India Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Ballistic Missile

NEW DELHI, December 23 (RIA Novosti) – India on Monday carried out a test of a domestically developed ballistic missile with a range of more than 3,000 kilometers (1,800 miles), local media reported.

The Agni-III missile was launched from a rail-based mobile launcher deployed on Wheeler Island, in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Odisha.

The test was the second in a series of user trials by the Indian army and sixth overall, according to newspaper The Hindu.

“The missile reached an altitude of 380 kilometers and withstood searing temperatures as it re-entered the atmosphere and impacted the target point after flying for about 800 seconds,” the newspaper said.

Agni-III is a two-stage solid-fuel ballistic missile developed by India’s Defense Research and Development Organization.

According to the Indian military, the Agni-III is equipped with an advanced navigation system to ensure a high degree of accuracy, and it has already been commissioned by the army.

The Agni-III is part of India’s indigenous family of medium-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. As of 2008, the Agni missile family comprises three operational variants; two more, the Agni-IV and Agni-V, are still in testing phase.

The DRDO is reportedly working on the development of the sixth missile in the Agni family, the Agni-VI, with an estimated range of up to 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles).

Credit to RIA Novosti