Agni-III is ready, says DRDO chief

NEW DELHI: Scientists are ready with country’s most powerful nuclear-capable missile which can deliver a tonne of warhead to a range of almost 3500 km, said M Natarajan, scientific advisor to the defence minister and director general of DRDO on Friday.

He said when, where and how to test the missile, called Agni III and under development at least for the past six years, is a decision to be taken at a higher level- a suggestion regarding the political sensitivity involved in even testing the long-range missile.

“When it will be fired, how it will be fired, and where it will be fired is a decision that has to be taken at a higher level,” Natarajan said in a rare interaction with journalists on the sidelines of the international defence exhibition that concluded on Friday.

“We have done all technical tasks for a project of that kind,” Natarajan said, confirming the existence and readiness of India’s latest missile.

Agni I, the Medium range surface-to-surface missile with a range of 700 km, and Agni-II, the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of almost 2500 km, has been test fired in the past and a limited number of them are known to exist.

Natarajan’s statement regarding Agni-III is sure to result in some diplomatic concerns internationally, especially in Pakistan, China and the US. The statement has the potential to trigger another round of missile race in South Asia, where missiles are powerful diplomatic weapons.

The statement that Agni-III test would require political clearance is also indicative of the kind of pressure that international community, especially the US, could bring in on India. In 1994, the US is believed to have brought pressure on India to suspend further testing of the Agni missiles.

Natarajan’s statement also comes at a time when India and US are involved in a very complex negotiation over civilian nuclear cooperation and it would have some negative impact on Indian position in the Capitol Hill. Agni-III would be able to reach deeper inside China but cannot cross the continent.

Natarajan said his organisation was also looking at the possibility of developing a cruise missile with a range of over 1000 km but no final decision has been taken. And the development of an indigenous missile shield was progressing satisfactorily.

Agni-III is ready, says DRDO chief

NEW DELHI: Scientists are ready with country’s most powerful nuclear-capable missile which can deliver a tonne of warhead to a range of almost 3500 km, said M Natarajan, scientific advisor to the defence minister and director general of DRDO on Friday.

He said when, where and how to test the missile, called Agni III and under development at least for the past six years, is a decision to be taken at a higher level- a suggestion regarding the political sensitivity involved in even testing the long-range missile.

“When it will be fired, how it will be fired, and where it will be fired is a decision that has to be taken at a higher level,” Natarajan said in a rare interaction with journalists on the sidelines of the international defence exhibition that concluded on Friday.

“We have done all technical tasks for a project of that kind,” Natarajan said, confirming the existence and readiness of India’s latest missile.

Agni I, the Medium range surface-to-surface missile with a range of 700 km, and Agni-II, the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile with a range of almost 2500 km, has been test fired in the past and a limited number of them are known to exist.

Natarajan’s statement regarding Agni-III is sure to result in some diplomatic concerns internationally, especially in Pakistan, China and the US. The statement has the potential to trigger another round of missile race in South Asia, where missiles are powerful diplomatic weapons.

The statement that Agni-III test would require political clearance is also indicative of the kind of pressure that international community, especially the US, could bring in on India. In 1994, the US is believed to have brought pressure on India to suspend further testing of the Agni missiles.

Natarajan’s statement also comes at a time when India and US are involved in a very complex negotiation over civilian nuclear cooperation and it would have some negative impact on Indian position in the Capitol Hill. Agni-III would be able to reach deeper inside China but cannot cross the continent.

Natarajan said his organisation was also looking at the possibility of developing a cruise missile with a range of over 1000 km but no final decision has been taken. And the development of an indigenous missile shield was progressing satisfactorily.