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| Agni-I successfully launched Photo--PIB |
Bhubaneswar: India
on Friday successfully test-fired it’s indigenously developed nuclear capable
Agni-I ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island in
Odisha.
The
missile has strike range of 700 km away and can carry a one tonne nuclear
warhead.
Indigenously
developed by DRDO the missile is already in the arsenal of Indian Armed Forces
and was launched by the Strategic Forces Command as part of training exercise
to ensure preparedness.
Amongst
those who were witnessed the launch were DRDO
chief VK Saraswat and chief controller (missiles and strategic systems) Avinash
Chander.
Dr Saraswat congratulated all the Scientists and
employees of DRDO and the Armed forces for the successful launch.
Defence Minister A. K. Antony has congratulated
the DRDO team on the successful launch of Agni I.
Already inducted
in the Army, Agni-I was first test fired in January 25, 2002. Since then DRDO
has conducted several trials of the missile. It is meant to bridge the gap
between indigenously built short-range missile Prithvi and Agni-II that has a
range of 2000 km.
Notably,
the test of
Agni-I comes after the successful launch of 5,000-km range Agni-V on April 19.