The user trial of the nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface intermediate range Agni-I Ballistic Missile was carried out successfully from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at the Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast on Monday.
Under the supervision of DRDO scientists, the single-stage missile, powered by solid-propellants, was test fired from a mobile launcher of lC-IV by India’s Strategic Forces Command at 9.15 am.
The trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electro-optic instruments and naval ships from its launch till the missile hit the target area with accuracy, said sources.
The missile covered 700 km distance within nine minutes and 36 seconds, sources added.
The last trial of the Agni-I had successfully been carried out on November 27 last from the same base. Weighing 12 tonnes, the missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of one tonne.
The indigenous 15-metre-long missile was developed by Advanced Systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Defence Research Development laboratory and Research Centre and integrated by the Bharat Dynamics limited, Hyderabad.
The missile which has already been inducted in armed forces, has proved its excellent performance in terms of range and accuracy.