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Current Affairs:(Science &Technology, Environment and Biodiversity)
India successfully test-fired Agni III ballistic missile from Wheelar Island
- The Surface-to-Surface Agni III ballistic missile was successfully test-fired on 16 April 2015 from the Wheelar Isalnd off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal.
- Although the missile has a strike range of more than 3000 km, in the present test-fire, it was tested for a lesser range.
- The test-fire was conducted from a mobile launcher by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) with the logistic support from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
- SFC is a part of India's Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) which is responsible for the management and administration of the country's tactical and strategic nuclear weapons stockpile.
About Agni III missile:
- The Surface-to-Surface nuclear capable intermediate-range ballistic missile can hit targets in the range of 3000 km.
- The two-stage solid-propelled missile has a length of 17 metres, 2 metres diameter and its launch weight is around 50 tonnes.
- It can carry a warhead of 1.5 tonne, which is protected by carbon all composite heat shield.
- It is equipped with the hybrid navigation, guidance and control systems along with advanced on-board computer.
- It was developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
- It was inducted into the armed forces in June 2011.