Article Posted on : - Sep 19, 2012

Agni-IV being successfully test fired on Wednesday. A DRDO photo

BALASORE, ODISHA (PTI): In a quantum jump in its missile programme, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired a highly advanced nuclear-capable Agni-IV ballistic missile with a strike range of about 4,000 km from an island off Odisha coast.

The long-range missile was test-fired from a road mobile launcher from complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, about 100 km from here, at about 1135 hours, defence sources said.

"The trial was successful and the missile reached the pre-defined target in about 20 minutes," DRDO sources said.

Defence Minister AK Antony congratulated all scientists of DRDO for successful flight test of AGNI-IV.

The missile, developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and propelled by composite rocket motor technology, was tested for its full capability.

A high performance on-board computer with distributed avionics architecture and high speed reliable communication bus and a full digital control system were used to control and guide the missile to the target.

"It is equipped with modern and compact avionics to provide high level of reliability," a DRDO official said.

"The state-of-the-art Ring Laser Gyros-based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode were incorporated into the missile system in guidance mode," he said.

The sophisticated missile is lighter in weight and has two stages of solid propulsion. The payload, with a re-entry heat shield, can withstand temperature of more than 3,000 degree Celsius, a defence scientist said.

It is 20-metres long and has a launch weight of 17 tonnes. It can carry a payload of one tonne, he said.

Agni-IV missile, undergoing developmental trials by DRDO, is equipped with advanced avionics and 5th generation on-board computer. It has the latest features to correct and guide for in-flight disturbances.

The last trial of the missile carried out on November 15, 2011 from the same base was successful.

All Electro-Optical Tracking systems (EOTS) and radars located all along the coast tracked and monitored all the parameters throughout the test flight.

Two ships located near the target point tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event, DRDO sources said.

DRDO chief V K Saraswat, who is also Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister, and Avinash Chander, Programme Director, Agni, reviewed the total launch activities and guided the team, the sources said.

Tessy Thomas, project director Agni-IV, led the team of scientists during the operation.