Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: India test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile on Monday from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast with a strike range of over 3000 km, defence sources said.
The indigenously developed surface-to-air missile can carry a warhead of 1.5 tonne which is protected by carbon all composite heat shield.
The operation was carried out by the Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army with logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The indigenously developed missile was flight-tested from a mobile launcher at launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range at about 1655 hrs, defence sources said.
"It was the second user trial in the Agni-III series carried out to establish the `repeatability` of the missile`s performance," a DRDO official said.
For data analysis, the entire trajectory of today`s trial was monitored through various telemetry stations, electro-optic systems and sophisticated radars located along the coast, and by naval ships anchored near the impact point, the sources said.
The Agni-III missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant system. With a length of 17 metres, the missile`s diameter is 2 metres and launch weight is around 50 tonnes.
The sleek missile, already inducted into the armed forces, is equipped with hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computer. The electronic systems are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects, a DRDO scientist said.
With PTI inputs
