By KUNA,
New Delhi : India Wednesday test-fired its longest range nuclear capable “Agni-III” missile in what could be described as a significant milestone in country’s defence history. Agni-III, an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range at Innner Wheelers’ Island off the coast of India’s Eastern state of Orissa this morning, news agency Press Trust of India reported, quoting a Defence Ministry source. The 3,500-km range surface-to-surface missile weighs about 48 tonnes. It is capable of carrying warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes. The 16 metre-long and 1.8-metre wide Agni-III missile was fitted with on-board computer for its guidance system, the source added. This was the third test of the missile, which has can hit targets as far as Beijing and Shanghai in China, the source said. It was last test-fired in April, 2007.
The missile, part of the “Agni” series of missiles, is developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation. Other missiles in the series “Agni-I” has a range of 750-800 km and Agni-II has a range of more than 1,500 km. Indian Armed forces have inducted both these missiles.