BALASORE: After the successful user trial of 2,000-km range Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-II recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is readying for a developmental trial of its latest variant Agni-II Prime. The maiden test of the missile with a strike range of 2,750 km in December last was a failure.Defence sources said preparation for the test would start in the Wheeler Island off the Orissa coast after the puja vacation.“We are planning to carry out the test by October 20. If the preparation is not complete, we would schedule the test for November first week. The test would, however, be done before the maiden test of Agni-V missile in December,” said a defence official.It will be the second developmental test of the Agni-II Prime. The DRDO scientists are yet to taste the success of the missile which will pave the way for the technologists to go for the first test of the Agni-V missile.The indigenously developed Agni-II Prime missile can hit target at ranges between 2,500 km and 3,000 km. It has been developed to bridge the gap between the 2,000-km range Agni-II and 3,500-km range Agni-III missile. The 700-km range Agni-I and Agni-II have already been inducted in the Armed Forces.The first experimental trial of the surface-to-surface IRBM Agni-II Prime failed on December 10 last year as the missile deviated from the trajectory and nose-dived into the Bay of Bengal nearly 30 seconds after lift-off. “There was no stage separation. The missile covered only about 15 km before plunging down,” said a DRDO scientist.Even as the defence authorities admitted to the mission’s failure, they said many new technologies like Composite Rocket Motor, indigenous Ring Laser Gyro-based Navigation System and Road Mobile Launch were tested during the trial. “We have made some corrections in the missile system and hope it would cover the desired distance,” the official said.The Agni-II Prime is an improvement in terms of accuracy, distance and strength. In addition to extra fuel-carrying capacity, the missile has a new motor in its re-entry vehicle for better manoeuvrability and increased range, a flex nozzle in the second stage to avoid anti-ballistic missile defences and an improved navigation system.Though the missile is of the size of boosters as in its cousin Agni-II missile it will extend the range by more than 500 km. Few changes have been incorporated in the missile to make it lighter while the weapon system this time has also been provided with greater thrust.
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