The Hindu : Agni-III test-fire this year: Fernandes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 07, 2003

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Agni-III test-fire this year: Fernandes

New Delhi April 6. India is developing `Agni-III', a long-range surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and is making all efforts to test fire it this year, according to the Defence Minister, George Fernandes.

"The test firing of Agni-III is overdue and we feel the need for that long-range missile as part of our policy of deterrence," he told PTI.

He said Agni-III would have a strike capacity longer than Agni-II, which has a range of over 2000 km.

Asked when Agni-III would be test fired, the Minister said, "the date has not been firmed up. Effort is to see that it is test fired this year".

On whether Agni-I and Agni-II have been deployed, he said, "Well, they are available for deployment." Asked whether these missiles would be with the strategic forces or the Army, he said that it would depend on the situation that would demand their use. He replied in the affirmative when asked if Agni-I and Agni-II were being produced.

Asked about other missiles being developed by the country, Mr. Fernandes said he would take pride in the success of `Brahmos', a supersonic cruise missile jointly produced by India and Russia. "Apart from Agni and Prithvi (a short-range surface- to-surface missile), supersonic cruise missile Brahmos is something exclusive. Nobody has this missile today," he added.

On whether Brahmos has reached the development stage, he said, "deployment comes when you start serial production. That stage has come in the sense that we are ready now. All tests are complete". Brahmos, which has a range of nearly 300 km, has three versions — ground-to-air, air-to-ground and the naval variant.

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