Agni-II + test ends in failure
10 Dec 2010
Balasore: India's test of an upgraded version of Agni-II nuclear-capable intermediate- range ballistic missile ended in failure with the missile dropping off into the sea a few seconds after lift-off from its launch pad. The test was carried out at the traditional testing pads at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast.
The new variant is an improved version of the existing Agni-II model.
Today's failure comes in the wake of a similar failure of a Prithvi-II missile on 24 September that dropped off a few seconds after the launch. A test flight of the Agni-I misslee just ten days earlier on 25 November was successful however.
"The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired from a rail mobile launcher from the launch pad-4 of ITR," defence sources said after the launch took place around 1000 hours.
"Outcome of the trial will be known after data relating to various parameters of mission's objectives are retrieved and analysed from different telemetry and tracking stations as well as naval ships positioned near the terminal point," they said.
According to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources, "...the modified version of Agni-II would have better accuracy and range."