Posted on 08/31/2004 6:56:05 AM PDT by CarrotAndStick
New Delhi, Aug. 31 (PTI): India has started deploying both the short range 700 km. Agni I as well as intermediate range 2,000 km.-plus Agni II surface to surface missiles, capable of carrying nuclear warheads with DRDO scientists training the army missile group on their launch techniques, according to the country's top scientist, Dr V K Atre.
"We have completely developed systems for these two missiles and a certain number of them have been delivered to the army", the outgoing DRDO Secretary told newsmen indicating that after the success with these missile, they would "soon go in for launch of the longer range 3,000 km version of the missile Agni III".
"The technique for longer range missiles exists. We are in the process of putting it together", he said hinting that some technical hitches had to be overcome before going ahead with the launch of the Agni III.
Retiring after a tenure of over five years in the top post, Atre said that along with developing short, medium and longer range missiles, Indian scientists were also working on developing an anti-missile defence system as well as Airborne early warning system.
For the first time, the top DRDO official said that Defence scientists were training the army missile group personnel on the technique of firing, mounting warheads and other technical parameters of surface to surface missiles.
The Army has recently raised the third missile group 334 for induction of the Agni I missile. It has already raised two missile groups 333 and 355 for 150 to 350 km range Prithvi missiles.
Agni III is a special gift to China, with love from India.
Agni III is a special gift to China, with love from India.
Agni(Fire) Missile:
Nag missile:
Also Agni, the Vedic god of the altar fire.
A holy conflagration.
Wow. Now I know what to get my wife for her Birthday.
"Nag missile: "
My ex had a full compliment of those.
It is interesting to note that the word 'agni' is the Sanskrit equivalent of the Latin word 'igneus'.
Pakistan will move a chess piece now... Hope this isn't another slow boil.
This has nothing to do with Pakistan,India doesn't need an IRBM to hit Pakistan-it's airforce jets(Su-30,Jaguar & Mirage2000) & Prithvi missiles(Range from 150 to 250km) are more than sufficient.
Wouldn't you consider this "muscle-flexing"?
Do you think the US has to testfire an ICBM to pressurise Iran??In the sameway ,testing an IRBM is no way to scare the Pakis-that is better done by holding aerial or naval exercises or testing the Brahmos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.If anything this is just a routine test to check out India's deterrence capability viz a viz China.Having said that India needs the 3,000+km range Agni-3 & nuclear subs(to enter service latest by 2007) to really make China rethink it's strategy as that would enable targeting of both Beijing & Shanghai.
You make a good point.
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