Perilous Times
India tests nuclear-capable missile: official
by Staff Writers
Bhubaneswar, India (AFP) May 17, 2010
The Indian military successfully tested a nuclear-capable, medium-range
ballistic missile off its eastern coast on Monday, a defence official
said.
The surface-to-surface Agni-II, which can deliver a nuclear warhead to
targets within a range of 2,500 kilometres (1,560 miles), was fired
from a mobile rail launcher on Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa
state.
The Agni-II has already been inducted into the services and Monday's
"user test" was carried out by the army's Strategic Forces Command.
"The user trial of the missile was successful and matched all mission
objectives," said S.P. Dash, the director of the test range.
It was the first outing for the Agni-II since the failure of a
much-hyped night launch last November.
The missile, which is capable of carrying a one-tonne conventional or
nuclear warhead, is one of a series being developed by India's Defence
Research Development Organisation as a deterrent strategy against
nuclear-armed neighbours China and Pakistan.
India already has the 3,000-kilometre range Agni-III missile -- the
longest in the Agni series.
Unconfirmed reports suggest India is also building an Agni variant with
a range of 5,000 kilometres.