Balasore: India today conducted the user trial of surface-to-surface Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), Agni-II, from the launching complex-1V at the Abdul Kalam Island near Dhamra off Odisha coast.The two-stage surface-to-surface missile, powered by solid propellants was test fired at 0838 hours.
The missile had already been inducted into the Army in 2004 and will be used by 555th missile group of the army.Agni-II has the capability to carry a nuclear warhead weighing up to one tonne. The 20 meters long missile has been designed and developed by the Advanced Systems Laboratory, a unit of the DRDO in Hyderabad.
The missile was part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program(IGMDP) and has appropriate on-board thrusters fitted on the second stage of the missile.Both stages of Agni-II have a solid population system, which facilitated the missile to be mobile and flexible.
Defence sources said the Agni-II carrying a payload of around 1,000 kg,could also neutralize a target at over 2,000 km range.The striking range could also be increased to 3,000 km depending upon the payload.
The 20 meter long and one metre thick Agni-II which has a weight of 17 tons could be launched from a rail-mobile launcher and also in a road mobile configuration, sources said.(UNI)