A missile test is considered successful if the missile hits anywhere within a circular error of probability (CEP) around the target.
After the first two successful tests, two to four more tests of the missile are planned to fully validate the missile after which it will eventually be inducted into the armed forces, possibly within the next three years. The 17-metre-long missile, weighing 50 tonnes, will be launched from a canister in all future tests. The top brass of the tri-services Strategic Forces Command — which is tasked with operationalising India’s nuclear arsenal — was also present at Sunday’s launch.
“India’s intercontinental surface-to-surface ballistic missile Agni V, capable of delivering nuclear warhead with high precision, was successfully launched today (September 15, 2013) in a repeat of the spectacular maiden launch last year. A symbol of the DRDO’s technological excellence and India’s strength, the missile took off majestically at 8.50 am from the DRDO’s launch complex on Wheeler’s Island, off the coast of Orissa, flew on a predefined path and reached its destination with expected precision. The missile, powered by three-stage solid rocket motors, had a flawless, spectacular launch in auto mode and followed its entire trajectory in textbook manner, dropping the three motors at predefined stages into the ocean. The ships located in midrange and at the target point tracked the vehicle and witnessed the final event. All the radar and electro-optical systems, ship-based and those based on ground stations along the path monitored the performance parameters of the missile and displayed information in real time,” the DRDO said.
“All the systems and subsystems of the missile, such as the launch system, navigation system, control systems, rocket motors, the re-entry package etc, performed well. The navigation systems, very high accuracy ring laser gyro-based inertial navigation system (RINS) and the most modern and accurate micro navigation system (MINS) ensured the missile reached the target point within a few metres of accuracy. The high speed onboard computer and fault tolerant software... guided the missile flawlessly,” the DRDO said.
“A major milestone, this second successful test of Agni V has demonstrated the maturity, repeatability and robustness of the system... The launch also clears the way for its canisterisation. The Agni-V missile, in its operational form, is designed to be stored and launched from the canister, enhancing its storage, operational readiness, transportability, response time and shelf life,” the DRDO said.
Defence minister A.K. Antony congratulated the scientists of DRDO, saying that “DRDO scientists have made the country proud”. Sunday’s missile test is also being seen as a success for DRDO chief Avinash Chander, who took over a few months ago and has been a key figure in the Agni missile project from the beginning.