Agni-1 successfully launched

(Unedited DRDO release)

Agni 1, India’s 700 km range ballistic missile was successfully launched today at 1006 hrs from the wheeler island off the coast of Odisha. It was a textbook launch meeting all mission objectives and the missile reached the target point in the Bay of Bengal following the prescribed trajectory” informed Shri Avinash Chander, the mission Director who is Distinguished Scientist & Chief Ccontroller R&D (Missiles & Strategic Systems) and Program Director AGNI program.
The missile was launched from Road Mobile Launcher System and was tracked by Radar and Telemetry stations located along the coastline. Two Naval Ships located near the target point tracked the missile in the terminal phase of the Flight.
Indigenously developed by DRDO the missile is already in the arsenal of Indian Armed Forces and was launched by the Strategic Forces Command as part of training exercise to ensure preparedness.
The Launch was witnessed by Dr. Vijay Kumar Saraswat, SA to RM, Secretary Deptt of Def.R&D & DG DRDO, Shri Avinash Chander, Distinguished Scientist & CC R&D (Missiles & Strategic Systems), and Programme Director AGNI, Dr. J Chattopadhyaya, Project Director and Shri MVKV Prasad, Director ITR and senior officials from DRDO and the armed forces.
 Dr Saraswat, SA to RM has congratulated all the Scientists and employees of DRDO and the Armed forces for the successful launch. Shri A K Antony, Hon’ble Defence Minister congratulated the team on the successful launch of Agni I.

Breaking on Tarmak007: SFC test-fires Agni-1 successfully

The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) personnel from the Indian Army on Thursday successfully conducted a user trial of the short range ballistic missile Agni I (700 km range, file photo above) – capable of carrying both conventional\nuclear warheads.  The test of the 'already-inducted missile' was carried out at 9:30 am, from Wheeler Island, off the coast of Bay of Bengal. The missile is from a batch of improved Agnis with better re-entry technology, manoeuvrability and kill-effects.  The SFC officials randomly picked the missile for today’s test from its limited stock block. It followed the trajectory in a copy book style and reached the designated target in Bay of Bengal within 600 seconds.
Radars, telemetry and electro-optical systems along the coast tracked and monitored all the health parameters.  Ships located near the target area witnessed the terminal event.  The launch of the A1 missile was carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) as part of the user exercise.The launch operations were overseen by senior Army and DRDO officials. "It was an excellent flight during the full duration," DRDO chief Dr Saraswat told Tarmak007.
The SFC had test-fired Agni-1 last year too (November 25, 2010) as part of the user trials.