India Successfully Test-fires Agni-I Ballistic Missile

New Delhi, Dec 12, IRNA - India successfully test-fired its indigenous developed nuclear capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km on Wednesday. The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher at about 0830 hrs from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from Balasore, pti reported quoting defence sources. Describing the test as successful, ITR Director MVKV Prasad said, "It was a practice trial conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army." Agni-I, a single-stage missile powered by solid propellants, has a specialized navigation system which ensures that it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision, a defense scientist said. Weighing 12 tons, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, which is capable of carrying payloads up to 1000 kg, has already been inducted into the Indian Army. The last trial of the Agni-I missile was successfully carried out on July 13, 2012 from the same test range. The trial reconfirmed the technical parameters laid down for the user, which happens to be the Army, defense sources said. Agni-I missile, which can be launched from both road and rail mobile launchers, was first test-fired in January, 2002, they said. Since then many trials have been conducted as part of missile development program./end