India to test-fire Agni-III shortly
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, July 8, IRNA
India-Agni-III-Test-fire
India's most sophisticated intermediate- range ballistic missile 'Agni' is likely to be test-fired shortly, defence sources hinted.
Preparations were on for launching of the missile from the intergrated test range at Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast, a PTI report said here quoting sources.
However, they refused to confirm whether it would be Agni-III which was to be launched.
Recently, M Natarajan, scientific advisor to Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, had revealed that Agni-III, which is capable of hitting targets more than 4,000 kilometers away, was technically ready for launch.
The nuclear-capable, surface-based Agni-III with solid and liquid propellent has never been fired and tests have repeatedly been put off since November 2004.
Other Agni missiles, AGNI-I (700-800-km range) and Agni-II (2,000-km range) had already been inducted into the army as part of the country's minimum deterrent.
The integrated test range in Wheeler island was recently visited by President A P J Abdul Kalam during his three-day visit to Orissa.
The launchpad in the island is referred to as launch complex IV while part of the test range is located at Chandipur-on-sea in Balasore district.
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