India tests updates to nuclear-capable ballistic missile during training exercise

India test-fired a short-range surface-to-surface nuclear-capable ballistic missile on Tuesday, a move that may target its neighbor Pakistan, according to a Chinese expert.

The homegrown Agni-I was launched at 8:30 am local time at Doctor Abdul Kalam Island, formerly known as Wheeler Island, off the coast of Odisha in the east of the country, Xinhua reported.

Hu Shisheng, an expert from China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the trial was a normal test of the latest technical updates of the missile, and might target Pakistan instead of China.

"India's technology in this area is quite mature now. The latest updates focuses on further increasing the lethality and accuracy of attacks, and enhancing the security of weapons," he said.

The single-stage missile, powered by solid propellants, was launched as part of a regular training exercise by the armed forces, according to Indian defense sources.

It was the 18th version of the Agni-I. The trajectory of the trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars, telemetry observation stations, electrooptic instruments and naval ships from its launch until the missile struck the target area with pinpoint accuracy, the sources said.

The Agni-I is a short-range ballistic missile and was inducted into service in 2004. The 15-meter-long weapon can carry payloads up to 1,000 kilograms and is capable of hitting a target beyond 700 kilometers. The missile is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

Last month, India test-fired its intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V, with a strike range of over 5,000 km, from off the Odisha coast.

In April and May of 2017, India test-fired its intermediate range, nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile and nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni-II ballistic missile.

Xinhua contributed to the story.

liuxuan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/07/2018 page12)