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November 1, 2004: Normally, a test of India’s Prithvi short-range (300 kilometers) ballistic missile would not draw notice. However, a recent test launch near Chandipur was notable – not for occurring, but from where the Prithvi was launched – underwater. At present, five nations have ballistic missile submarines: The United States (14 Ohio-class SSBN), Russia (7 Delta IV-class SSBN and 2 Typhoons), France (a total of four SSBNs between the L’Inflexible and Le Triomphant classes – the latter are replacing the former), the United Kingdom (4 Vanguard-class SSBN), and the People’s Republic of China (one Xia-class SSBN). With the successful...

India was planning to test a long-range ballistic missile that can hit targets deep inside China, sources said as the United States warned the move would escalate tensions in South Asia. Highly-placed sources from the defence research organisation said Friday the earliest probable launch of Agni-III, with a range of 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles), would be after the end of the Indian monsoon season in September. "The probable window of launch could be after the monsoons when the weather is perfect for us to read all the parameters and functions of the system," a source said. Agni-III can carry a...