India Successfully Launches Long-Range Missile System

February 9, 2010 6:23 a.m. EST

New Delhi, India (AHN) - India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the scientists at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) on the successful launch of the Agni-III missile.

"On behalf of the Nation I commend our scientists and engineers for their dedication, hard work and excellence in our march towards achieving self reliance in high technology areas and meeting the country's defense needs. Our scientists have always done our country proud and I wish them continued success in their future efforts," PM Singh said on Sunday.

The fourth flight of AGNI-3 with a range capability of 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) was tested successfully by DRDO on Sunday morning off the coast of Orissa in eastern India.

The marker pen like AGNI-3 Missile is 56.6 feet (17 meters) long and 6.6 feet (2 meters) in diameter and is equipped with a state of the art computer system, navigated with a most advanced navigation system.

The AGNI-3 Missile tested for the full range, hit the target with pinpoint accuracy and met all the mission objectives. The launch is part of a pre-induction trial and the missile system will now be fully inducted into the Indian armed forces.