Article Posted on : - May 16, 2010

A file photo of Agni-II missile.

BALASORE (PTI): The nuclear-capable Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile, with a range of 2000 kms, is likely to be test fired on Monday from a range off the Orissa coast during a trial by the Army, defence sources said, Sunday.

"The trial is to be conducted from the Wheelers Island, about 120 km from here off the Orissa coast on Monday," the sources said.

Range integration work in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur and Dhamara for trial of Agni-II missile is near completion and if final check-up in the sub-systems of the missile is found to be flaw-less, the mission will be taken up on Monday, they said.

A special strategic command force (SSC) raised by Army would conduct the trial with necessary logistic support provided by various laboratories of the ITR and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists, the sources said.

The indigenously-built Agni-II missile is a two-stage solid propelled ballistic missile. Its length is 21 meters, width one meter and launch weight is 17 tonnes.

It can carry a payload of one tonne over a distance of 2,000 km. However, the range can be extended if the payload is reduced. The missile has already been inducted into the services and the SSC is in charge of the missile's operation.

Agni-II was developed by Advanced Systems Laboratory along with other laboratories of DRDO and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

Private industry has participated in a big way in its production, the sources said.

The missile is part of the Agni series which includes Agni-I of 700 km range and Agni-III of 3,500 km range.

Agni-I has been inducted into the forces and Agni-III is in the process of induction.