Nuke capable missile Agni-II user trial soon

After the BrahMos fiasco, the DRDO scientists are flexing their muscles for a successful user trial of 2000-km range nuclear capable Agni-II ballistic missile before the country goes into the celebration mode for the Independence Day.

Sources said a team of defence scientists and the personnel of Indian army are busy integrating the missile components and tracking systems at the Wheeler Island based test facility off the Odisha coast. The missile has been scheduled to be test fired any time in between August 10 and 12.

Though the DRDO had planned a couple of test flights of pilot-less target aircraft (PTA) ‘Lakshya’ from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) prior to the Agni-II trial, all have reportedly been postponed after the unsuccessful test firing of BrahMos cruise missile.

On Sunday, the Indo-Russian joint venture missile BrahMos crashed mid-air after a vertical lift-up and fell into the Bay of Bengal before covering its pre-coordinated flight path. The trial also failed to validate the performances of some newer systems manufactured by Indian industries and incorporated in the missile system for the first time.

While with the missile components manufactured by the Russian industries earlier the same BrahMos has proved its capability making it the most sophisticated and maneuverable missile in the world, the India made apparatuses have put the missile scientists in a fix.

Sceptical over the performance of Indian inertial navigation system (INS) in the Agni-II missile, the scientists preparing for its launch are however leaving no stone unturned to make the mission successful to mark the 66th Independence Day on August 15. The trial however would be carried out by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army, which handles nuclear weapons-delivery systems.

Earlier on a couple of occasions, the missile has reportedly failed to travel the entire flight path with an Indian INS. The DRDO also has been facing problems related to the control system in its missile missions. A planned trial earlier this year was postponed following a technical snag in the missile’s first stage.

This test is also significant in the wake of the advisory of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who on Tuesday at the DRDO Technology Awards function in New Delhi asked the scientists to concentrate on key strategic and military technology areas to ensure weapon systems are developed without huge time and cost overruns.   

Agni-II missile has a length of 20 meters, a diameter of one meter and weight 16 tonnes. It can carry a payload of around 1000 kg. It has appropriate on-board thrusters fitted on the second stage of the missile.

The first prototype of an operational variant of the Agni-II was tested on 11 April 1999. The missile can be fitted with 150 or 200 kT yield nuclear warheads, in addition to chemical, high explosive and sub-munitions versions. The range of the missile is significantly greater than that needed to strike targets within all of Pakistan.

“Newer technologies have been incorporated in the missile and the weapon system has also been provided with greater thrust. Lets hope for the better result this time,” added the scientist.