India successfully carried out the test-firing of a new missile in the Agni series on Monday known as Agni P off the coast of Odisha, officials said. The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) successfully flight tested the new generation nuclear-capable ballistic missile from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island at 10.55 am off the coast of Odisha.
The DRDO in a statement said, "Various telemetry and radar stations positioned along the eastern coast tracked and monitored the missile. The missile has followed textbook trajectory, meeting all mission objectives with a high level of accuracy."
Agni P is the first of the new class of Agni missile to be launched by DRDO. The ballistic missile weighs 50% less than Agni 3 and has new guidance and a new generation of propulsion. Since the missile is canisterised, it can be launched from rail and road and stored for a longer period and transported all across the country as per operational requirements.
The missile, which has a range between 1000km to 2000km, can be used to target enemy armadas in the Indo-Pacific.
The DRDO successfully test-fired an extended range version of indigenously-developed Pinaka rocket at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur off the coast of Odisha on Sunday night.
That day, 25 Enhanced Pinaka rockets, which can destroy targets at distances up to 45 kilometres, were test-fired in quick succession against targets at different ranges on Thursday and Friday. The 122 mm Caliber rockets were also launched from a Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL).
