Posted on 04/24/2007 6:37:07 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
India Successfully Tests Missile Able To Hit China
by Pratap Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, India (AFP) April 12, 2007
India announced Thursday a successful test-firing of a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile than can reach the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai. The Agni-III missile was launched from Wheeler Island, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern state of Orissa. "The 16-metre-long (52-feet) missile weighing 48 tonnes lifted off successfully from its rail mobile launcher system leaving a trail of orange and yellow smoke," India's Defence Ministry said in a statement from New Delhi.
"The entire flight path of approximately 15 minutes duration validated all mission objectives," the statement said, adding the test "confirmed India's strategic capability for minimum credible deterrence."
The ministry gave the range of the missile tested Thursday as more than 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles) and said it was capable of carrying a nuclear or conventional payload of 1.5 tonnes.
China reacted swiftly saying it hoped that India, "as a country with an important influence in this region, can work to maintain and promote peace and stability in the region.
"We hope they can make a positive contribution in this regard and play a positive role," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing.
It was the second test of Agni-III, a two-stage solid fuelled missile which has a diameter of 1.8 metres (six feet) and can carry nuclear or conventional warheads.
The first test ended in failure last July when it developed problems after a successful take-off and crashed into the sea without hitting a designated target.
"With this success, the design team is happy that the problems faced in the previous attempt on July 9 last year have been fully understood and solved," the ministry said.
Security analysts also cheered the successful test.
Bharat Karnad, research professor at the Centre for Policy Research, said the Agni-III "gives India the strategic reach that ... certainly the military wants."
The next step would be the development of an inter-continental ballistic missile, he said.
Indian security analyst C. Uday Bhaskar said it would be "misleading to see the Agni test in a unifocal manner as anti-China."
"In the post-Cold War period, Weapons of Mass Destruction capability is not predicated on a single-point threat. The Agni test should be seen in the context of India trying to enhance its country's overall strategic profile," he said.
"Unlike in the Cold War, when adversaries were well identified, the current orientation is towards prudent insurance in a strategic sense."
Agni-III was originally scheduled for testing in 2003 but it was believed to have been deferred amid moves by arch-rivals India and Pakistan to bury decades of mutual hostility.
An Indian foreign ministry source in New Delhi said India, which signed an agreement with Pakistan on the pre-notification of ballistic missile tests in October 2005, had informed Islamabad of the latest Agni-III test.
India, which conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1998, has developed a series of nuclear and conventional missile systems as part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)'s Integrated Missile Development Programme which was launched in 1983.
The Agni is one of five missiles developed by the DRDO.
New Delhi has already begun the production of two variants of the Agni -- a 700-kilometre (434-mile) Agni-I and the 2,500-kilometre (1,550-mile) range Agni-II after flight-testing both the ballistic missiles numerous times since 1993.
The other four missiles are the Prithvi, the surface-to-air Trishul (Trident), multi-purpose Akash (Sky), and the anti-tank Nag (Cobra).
China tells India to promote peace after missile test
Beijing (AFP) April 12 - China urged India Thursday to promote peace and stability in Asia after New Delhi tested a nuclear-capable ballistic missile. "As for the ballistic missile test of India, we have noted the reports," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. "We hope that India, as a country with an important influence in this region, can work to maintain and promote peace and stability in the region. "We hope they can make a positive contribution in this regard and play a positive role." Qin refused to comment further on the test. India on Thursday test-fired a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile which can reach the Chinese cities of Beijing and Shanghai.
The launch of the Agni-III missile took place from Wheeler Island, 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern state of Orissa. India, which conducted nuclear weapons tests in 1998, has developed a series of nuclear and conventional missile systems as part of the Defence Research and Development Organisation Integrated Missile Development Programme which was launched in 1983.
China tells India to promote peace after missile test
LOL
Ping!
I think that might have already been done.
India is damn smart. Always negotiate peace from a position of strength, not weakness.
Ping!
Now that funny ROFL
China's spies just recently got tasked to go after the USA's ABM capability as a TOP PRIORITY.
I wouln't be suprised to see the Chinese government buy or develop a nuclear tipped ABM from Russia soon.
Tks for the ping.
But this Agni III test is a few days old, right? Or have they tested again and I missed it?
It is an old news for Indians, I suspect.:-)
They could just wait for another Democrat to get in the office. Their dream would be Clinton part II.
You hit the nail on the head. China is a possible long term threat, but Pakistan is the more immediate concern. This is great news.
Wow, they now have technology comparable to the 1950’s Corporal missile.......
Strike that, make that comparable to the Jupiter IRBM of 1955 vintage
“You hit the nail on the head. China is a possible long term threat, but Pakistan is the more immediate concern. This is great news.”
Greater news would be a full-scale Pakistan/India/China war after India’s brought on line a few hundred Agni-III missiles.
Then several problems would be solved at once:
1) A severe reduction in the worry of world overpopulation.
2) China eliminated as a future threat to the USA.
3) Many outsourced industries/service jobs would have to re-build/re-establish in the USA.
4) A terrorist haven (Pakistan) would be reduced to radioactive ruin.
Feel free to add any other benefits.
Unfortunately in your scenario India would be flattened also with a response from China.
tighen that up and copyright it...you gotem a homer
I think your post is pretty sick. Get help.
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