India says latest nuclear missile ready for launch
NEW DELHI (AFP) - India announced it had completed all tests and was ready to deploy its latest nuclear-tipped missile, capable of striking targets at a distance of 3,000 kilometres (1,860 miles).
"All technical parameters for the launch of the missile have been completed," M. Natarajan announced at a news conference in New Delhi on Friday.
"We are ready for the launch today... it is now for political leadership to give the nod," Natarajan said of the Indian-built missile codenamed Agni-III (Fire).
Agni-III is the longest range missile of its type and can carry a one-tonne conventional or nuclear warhead.
Delhi in 1993 began testing basic variants of the Agni, but shelved the experiments for two years ostensibly under US pressure. The flight-tests resumed after India conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests in 1998.
Natarajan, who heads the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) comprising dozens of state-owned industries and military research facilities, said scientists were also trying to develop a 1,000-kilometre range cruise missile.
The chief scientist also announced that a naval variant of the 300-kilometre range BrahMos cruise missile, which has been jointly developed by India and Russia, was ready for deployment.
"The ship-launched missile is ready for deployment and is currently going through user trial with navy and army," Natarajan said, but declined to confirm reports the DRDO was also working on a submarine-fired BrahMos.
The official said the DRDO had made "tremendous progress" on an anti-missile shield for which India is currently negotiating with the United States, Russia and
Israel.
India in 1983 launched its integrated guided missile development programme and so far has built an array of systems including the battlefield missile Prithvi (Earth) which can carry a 500-kilogram nuclear warhead and other tactical missiles.
Natarajan said that India was plagued by growing shortages of military scientists.
"As against the need for a minimum of 100,000 design engineers, we are making do with just 6,000 of them in the DRDO and this will come in the way of development of future missile and space weapons," he said.
"All technical parameters for the launch of the missile have been completed," M. Natarajan announced at a news conference in New Delhi on Friday.
"We are ready for the launch today... it is now for political leadership to give the nod," Natarajan said of the Indian-built missile codenamed Agni-III (Fire).
Agni-III is the longest range missile of its type and can carry a one-tonne conventional or nuclear warhead.
Delhi in 1993 began testing basic variants of the Agni, but shelved the experiments for two years ostensibly under US pressure. The flight-tests resumed after India conducted a series of nuclear weapons tests in 1998.
Natarajan, who heads the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) comprising dozens of state-owned industries and military research facilities, said scientists were also trying to develop a 1,000-kilometre range cruise missile.
The chief scientist also announced that a naval variant of the 300-kilometre range BrahMos cruise missile, which has been jointly developed by India and Russia, was ready for deployment.
"The ship-launched missile is ready for deployment and is currently going through user trial with navy and army," Natarajan said, but declined to confirm reports the DRDO was also working on a submarine-fired BrahMos.
The official said the DRDO had made "tremendous progress" on an anti-missile shield for which India is currently negotiating with the United States, Russia and
Israel.
India in 1983 launched its integrated guided missile development programme and so far has built an array of systems including the battlefield missile Prithvi (Earth) which can carry a 500-kilogram nuclear warhead and other tactical missiles.
Natarajan said that India was plagued by growing shortages of military scientists.
"As against the need for a minimum of 100,000 design engineers, we are making do with just 6,000 of them in the DRDO and this will come in the way of development of future missile and space weapons," he said.
posted by Marko at 2/03/2006 08:31:00 AM
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