Indian Army tests nuclear-capable Agni II IRBM

Bhubaneswar: An anticipated user trial by the Indian Army of the Agni-II nuclear-capable, intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) was carried out successfully from the country's missile testing facilities at Wheeler's Island off the coast of Orissa at 10.06 am this morning.

 ''It was a user trial,'' defence sources said. The purpose of the test was to let the Army operate the missile on its own without help or guidance from defence scientists and technicians, the developers of the missile.

The Agni II missile is a part of India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme,

Twenty metres long the missile weighs 16 tonnes and carries a payload of around 1,000 kg.  The missiles range can be increased to 3,000 km with a reduction in the size of the payload.

The missile can be operated from both rail and road mobile launchers and can be readied for action within 15 minutes.