DRDO to test a number of new missile systems
Rahul Bedi, New Delhi - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
12 February 2014
India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) plans to test several indigenously designed missile systems over the coming months.
DRDO head Avinash Chander told
IHS Jane's at Defexpo in New Delhi on 6 February that the nuclear-capable Agni 5 intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), which has a 5,000 km strike range, would be inducted into service by 2015 following two or three additional test firings by the year-end.
"Agni 5's canister-launched version will be tested before the missile goes into series production to provide it greater operational flexibility and render it less detectable," said Chander.
The 17.5 m tall, solid-fuelled, three-stage Agni 5 weighs around 50 tonnes and has been successfully test-fired twice since April 2012.
DRDO to test a number of new missile systems - IHS Jane's 360