Agni-I Successfully Test-fired Friday Nov 08,2013

India Friday Nov 08,2013 successfully test-fired it's indigenously developed nuclear-capable Agni-I ballistic missile with a strike range of 700 km from a test range off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the Army.

The surface-to-surface, single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at 0933 hours from launch pad-4 of the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Islandabout 100 km from Balasore, Odisha

The Agni-I missile has a specialised navigation system which ensures it reaches the target with a high degree of accuracy and precision, he said.

Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, which can carry payloads up to 1000 kg, has already been inducted into the Indian Army

Agni-I was developed by advanced systems laboratory, the premier missile development laboratory of the DRDO in collaboration with Defence Research Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat and integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.


Note
The Agni is a family of medium to intercontinental range ballistic missiles developed by India, named after one of the 5 elements of nature.

Agni-I

The two-stage Agni technology demonstrator, with a solid-fuel first stage, was first tested at the Interim Test Range in Chandipur in 1989. It was capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or a nuclear warhead. This original technology demonstrator evolved into the solid-fuel Agni-1 and Agni-2 missiles.Weighing 12 tonne with a length of 15 metres, Agni-1 has a range of 700–1250 km and is capable of carrying a conventional payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) or anuclear war head at a speed of 2.5 km/s.On 13 July 2012, India test fired Agni I successfully at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast

Agni-II

India first developed the two-stage 2000 km range Agni-2, testing it in 1999.Agni-II with a range of 2,000–2,500 km is 20 metres long, has a diameter of one metre, and weighs around 18 tonnes. Agni – II uses solid propellant in both of its two stages.The 2000 km range nuclear weapon capable missile, already inducted into country's arsenal, was successfully launched as a training exercise by the armed forces on August 09,2012.India on 7 April 2013 test-fired its nuclear capable Agni-II strategic ballistic missile from a military base in Odisha. The test was conducted from Wheeler's Island in Bhadrak district

Agni-III

Agni III uses solid propellant in both stages.Agni-III was tested on 9 July 2006 from wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Odisha. After the launch, it was reported that the second stage of the rocket did not separate and the missile had fallen well short of its target. Agni-III was again tested on 12 April 2007, this time successfully, again from Wheeler Island. On 7 May 2008 India again successfully test fired this missile.Agni-III has a rangeof 3500 km and can take a warhead of 1.5 tonnes

Agni-IV

Agni-IV bridges the gap between Agni II and Agni III.Agni IV can take a warhead of 1 tonne. It is designed to increase the kill efficiency along with a higher range performance. Agni IV is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, that includes indigenously developed ring laser gyro and composite rocket motor. It is a two-stage missile powered by solid propellant. Its length is 20 meters and launch weight 17 tonnes.Agni-IV was tested on Nov 15,2011 from Wheeler Island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa.The missile was successfully test-fired again on Sep 19, 2012 for its full range of 4,000 km from the Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast

Agni-V

Agni-V is a solid fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) of India to strike targets more than 5,000 km away.Agni-V was test fired successfully on 19 April 2012 at 08:07 am IST from Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa.The 17.5-metre-long Agni-V weighs around 49 tonnes