India’s nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface Agni-II ballistic missile, with a strike range of 2000 kms, was successfully test-fired fired by personnel of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) on September 30, 2011 from the Wheeler Island off Orissa coast as part of user trials.
Developed by Advanced System Laboratory and DRDO, the two-stage, solid fuel Agni-II, is one of the key weapon systems of country’s nuclear deterrence programme. It is already under production and has been inducted in the Indian Armed Forces. Equipped with a special navigation system to achieve high degree of accuracy, the system also carries anti-ballistic defence counter measures. It can be transported both by rail and road. The Agni missile series has been developed under the Integrated Missile Development Programme (IMDP). The first test of the 5000-km range Agni-V ballistic missile is planned by the end of this year.