<p>According to sources in the Bhadrak district administration, the indigenously built surface-to-surface ballistic missile was test-fired from the launch pad number four of the premier missile testing centre with the help of a mobile launcher.<br /><br />Senior DRDO scientists as well as officials from the Defence Ministry were present during the test at the Wheelers Island.<br /><br />Target<br /><br />The Agni II missile has the capability to hit a target at a distance of more than 2,000 km, carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads weighing up to one tonne. <br /><br />Though the missile had already been test-fired five times earlier, the Monday’s test launch had assumed significance as the missile’s last two test flights—in May and November last year—had turned out to be unsuccessful. <br /><br />Fifth test launch<br /><br />The fifth test launch of the prestigious missile was conducted from Wheelers Island at night. <br /><br />That was for the first time in the history of the country’s missile development programme that an attempt to test-fire a missile after sunset was made. The DRDO has not yet announced when it will have another post-sunset missile test. <br /><br />However, with the test-firing of the Agni II on Monday, the DRDO has managed to successfully conduct test launching of three important missiles of the Agni series within a span of just three months, which is being hailed as a milestone in the Defence Research and Development Organisation history. <br /><br />The agency had already successful test-fired Agni I and Agni III earlier this year. <br /></p>
<p>According to sources in the Bhadrak district administration, the indigenously built surface-to-surface ballistic missile was test-fired from the launch pad number four of the premier missile testing centre with the help of a mobile launcher.<br /><br />Senior DRDO scientists as well as officials from the Defence Ministry were present during the test at the Wheelers Island.<br /><br />Target<br /><br />The Agni II missile has the capability to hit a target at a distance of more than 2,000 km, carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads weighing up to one tonne. <br /><br />Though the missile had already been test-fired five times earlier, the Monday’s test launch had assumed significance as the missile’s last two test flights—in May and November last year—had turned out to be unsuccessful. <br /><br />Fifth test launch<br /><br />The fifth test launch of the prestigious missile was conducted from Wheelers Island at night. <br /><br />That was for the first time in the history of the country’s missile development programme that an attempt to test-fire a missile after sunset was made. The DRDO has not yet announced when it will have another post-sunset missile test. <br /><br />However, with the test-firing of the Agni II on Monday, the DRDO has managed to successfully conduct test launching of three important missiles of the Agni series within a span of just three months, which is being hailed as a milestone in the Defence Research and Development Organisation history. <br /><br />The agency had already successful test-fired Agni I and Agni III earlier this year. <br /></p>
