New Delhi:
Weeks after Pakistan test-fired surface-to-surface ballistic missile 'Ghaznavi', India is all set to test four indigenously developed nuclear-capable missiles this month. All the four missiles would be capable of reaching all major cities of Pakistan, reported The New Indian Express. The test has been lined-up amid fresh Indo-Pak tensions after India revoked Article 370 of the Indian Constitution which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports, the missiles slated for tests are short range ballistic missile Prithvi, intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni-II, supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, and submarine-launched long-range ballistic missile K-4.
“The test is scheduled for November 8, 11, 16 and 20,” defence sources were quoted as saying by The Express.
“The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will conduct a developmental trial of K-4 missile with advanced navigation systems from an underwater platform off Visakhapatnam coast, Strategic Forces Command (SFC) will carry out user trials of Agni-II and air-force version of Prithvi missile off Odisha coast. BrahMos Aerospace will test fire two rounds of the cruise system to further demonstrate the weapon's ability for a precision hit,” the report said.
With the two tests - one from land-based platform and another from fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI - BrahMos will be put on trial for the seventh time this year.
“Preparations are on in full swing for the tests. If weather permits, the missiles will be test fired as per the schedule. The focus will be on the performance of K-4 and Agni-II as both the missiles will be put to tests with new advanced systems,” a defence official was quoted as saying by the report.
Earlier in August, India test-fired a sophisticated all-weather and all-terrain Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) from a test range in Odisha.
The state-of-the-art missile was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the India Army.
The air defence system, QRSAM, was test-fired at 11.05 am from a mobile truck-based launch unit at complex 3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
The all-weather and all-terrain missile, which can be mounted on a truck and stored in a canister, is equipped with electronic counter measures against jamming by aircraft radars.
QRSAM uses solid-fuel propellant and has a range of 25-30 km.
