Agni-I successfully test-fired

India today successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test range off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the Army.

The surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 0933 hrs from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here.

"The test-fire of the ballistic missile was fully successful," ITR Director M V K V Prasad said.

"Agni-I missile was launched by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC)," he said, adding the DRDO developed medium-range ballistic missile from the production lot was launched as part of regular training exercise by the armed forces.

The Agni-I missile has a specialised navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision, he said.

Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, which can carry payloads up to 1000 kg, has already been inducted into the Indian Army.

Agni-I was developed by advanced systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the DRDO in collaboration with Defence Research Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

The last trial of the sophisticated Agni-I missile was successfully carried out on December 12, 2012 from the same base.