Jul 9, 2006, 12:47 GMT
Balasore (Orissa), July 9 (IANS) India Sunday test-fired its nuclear-capable Agni-III long-range intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from a defence base in Orissa, defence sources said.
The missile, for which preparations were on for the past month, is capable of reaching China. It was test-fired at around 11.05 a.m. from a mobile launcher at Wheeler Island in the coastal district of Bhadrak, some 200 km from Bhubaneswar.
Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and top officials of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), including Avinash Chandra, director of the Agni-III programme, were present.
Agni-III has a reach of more than 5,000 km. It has the capability of reaching targets virtually everywhere in the neighbourhood till central China and deep into the Indian Ocean as well as south-east Asia.
The Agni-I, with a range of 700-800 km, and Agni-II, with a 2,000 km range, have already been inducted in the Indian Army as part of country's minimum deterrent programme.
© 2006 Indo-Asian News Service
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