02-16-2004, 05:26 AM
<b>India all set to test-fire Agni-III this year: Fernandes </b> <!--emo&:thumbsup--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbup.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='thumbup.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Sujit Chatterjee (PTI)
New Delhi, February 15
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_573135,0008.htm
India is all set to test-fire this year its new longer-range 'Agni-
III' surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
"Yes, the missile should be test-fired this year. We have so far not
zeroed in on any date for its launch. This is just the beginning of
the year," Defence Minister George Fernandes told PTI in New Delhi.
On whether the missile would have a strike range of over 3,000 km,
Fernandes said, "I will not make any commitment on that."
He also parried a question if the missile would be test-fired from a
mobile launcher like other such weapons in the country's
arsenal. "At the appropriate time one will know about it," he said.
India has already operationalised 700-km range Agni-I and 2000-km
range Agni-II, which are both capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Agni-III is being developed to have a range longer than Agni-II.
Replying to questions on acquisition of 'Phalcon' airborne
surveillance systems, Fernandes said a memorandum of understanding
has been reached with Israel and Russia and "things are moving". The
Phalcon system would be mounted on a Russian-made IL-series aircraft.
"We are producing our own airborne warning and control system. Work
is on for the production of indigenous AWACS," he said.
Sujit Chatterjee (PTI)
New Delhi, February 15
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_573135,0008.htm
India is all set to test-fire this year its new longer-range 'Agni-
III' surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
"Yes, the missile should be test-fired this year. We have so far not
zeroed in on any date for its launch. This is just the beginning of
the year," Defence Minister George Fernandes told PTI in New Delhi.
On whether the missile would have a strike range of over 3,000 km,
Fernandes said, "I will not make any commitment on that."
He also parried a question if the missile would be test-fired from a
mobile launcher like other such weapons in the country's
arsenal. "At the appropriate time one will know about it," he said.
India has already operationalised 700-km range Agni-I and 2000-km
range Agni-II, which are both capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Agni-III is being developed to have a range longer than Agni-II.
Replying to questions on acquisition of 'Phalcon' airborne
surveillance systems, Fernandes said a memorandum of understanding
has been reached with Israel and Russia and "things are moving". The
Phalcon system would be mounted on a Russian-made IL-series aircraft.
"We are producing our own airborne warning and control system. Work
is on for the production of indigenous AWACS," he said.