Date:09/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010952360700.htm

Andhra Pradesh

DRDO to test Agni III Plus next year

P. Sunderarajan

VISAKHAPATNAM: After having successfully launched the 3,500 km-range Agni III missile in April last year, the Defence Research and Development Organisation is now preparing for the trial of the next version of the ballistic missile with a strike range of more than 5,000 km early next year.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a plenary meeting at the 95th session of the Indian Science Congress underway here, the Chief Controller R&D (Missile Systems Science) at DRDO, V.K. Saraswat, said scientists were presently working on the design of the extended missile, which had been tentatively named as Agni III Plus.

The agency, he said, would also test its indigenously developed hypersonic plane next year, which can be used as a reusable missile launcher and was working towards building a floating test range for missiles in the next three years.

The hypersonic plane was being designed to have at least a hundred re-entries into the atmosphere. It would be almost the same size as a MIG 25 fighter aircraft and be able to take off from any conventional airfield. The Kerosene-fuelled vehicle will be powered by scramjet engine.

Dr. Saraswat also told reporters that the DRDO would conduct user trial for the Army for the anti-tank Nag missile this summer in Rajasthan and that efforts were underway to develop high speed interceptors for engaging 5,000 km class enemy missiles.

The DRDO looked forward to conduct an integrated trial of interceptor missile and subsystems in June this year, he said.