AlHijjah 19, 1432, Nov 15, 2011, SPA -- India Tuesday successfully test fired Agni-4, its most advanced long range, nuclear-capable missile with a strike range of 1,864 miles, UPI quoted the government as saying. The ballistic missile was launched from Wheelers' Island off the coast of the eastern state of Orissa, the government's Press Information Bureau said on its Web site. "The missile followed its trajectory in a text book fashion … and reached the pre-designated target in the international waters of (the) Bay of Bengal," the announcement said. "All mission objectives were fully met." The government said the test represented "a quantum leap in terms of missile technology." Agni-4 project director Tessy Thomas, the first woman scientist to head a missile project, said the Indian scientists have produced and proven many new state of the art technologies in the missile system including the composite rocket motors, high accuracy ring laser gyro based inertial navigation system, and powerful onboard computer system. Another senior official said the successful testing of Agni-4 has paved the way for the Agni-5 mission, which will be launched soon.
