Agni II missile fired first time after sunset

India’s nuclear-capable intermediate range Agni II missile was test—fired for the first time after sunset Monday, defence sources said.

The surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000-plus kilometers was tested from Wheeler’s Island -- a launch site in Bhadrak district, about 200 km from Bhubaneswar, at about 7.50 pm.

“It was a user trial,” the sources said, adding that the aim of the test was to give the Army confidence to fire the missile whenever it was required.

The Agni II missile, which is a part of India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, is 20 m long and can carry 1,000 kg payload.

Weighing 17 tonnes, the range of the missile can also be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the pay load.

“It can be fired from both rail and road mobile launchers. It takes only 15 minutes for the missile to be readied for firing,” the sources said, adding that the Agni II-version of the Agni series of missiles was first test fired in 1999 from the same location.