New Delhi: India tested the first night trial of the nuclear capable Agni-III surface-to-surface ballistic missile from a mobile launcher, today. The launch was conducted at the Integrated Test Range at the A. P. J. Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
The test was done by Strategic Forces Command with support from the Defence Research and Development Organization at 7.20 pm.
Agni-III has a strike range of over 3,500 km. The missile is 17 meter long with a 2 meter diameter and weighs around 50 tons. The missile is powered by a 2-stage solid propellant and can carry a warhead of 1.5 ton. It has hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems and onboard computer.
A DRDO scientists said, “It was the fourth user trial in the Agni-III series carried out to establish the repeatability of the missile’s performance. For the first time the test was conducted during night time.”
The missile is already inducted in the Indian Army.