Agni-IV launch photo (above) and video below: Courtesy: DRDO
(Official Release)
India has successfully test fired the most advanced long range missile system Agni-4 on 15th November 2011. The missile was launched from a Road Mobile System at 9.00AM from Wheelers’ Island off the coast of Odisha.
The missile had a text book trajectory and reached a height of about 900kms and reached the pre-designated target in the international waters of Bay of Bengal. All mission objectives were fully met. All the systems functioned perfectly till the end encountering the re-entry temperatures of more than 3000⁰C.
This missile is one of its kinds of world class, proving many new technologies for the first time, giving a quantum leap in technology. The Missile System has opened a new era in the class of Long Range Missile having capability to carry Strategic Warheads for the Forces and has provided a fantastic deterrence to the country.
The Missile is lighter in weight and has two stages of Solid Propulsion and a Payload with Re-entry heat shield. The Composite Rocket Motor which has been used for the first time has given excellent performance. The Missile System is equipped with modern and compact Avionics with Redundancy to provide high level of reliability.
The indigenous Ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode have been successfully flown in guidance mode for the first time. The high performance onboard computer with distributed Avionics architecture and high speed reliable communication bus and a full Digital Control System have controlled and guided the Missile to the target. The Missile has reached the target with very high level of accuracy.
All the Radars and electro-optical systems along the Coast of Odisha have tracked and monitored all the parameters of the Vehicle. Two Indian Naval ships located near the target have witnessed the final event.
Dr V.K. Saraswat, SA to RM has congratulated all the Scientists and employees of DRDO and the Armed forces for the successful launch of AGNI-4. Avinash Chander, Chief Controller (Missiles & Strategic Systems), DRDO and Programme Director, AGNI has overseen all the preparations and launch operations and congratulated all the Scientists. Tessy Thomas, Project Project Director AGNI-4 and team prepared and integrated the Missile System and launched the Missile successfully. Commander in Chief of Strategic Force Command Air Marshal K.J. Mathews has witnessed the launch. S.K. Ray, Director RCI, P. Venugopalan, Director DRDL, Dr V.G. Sekaran Director ASL, S.P. Dash Director ITR were present during the launch and reviewed all the activities.
