India successfully test-fired Nuclear Capable Agni-I Missile

India on 13 July 2012 successfully test-fired domestically built surface-to-surface single stage Agni-I ballistic missile. The missile was launched from a test range at Wheeler Island off Odisha coast. The nuclear capable missile with a strike range of 700 km was first test fired on 25 January 2002.

The missile was launched by the strategic force command of Indian Army as a routine users’ trial. As the missile has already been inducted into the armed forces the objective of the launch was to train the user team to launch the missile.

With a specialised navigation system, the Agni-I hits the target with sheer accuracy and precision. Weighing 12 tonnes, the 15-metre-long Agni-I, can carry payloads up to 1000 kg.

Agni-I was developed under the joint work of advanced systems laboratory, the missile development laboratory of the DRDO, Defence Research Development Laboratory and Research Centre Imarat, while it was integrated by Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad.

The Agni-I missile belongs to the genre of Short to Intermediate range ballistic missiles developed by India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. The missile was made operational by the Indian Army in March 2010.