India tests Agni-class ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear charge for the second time in a week
India today conducted successful tests of the Agni-3 ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. It is reported by ITAR-TASS with reference to the news agency IANS.
The launch of the rocket took place from a mobile platform on Wheeler Island in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Orissa. Earlier this week, the Agni-4 ballistic missile was launched from there with a range of 4 thousand km.
“These were the fifth tests of the Agni-3,” recalled a representative of the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization.
Agni-class ballistic missiles were developed as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program of the Ministry of Defense of India.
The Agni-1 is a 12-meter long-range launch vehicle that can be launched from mobile launchers and capable of carrying nuclear warheads weighing up to 1 m. km with a mass of detachable head of up to 2 kg. The Agni-19 is a two-stage 2500-M long-range missile with a 1000-ton mass. It can deliver 3-t warheads to a distance over 16,7 km.
The first tests of the Agni-4 took place in December of 2010, however, due to failures in the control system, they ended in failure. In November, 2011 was the first successful launch of the rocket. After 20 min after launch, the head of the rocket reached a predetermined area in the Bay of Bengal. The length of the Agni-4 is 20 m, the mass is 17 t, the mass of the head reaches 1000 kg.
Last April, India for the first time tested the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (in the photo). The launch took place at a maximum range exceeding 5 thousand. Km. The Agni-5 is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead weighing up to 1 tons. Its mass is 50 tons, lengths are 17,5 meters, and diameters are 2 meters.
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