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Agni-III missile likely to be test-fired today - The New Indian Express
A day after the successful trial of 4000-km range Agni-IV missile, the country is gearing up to witness the first and much-awaited user associate trial of 3000-km range Agni-III missile after its first phase production.
The DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), a specially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army are likely to carry out the test from the Wheeler Island test range off the Odisha coast on Friday.
While preparations for the crucial test has been completed, defence sources said, the test would be carried out under a favourable weather condition. Programme Director of Agni missiles Avinash Chander told The New Indian Express that the missile was ready for the user trial.
We have already carried out three consecutive successful trials of Agni-III in 2007, 2008 and 2010 thus making it full proof and a proven missile. In all three occasions the technologies incorporated in the missile system and software have performed as expected, he said.
Director General of DRDO and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister V K Saraswat who had left for Bengaluru after the Agni-IV test to attend a function organised to commemorate the formal receipt of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) aircraft, also has arrived here on Thursday.
Agni-IVs successful launch and Agni-IIIs user trial came at a time when a report by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists of the US claimed that India was legging behind those of its putative adversaries Pakistan and China. The defence authorities have however rubbished the report saying the country, which adopts a clear-cut no-first-use doctrine, has an active credible nuclear deterrence and well capable of its own defence.
The Agni-III, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, is 17 metres tall with a two-metre diameter and weighs about 48 tonnes. The missile was reportedly inducted in the armed forces in June 2011.
The maiden test of Agni III on July 9, 2006 had failed though later it has been test fired successfully thrice. It is expected to be the mainstay of India's nuclear deterrence programme when fully operational by providing the country with strategic second-strike capability.
Agni-III is capable of carrying a variety of warheads, including nuclear warheads and can be launched from various platforms giving the country intermediate range ballistic missile firepower and greatly extending its power projection in the region.
A day after the successful trial of 4000-km range Agni-IV missile, the country is gearing up to witness the first and much-awaited user associate trial of 3000-km range Agni-III missile after its first phase production.
The DRDO and the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), a specially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army are likely to carry out the test from the Wheeler Island test range off the Odisha coast on Friday.
While preparations for the crucial test has been completed, defence sources said, the test would be carried out under a favourable weather condition. Programme Director of Agni missiles Avinash Chander told The New Indian Express that the missile was ready for the user trial.
We have already carried out three consecutive successful trials of Agni-III in 2007, 2008 and 2010 thus making it full proof and a proven missile. In all three occasions the technologies incorporated in the missile system and software have performed as expected, he said.
Director General of DRDO and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister V K Saraswat who had left for Bengaluru after the Agni-IV test to attend a function organised to commemorate the formal receipt of the Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) aircraft, also has arrived here on Thursday.
Agni-IVs successful launch and Agni-IIIs user trial came at a time when a report by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists of the US claimed that India was legging behind those of its putative adversaries Pakistan and China. The defence authorities have however rubbished the report saying the country, which adopts a clear-cut no-first-use doctrine, has an active credible nuclear deterrence and well capable of its own defence.
The Agni-III, capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes, is 17 metres tall with a two-metre diameter and weighs about 48 tonnes. The missile was reportedly inducted in the armed forces in June 2011.
The maiden test of Agni III on July 9, 2006 had failed though later it has been test fired successfully thrice. It is expected to be the mainstay of India's nuclear deterrence programme when fully operational by providing the country with strategic second-strike capability.
Agni-III is capable of carrying a variety of warheads, including nuclear warheads and can be launched from various platforms giving the country intermediate range ballistic missile firepower and greatly extending its power projection in the region.