Indigenously built nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-I missile successfully test fired; SFC can independently fire the 700-km range nuclear capable Agni-1 missile
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    • According to reports, India on July 13, 2012, test fired its indigenously built nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-I missile from Wheeler Island off the Odisha coast, about 200 km east of Bhubaneswar. The missile, which has a range of 700 km and payload of one tonne, was test fired at 10.09 am by the armed forces. MVKV Prasad, Director, Integrated Test Range (ITR) of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) at Chandipur stated, "It was a perfect test. The missile hit the target with 100% accuracy.” DRDO chief VK Saraswat and Chief Controller (missiles and strategic systems) Avinash Chander witnessed the test. Already inducted in the Army, Agni-I was first test fired in January 25, 2002. Since then DRDO has conducted several trials of the missile. It is meant to bridge the gap between indigenously built short-range missile Prithvi and Agni-II that has a range of 2000 km. The test of Agni-I comes after the successful launch of 5,000-km range Agni-V on April 19. 1

    In another development, according to reports, the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army can now independently fire the 700-km range nuclear capable Agni-1 missile when the occasion arises. The SFC will need no help from defence scientists as the test firing of the missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheeler Island, Balasore in Odisha on Friday demonstrated that SFC had acquired complete knowledge of it. The SFC which forms part of the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) in the country is the agency that will have to use the missiles if need arises. DRDO chief and scientific advisor to defence minister, V K Saraswat told, "When the test firing was carried out by the SFC, we were merely spectators. The DRDO has developed the technology and the production facility of the missiles is in place. The SFC now has the capability to fire the missiles." Saraswat said the Agni-1 missile would add strength to the defence capabilities of the country. "There are no more improvements needed for the Agni-1 as such but we have our own plans of developing variants," Saraswat added.2

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