India Test Fires Nuclear-Capable Missile
Associated
Press | August 29 2004
NEW DELHI -- India on Sunday test-launched
a nuclear-capable missile able to carry a one-ton warhead, the defense ministry
said.
The weapon has a range of up to 1,560 miles -- easily within
striking distance of any of India's near neighbors -- and is designed to
carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.
The Agni II was launched at India's test range on the coast
of eastern Orissa state, Defense Ministry spokesman Amitabh Chakravorty
said.
The launch, the third trial of the Agni II, was witnessed
by Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and more than 100 scientists and military
officials, ministry official B.S. Menon told The Associated Press.
Indian authorities had informed their counterparts in Pakistan
about the test ahead of time, Menon said. Both the neighboring nuclear-armed
rivals alert the other when testing missiles designed for military use.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence from Britain
more than a half century ago.
Scientists at India's Defense Research and Development
Organization conducted previous tests of the missile in April 1999 and in
January 2001.
Sunday's test was successful, checking out for guidance
accuracy and in-flight performance, Menon said.
India's missile arsenal also includes the short-range ballistic
missile Prithvi; the medium-range Akash missile; the anti-tank Nag missile;
and the supersonic Brahmos missile.
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