NEW DELHI, Jan 17 — India today successfully test-fired Agni-II, an intermediate range ballistic missile, from the Inner Wheel Island in the Bay of Bengal.

Agni-II, having a range of over 2000 km, is the upgraded version of the missile. It was test-fired at 10.11 am during its final operational configuration. It was the second test-firing of Agni-II, which is capable of carrying a one-tonne warhead. The first test of the missile was carried out in April, 1999.

According to reports, the test-fire results have indicated that the mission objectives were met satisfactorily.

The test-firing was witnessed by the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A.Y. Tipnis, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, Dr V.K. Aatre, and the Vice-Chief of Army Staff, Lieut-Gen Vijay Oberoi.

The successful test-firing of Agni-II has put India in a position for its serial production and the development of Agni-III, which would have a range of more than 3000 km. It has also put India on the verge of designing nuclear warheads for its missiles.

The Hyderabad-based Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) would be manufacturing the Agni-II missiles, each of which would cost around Rs 40 crore, sources said. It is expected that BDL will be manufacturing 10-12 missiles every year.

Agni-II is a ready-to-fire missile with a launch time of about 15 minutes. Experts said it was a great improvement over its earlier variant which would take almost an hour to fire after the orders were issued.

Having South China as the main target, the missile is designed to carry a one-tonne weapon based on the “boosted fission device” exploded in Pokhran in May, 1998.

The missile uses solid propulsion booster and liquid propulsion upper state. The strap-down inertial navigation system provides the necessary guidance, accuracy and uses advanced composite structure for protecting the payload during the re-entry phase.

ISLAMABAD (PTI): Pakistan said on Wednesday that India’s test-firing of its Agni-II missile was part of its ambitious nuclear programme, alleging that the missile posed a direct threat to Pakistan’s security.