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India tests third nuclear-capable ballistic missile
February 20, 2018, 11:47 am

Surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi II lifts off from a road mobile launcher at Chandipur in Odisha. It was successfully tested on February 7, 2018 [Image: DRDO, India]


The Indian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that it had successfully tested an intermediate range surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The 20-meter long Agni-II, which weighs 17 tons and can carry a payload of 1,000 kilograms over 2,000 kilometers, plays a central role in India’s nuclear deterrence and defense systems.

Designed and first tested in 1999, the Agni-II is already part of the armed services retinue of weaponry.

It was launched from the Abdul Kalam Island off coast of the south-western Indian state of Odisha on the Bay of Bengal.

Tuesday’s launch is the third nuclear-capable ballistic missile launch since February 6 when the Agni-I short-range rocket was successfully tested.

On February 7, India’s Strategic Forces Command successfully tested the Prithvi-II tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile.

All three are part of India’s deterrence operations.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies