India successfully test-fires nuclear-capable missile

USPA News - An intermediate-range ballistic missile in the Agni series that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads was successfully test-fired Monday from a small island off the coast of eastern India, the country`s defense ministry said on Tuesday. Launched at 10.52 a.m. local time from Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha, Agni-IV rose to a height of over 850 kilometers (530 miles), covering the intended 4,000 kilometer (2,485.5 miles) range in about 20 minutes.

The missile hit its target with two-digit accuracy, meeting all its mission objectives and proving its capabilities, the defense ministry said. "The event is of greater significance since the system was tested in its deliverable configuration with the active participation of Strategic Forces Command (SFC) personnel," said Shri Avinash Chander, who commanded the launch sequence. Monday`s test-firing marked the third consecutively successful trial and the last one in a series of development launches. Agni-IV is equipped with state of the art Avionics, a 5th generation on-board computer, distributed architecture, and includes advanced features to correct and guide itself for in-flight disturbances. Now ready for induction and serial production, India`s military says the Agni-IV reflects the "high maturity level" of the country`s contemporary weapons and platforms for strengthening deterrence and defense capabilities. Since independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, India and its neighbor Pakistan have fought four wars, including one undeclared war, as well as numerous border skirmishes and military stand-offs. The two countries were on the brink of nuclear conflict in 2002 over the disputed territory of Kashmir, but a ceasefire was agreed to in 2003 although violations still occur. Both nations frequently develop new missiles.