuclear-capable Agni-II has a strike range of around 3,000 km and is an advancement over the existing Agni-II, which has a strike range of 2,000 km. The first test of the missile had failed in December last year due to some technical glitches.

The 'Prime' has same size of boosters which are there in the existing missile but will have an extended range of 1,000 km.

Powered by solid fuel propellants, it also has better navigational system and greater accuracy in comparison to the Agni-II missile.

Newer technologies have also been incorporated in the missile to make it lighter and the weapon system has also been provided with greater thrust.

India has developed a number of variants of the Agni missile series under the Integrated Missile Development Programme (IMDP) with different striking ranges since the 80s.

It is also planning to carry out the first test firing of the Agni-5 ballistic missile by the end of this year, the sources said.

Agni-5 will be able to strike targets in range of 5,000 km and will make India join the league of select nations with such capabilities.

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