AlQa'dah 2, 1432, Sep 30, 2011, SPA -- India on Friday successfully tested its nuclear-capable Agni II ballistic missile, a news report said, according to dpa. The surface-to-surface missile with a range of 2,000 kilometres was launched off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa. "It was a perfect launch," director of the Interim Test Range SP Dash told the IANS news agency. The missile can carry a nuclear payload of up to 1,000 kilograms and is part of India's strategic nuclear deterrence programme. The first trial of Agni-II was carried out in 1999. Although subsequent trials were successful, two tests of the missile in November and May 2009 failed. The most recent test in May 2010 was successful, defence scientists said, and the defects had been addressed. -- SPA
