India Prepares To Test Nuke-Capable Missile

24 Aug 2011 By VIVEK RAGHUVANSHI DefenseNews

NEW DELHI - India's Strategic Forces Command, which is in charge of the country's nuclear arsenal, is scheduled to test the nuclear-capable Agni-II missile by the end of the month, Defence Ministry sources here said.

With its 2,000-kilometer range, the Agni-II is regarded as a Pakistan-strike ballistic missile, while the 3,000-kilometer-range Agni-III is capable of targeting China.

The Agni-II, in service with the Indian Army, is powered by solid and liquid fuel, and can be ready to launch in 15 minutes, a senior Army official said.

This month's user test will take place at the missile testing center in India's eastern Orissa state.

Sources said the user test also will be a test of new technologies developed by Indian scientists, including the missile's composite rocket motor, ring laser gyro-based navigation system and other subsystems.

The 17-metric-ton Agni-II missile can carry a one-ton payload.

Indian scientists also are developing an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 5,000 kilometers.