NEW DELHI: In another jolt to India's strategic missile programme, the test-firing of an advanced version of Agni-II failed on Friday with the nuclear-capable weapon system veering off course and plunging into the sea off the Orissa coast.
The Agni-II-plus missile, designed to have strike range of around 2,500 km, did achieve lift-off from a road mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range in Wheeler Island around 10 am but deviated from its planned trajectory within 30 seconds.
"The experimental launch of Agni-II-P experienced a trajectory deviation immediately after the lift-off, leading to the failure of the mission. Detailed analysis is in progress (to ascertain the reason behind the failure)," said a defence ministry official.
"Many new technologies like composite rocket motor, indigenous ring laser gryo-based navigation system and road mobile launch were being tested in this mission. Many of these new technologies have been proved," he added.
The fact, however, remains the Agni family of missiles, which constitute the land leg of India's quest for a fully-operational nuclear-weapon triad, have been dogged by repeated glitches over the years.
The Agni-II missile, in particular, suffered two failures in a row last year. DRDO scientists, on their part, blamed manufacturing problems, rather than any design and development flaws, for the failures.
Be that as it may, the only ballistic missiles which can be said to be "100% operational" at present are the short-range Prithvi missile (150-350 km) and, to a certain extent, the 700-km range Agni-I.