India Readies Trial of Advanced Agni Missile

September 19^th 2011MDAA

A trial flight for a new version of India’s nuclear-capable Agni 2 ballistic missile is slated to take place before November, the Press Trust of India reported (see GSN, Aug. 23).

“We are planning to test fire an advanced nuclear-capable Agni 2 prime missile by next month,” Defense Ministry insiders stated.

The solid-propellant Agni 2 prime can hit a target within 1,864 miles, more than 620 miles farther than India’s present Agni 2 missile, the officials said. The Agni 2 prime’s booster rockets are no larger than those of the current weapon, but the updated missile is equipped with upgraded control components and it is more precise than its predecessor.

Updated equipment lowers the Agni 2 prime’s weight, and the new weapon boasts greater accelerative potential, according to PTI (Press Trust of India/Economic Times, Sept. 19).

SOURCE: Global Security Newswire