By KUNA,
New Delhi : India Wednesday successfully test-fired its longest range surface-to-surface nuclear capable “Agni-III” missile, which placed the country into select group of countries with Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) capabilities. “The launch propelled India into a select group of countries with IRBM capabilities and added yet another dimension to the national deterrence. It was a text book launch and followed the trajectory with single digit guidance accuracy. All the subsystems of the Missile functioned in a copybook manner giving an outstanding integrated performance of the Missile in terms of Range and accuracy,” an Indian Defence Ministry statement said here today, following the missile launch. “The Missile reached the pre-designated target in a time of 800 seconds, travelling through a peak height of 350 km with a velocity of more than 4,000 metres/second. Two Indian Naval Ships positioned near the target location South of equator, have confirmed the impact of the Missile,” the statement said, adding, “this is the third flight test in the series of Agni-III, which was carried out to establish the repeatability of missile performance.” “The missile system is equipped with sophisticated Navigation, Guidance and Control systems along with advanced distributed architecture based On Board Computer Systems. The electronic systems are hardened for higher vibration, thermal and acoustic effects. A high performance indigenous Ring Laser Gyro based Navigation System is flight tested for the first time in Agni Missile Systems,” the statement said. The missile was tracked by various telemetry stations, electro optic systems and radars located along India’s Eastern coast, and by the downrange ships positioned near the target location.
The data from the various stations was transmitted in real time through an advanced communication network of Defence Research and Development Organisation for online performance evaluation and range safety, the Defence Ministry said.