India test fires nuclear-capable Agni-II missile (Lead)

Bhubaneswar May 4 (IANS) India on Thursday test-fired its medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni-II off the Odisha coast but the test failed after the missile deviated from its trajectory sources said.

The trial of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted from Launch Complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in the APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Balasore district said officials.

However the missile went off its path after around half-a-kilometer and the test had to be aborted they said.

The Strategic Forces Command (SCF) a specially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army carried out the test at 10.20 a.m.

Agni-II has two solid fuel stages and a Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) integrated into the missile s Re-entry Vehicle (RV). The 20-metre missile is a two-stage solid propelled ballistic missile.

It has a strike range of more than 2 000 km is 20-metre long weighs 17 tonnes and can carry a payload of 1 000 kg.

--IANS
ao/nir