<p>A sophisticated Agni II missile, which can hit a target at a distance of more than 2,000 km, carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads up to 1000 kg, was launched at 7.50 pm from the DRDO-run missile launching facility located on Wheelers Island in north Orissa Bhadrak district, sources said. <br /><br />Never before since the country began its indigenous missile development programme, a missile was test-fired after sunset. <br />Till now the DRDO was test firing all its missiles including the Agni series from its two facilities in Orissa – one on Wheelers Island and another in Chandipur in neighbouring Balasore district – only during daytime. According to sources, the 20 metre-long surface-to-surface Agni II missile which weighs about 17 tonnes was test-fired from launch pad number IV of the missile testing centre. <br />Many senior DRDO scientists as well representatives of the Army were present during the function. <br /><br />Result not known <br />The result of the test-firing is not yet known. “The results of the test-firing could only be known after a detailed analysis”, a DRDO source said. <br />If defence sources are to be believed, the main aim behind the post-sunset test-firing of the Agni II missile was to gauge its accuracy during night time. <br />“Wars in modern times are being fought during the day as well as night. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire the expertise in night-time test-firing of the missiles”, a defence source said. <br /><br />All precautionary measures, including an alert to the local fishermen, had been done before the test-firing, an official in the Bhadrak district administration said.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>A sophisticated Agni II missile, which can hit a target at a distance of more than 2,000 km, carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads up to 1000 kg, was launched at 7.50 pm from the DRDO-run missile launching facility located on Wheelers Island in north Orissa Bhadrak district, sources said. <br /><br />Never before since the country began its indigenous missile development programme, a missile was test-fired after sunset. <br />Till now the DRDO was test firing all its missiles including the Agni series from its two facilities in Orissa – one on Wheelers Island and another in Chandipur in neighbouring Balasore district – only during daytime. According to sources, the 20 metre-long surface-to-surface Agni II missile which weighs about 17 tonnes was test-fired from launch pad number IV of the missile testing centre. <br />Many senior DRDO scientists as well representatives of the Army were present during the function. <br /><br />Result not known <br />The result of the test-firing is not yet known. “The results of the test-firing could only be known after a detailed analysis”, a DRDO source said. <br />If defence sources are to be believed, the main aim behind the post-sunset test-firing of the Agni II missile was to gauge its accuracy during night time. <br />“Wars in modern times are being fought during the day as well as night. Therefore, it is necessary to acquire the expertise in night-time test-firing of the missiles”, a defence source said. <br /><br />All precautionary measures, including an alert to the local fishermen, had been done before the test-firing, an official in the Bhadrak district administration said.<br />DH News Service</p>
