Agni-IV missile passes first user trial for its 4,000-km range

India today successfully conducted the first user trial of the Agni-IV strategic nuclear capable ballistic missile missile for its full strike range of 4,000km from the Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast.

The medium-range ballistic missile in deliverable version was launched for the first time by the Army's Strategic Forces Command (SFC) around 10.15 am. This was also the fourth successful trial in a series.

Carrying a one-tonne dummy warhead, the missile splashed down near its pre-designated target point in the waters of the Indian Ocean with a high degree of accuracy as two naval ships nearby recorded the terminal event.

The long-range radars and electro-optical tracking systems (EOTS) located all along the coast tracked and monitored all the parameters throughout the flight.

Agni 4 is equipped with state of the art avionics, 5th generation on-board computer and distributed architecture. It has the latest features to correct and guide itself for inflight disturbances, a DRDO release said.

The most accurate ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (RINS) and supported by redundant, highly reliable micro navigation system (MINGS), ensures high accuracy, the release added.

Agni-4's re-entry heat shield is capable of withstanding temperatures as high as 4000 degree centigrade and above while re-entering the earth's atmosphere while making sure that the avionics function normally, with inside temperature remaining less than 50 degree centigrade.

With Agni 1, 2, 3 and Prithvi already inducted into India's defence arsenal, Agni 4 further extends the reach and enhances effective deterrence capability.

The launch was witnessed by senior DRDO officials led by scientific advisor to defence minister and secretary to the department of defence R&D and DG DRDO Avinash Chander, top DRDO scientists, including director-general missiles and strategic systems VG Sekaran, project director Tessy Thomas and RCI director Satheesh Reddy.