India carried out a successful test Thursday of its
longest-range ballistic missile, the Agni III, which is capable of
carrying a nuclear warhead more than 3,000 kilometers, scientists
said.
The launch of the longest-range Agni, which means "fire" in the
Sanskrit language, came after a failed test last July when the
missile plunged into the Bay of Bengal after take-off.
"Yes, the test was absolutely successful," said W. Selvamurthy,
a senior official of the Defense Research and Development
Organisation, which designed the missile.
"It took off at 10:50 AM (05:20 GMT) and landed at 11:05 AM," he
said. "We are absolutely satisfied with all the results and we have
rectified the errors of last year's failure. It met all the target
coordinates."
India's Defense Minister A. K. Anthony congratulated defense
scientists on the successful launch of the missile, a ministry
press statement said.
"India has matured in the missile technology area and was
definitely at par with many other developed countries," the release
added.
The missile was launched from Wheeler Island off the eastern
state of Orissa and is also said to be capable of carrying up to a
300-kiloton nuclear warhead.
India has around 100 to 150 nuclear warheads and staged tests in
1974 and 1998.
India's missile program, together with its nuclear program and
drive for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,
is part of its ongoing efforts to establish itself as a world
power.
India's homegrown missile arsenal already includes the
short-range Prithvi ballistic missile, the medium-range Akash, the
anti-tank Nag and the supersonic Brahmos missile, developed jointly
with Russia.
Pakistan had been notified about the missile test, Kar said.
(China Daily via agencies April 13, 2007)
