It’s been a good fortnight for rocket scientists. After the PSLV launched 10 satellites into space 10 days ago, India inched closer towards building a “minimum credible nuclear deterrent” against China by testing its longest-range Agni-III ballistic missile on Wednesday.
Emboldened with the “textbook launch” of the 3,500 km-range Agni-III from Wheeler Island off Orissa coast at 9.56am, defence scientists promptly declared that the missile’s “developmental flights” were now complete and it was ready for induction.
The intermediate range Agni-III provides India with strike capabilities deep into China, with Shanghai and Beijing well within its reach.
The successful test will also pave the way for India’s eventual quest to develop genuine ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles), which have strike ranges in excess of 5,500 km, as well as SLBMs (submarine-launched ballistic missiles) to gate-crash into the exclusive “Big-Five” club.
Source: Nighi Videos, YouTube
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