December 2012

India on 19 September 2012 test fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-IV missile from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha Coast. Fitted with composite rocket motor technology, the missile was test fired from the road mobile launcher. The full range of the missile is 4000 kilometer. The launch was declared to be successful after the missile succeeded in hitting the pre-decided target after taking a flight of 20 minute at an altitude of about 800 kilometer in the atmosphere at a roasting temperature of about 3000°C. The support of Micro Navigation System (MINGS) along with the Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) ensured the two digit perfection in making the missile reach its target.

The 20 meter long, 1.5 meter broad and 17 ton in weight, is capable of carrying about 1000 kilogram of explosives along with it. Light in weight, this missile is fitted with two stage solid propulsion with a payload for re-entry into the heat shield. One of its kinds, Agni-IV Missile India’s first indigenously developed ballistic missile is embedded with 5th Generation on Board Computer state-of-the-art Avionics and a finely distributed architecture, which allows correction and guidance during in-flight disturbances.

This missile is a proof of India’s quantum jump for in relation to Missile Technology. The long range ballistic missile was designed and developed by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organization). This entire operation of the launch was guided to by the Project Director, Smt. Tessy Thomas, along with a team of scientists. Wheeler Island and Chandipur are the two missile launching and testing stations of India. Both long range and short range ballistic missiles are test-fired from the two stations.

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