Agni-II tested in ‘war-like scenario’

[LETHALFORCE]

:: Bharat-Rakshak.com - Indian Military News Headlines ::

Agni-II tested in ‘war-like scenario’

Express news service Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at 0234 hrs IST

New Delhi:

For the first time, the Strategic Forces Team of the Indian Army has carried out a training trial of the nuclear capable Agni-II missile, which has a range of over 2,000 km. The Defence Ministry announced that the trial at Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast was carried out by the Strategic Forces team, which is responsible for handling India's nuclear arsenal. Incidentally, the announcement is a departure from the norms of the government, which has not been very public about the test firing of nuclear-capable missiles by the Strategic Forces.

Sources said that the trial was a success and the missile was fired with “clockwork precision” from a rail-based mobile launcher. The event was also witnessed by senior officers of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

While Agni-II was first tested in 1999 and was then inducted into the Armed Forces in 2002, this is the first time that it has been fired independently by the Strategic Forces. What this means is that the Strategic Forces validated their standard operating procedures and drills on the nuclear-capable missile and fully operationalised and tested it in a ‘war-like scenario’. The missile can be launched from a train-based or road-based launcher, giving it immense mobility and flexibility in deployment.

 

[vijaytripoli]

AGNI-II fails to deliver desired results
Correspondent
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009 AT 11:05 AM
Tags: Agni-II, ballistic missile, DRDO, Army
Close...
Test

BHUBANESWAR: Agni-II, countrys nuclear counter strike capability ballistic missile has reportedly failed to deliver desired result.

The trial was conducted from Wheeler Island, part of the integrated test range of Orissa coast on Tuesday at about 10 am.

Reliable sources at the Wheelers Island said the countdown was normal, liftoff was smooth and then disaster struck as the 2000 kms plus range Agni-II missile instead of traveling on the pre-determined trajectory started wandering midway.

The missile deviated from its path after the first stage separation and was meandering at an angle of 180 degree midway. Though it was coordinated to cover a distance of nearly 2000 km, within just 127 seconds it covered 203 km before plunging into the sea, said the source.

The guidance system can correct the missiles midway path deviation if it behaves erratically at an angle of 40 to 60 degree but not beyond that, said a defence scientist. The disaster might have happened due to design and manufacturing faults, he added.

Similarly on July 9, 2006, the maiden test of Agni-III had failed to achieve the target as technical snags were reported during the separation of the first and the second stage.

Agni-II missile was first tested on April 11, 1999, and inducted in the Army in 2004. The trial was conducted by the Army while scientists from DRDO provided the necessary logistical support. The unfortunate development will have a telling effect on the morale of the Army, said analysts.

Several attempts to contact Agni project director, Avinash Chander and ITR director, S P Dash turned futile. There was no official word even from DRDO on the test.

We are still analyzing the statistics about the flight performance and data from the launch pad and the three tracking stations are being thoroughtly examined, said a scientist, who is part of the missile programme. Several defence analysts have criticized the DRDO for the failure.
“Agni project is an established project. In the deployment stage if the missile behaves like this, can we afford to hold the country to ransom security-wise. There should be some sort of accountability from scientists doing the research and development of the DRDO,” said an analyst.


AGNI II fails to deliver desired results

chau

 

[Terminator]

Its not a good news .it has been accounted that missile was randomly taken .Hope they will rectify the mistakes .Agni forms one of the important missile for our nuke deliverance if it cant deliver we can have us self nuking ourselves in war situation or nukes landing in friendly countries other than hostile areas

 

[haawk]

this is really bad , it only means that the existing bunch of missiles in the army cannot be relied upon - all of them has to be checked .......
brahmos was only in testing phase so no need to worry even if it failed again, but this bunch has already been inducted -and how can we trust this missile in case off war . imagine the missile falling within india and that too with a nuke payload during war???

 

[nitesh]

DDM at it's bad with UNNAMED sources

 

[MMuthu]

Is there is any way that it can be made such that no explosion occurs?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Its not a good news .it has been accounted that missile was randomly taken .Hope they will rectify the mistakes .Agni forms one of the important missile for our nuke deliverance if it cant deliver we can have us self nuking ourselves in war situation or nukes landing in friendly countries other than hostile areas

this is just one missile in the AGNI series ,and it failed in the parameter they were testing for if true, not to be interpreted as a total failure.

 

[Terminator]

Yeah lethal it may be a possible this was the bad one in a bunch of good ones but since its a nuke deliverance system.its quality should be undoubted dont you think?So is there anyway of preventing explosition if it develops snag on way up without falling on us or allies?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Yeah lethal it may be a possible this was the bad one in a bunch of good ones but since its a nuke deliverance system.its quality should be undoubted dont you think?So is there anyway of preventing explosition if it develops snag on way up without falling on us or allies?

i think they were trying a new navagation system and most of tests are done without live warheads.