Indian Strategic Forces Command test fires improved version of IRBM Agni-I
Balasore: A short-range variant of India's Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, the Agni-1, was successfully test-fired by the country's Strategic Forces Command at Chandipur-at-Sea near Balasore in Orissa at 10.35 this morning.
According to a government statement, "the performance parameters of the 700 km range missile were as expected and the desired objectives have been met."
Basically a users trial for the Indian Army, the test was conducted from a mobile launcher from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) launch complex, defence sources said. The sources also said that there were "considerable improvements" in the missile's re-entry technology and manoeuvrability as compared to the initial versions of the missile.
This is the fourth test firing of the surface-to-surface ballistic missile, which is capable of striking targets up to a distance of 700 km.
Posted by: john frum 2007-10-05 |