Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday downplayed the recent failure of the nuclear-capable intermediate range Agni-II missile's test firing, saying scientists would soon rectify the glitches.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday downplayed the recent failure of the nuclear-capable intermediate range Agni-II missile's test firing, saying scientists would soon rectify the glitches.
"It is not absolutely correct. Sometimes tests do fail," Antony said in reply to a query if the test was a setback for India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
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"I am absolutely confident that DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) scientists will look into the problem and do away with it," Antony added.
The first night test of the Agni-II missile Nov 23 turned out to be a failure. The surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000-plus km was tested from Wheeler's Island - a launch site in Orissa's Bhadrak district, about 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, at about 7.50 p.m.
The take-off and first phase separation went off smoothly. However, the second stage booster failed to function as expected. The test was a user trial to give the Indian Army the confidence to fire the missile whenever required.
Earlier this year, a daytime trial of the Agni-II was also a failure.
The Agni-II missile is 20 metres long and can carry a 1,000 kg payload. It weighs 17 tonnes and its range can be increased to 3,000 km by reducing the payload.
The Agni-II version of the Agni-series of missiles was first test fired in 1999.
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