Agni-III missile test-fired off Odisha coast

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Balasore, Apr 27:

India today successfully carried out the user trail of its intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-III from Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.

The missile lifted off from Launch Pad No. 4 of the Integrated Test Range located on the island at 9.12 a.m., sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) said.

The Strategic Forces Command, an especially raised missile-handling unit of the Indian Army, carried out the test with logistics support from DRDO.

Agni-III has a strike range of more than 3,000 km and capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.

The missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine. With a length of 17 metres, the missile’s diameter is 2 metres and weight is around 2,200 kg.

The missile was inducted in the armed forces in June, 2011.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan congratulated DRDO on the successful user trial of Agni-III.

Congratulations @DRDO_India & @adgpi on successful user trial of #Agni-III missile at Abdul Kalam Island; reinforces India’s military might

— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 27, 2017

⁠Congrats to Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army & @DRDO_India on successful test-fire of ballistic missile Agni-III off Odisha Coast. pic.twitter.com/JWoOjNtwuD

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 27, 2017