Indian Missile News And Discussion

[Arun_S]

• [url="http://expressbuzz.com/nation/agni-ii-set-for-3rd-trial/173701.html"]Agni-II missile likely to be test fired tomorrow[/url]

STAFF WRITER[color="#f47622"] 11:28 HRS IST[/color]Balasore (Orissa), May 16 (PTI)



[url="http://expressbuzz.com/searchresult/hemant-kumar-rout"]Hemant Kumar Rout[/url] [url=""]Express News Service

[/url]16 May 2010 09:48:02 AM IST

BALASORE: After two failures and problems rectified, the nuclear-capable intermediate range surface-to-surface missile Agni-IIis all set for a takeoff from the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast on May 17. The flight test would be conducted by a team of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) while the DRDO scientists would provide the logistic support, sources said.This year, India has already tested 3,500-km range Agni-III in February and 700-km range Agni-I in March.``This will be a user trial of Agni-II and it has been scheduled to be carried out on May 17. After the twin failures, the test will be conducted to reestablish the confidence among the user (Army) and confirm the missile’s readiness,” said a defence official atthe Integrated Test Range. On November 23 last year, the Army had tested Agni-II at about 7.50 pm. For the first time, a missile was tested after sunset, but it failed to deliver results.Agni-II can neutralise a target at over 2,000 km range. It can carry a payload of around 1,000 kg and its range can be increased to 3,000 km depending on the payload. The missile will be used by 555 Missile Group of the Army. The two consecutive trials of the 2,000 km-plus range missile failed due to snags in the second stage separation, sources added. The DRDO drew flak and the defence analysts raised concern about its deployment during war. However, the DRDO denied any design problem in the missile and ratherpointed finger at the quality of the material used in the missile for its failure.A fact-finding committee, headed by G Madhavan Nair, former chairman of ISRO, was formed to go into the reasons behind the missile’s recurring failure. “The problem has been fixed and rectified too. Hope this time the mission would be successful,” said the official.