India successfully test fired Agni-II missile

India has successfully test fired the surface to surface 2000 km range Ballistic Missile AGNI-II from Wheeler's Island in Bay of Bengal off Coast of Odisha.

The two-stage solid propellant AGNI-II launched as a part of regular strategic Forces Command (SFC) exercise as they reached the pre-designated target point in Bay of Bengal within accuracy of few meters.

According to sources, the 20 m long Agni-II is a two stage solid propelled ballistic missile. It has a launch weight of 17 tonns and it can carry a paylod of 1000 kg over a distance of 2000 km.

Two ships located near the target point have tracked the terminal phase of the vehicle and witnessed the final event. The Radars and Electro-Optical Tracking stations have tracked and monitored the vehicle and all the relevant parameters.

All the systems, Propulsion, Control, Actuators, On-Board Computers, Missile Interface Units and the Navigation, Guidance systems functioned fully to the perfection and ensured the vehicle reached the target within few meters of accuracy.

SFC carried out the launch operations and the DRDO scientists monitored and guided all the activities.

The team was led by the Project Director Laxminarayana and the Mission Director Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist R;D (MSS) who guided and reviewed the activities. Dr. V K Saraswat, SA to RM, Secretary Deptt of Defence R&D and DG (R and D) DRDO were present during the launch and cleared the launch of the vehicle after thorough review.

The Defence Minister AK Antony has congratulated the Armed Forces, DRDO scientists and the Industry on the successful launch of AGNI-II.

(With inputs from PIB)