India on Sunday successfully tested its indigenous Agni-II ballistic missile, the military said as it announced it was armed with a shorter-range version of the nuclear-capable missile.
The medium-range Agni-II (Fire), with a maximum range of 2,500km was fired from a mobile launcher on Wheeler Island off eastern Orissa state, officials said.
Agni-II has been flight-tested three times since 1999, the previous occasion being in January 2001.
"The launch of Agni-II from its rail mobile launcher met all the mission objectives, including achieving the high accuracy in guiding the payload to the designated target at a 12,00km range," project chief R.N. Agarwal said in New Delhi.
He said a network of tracking stations monitored the missile's flight until its payload hit the target. "The white-hot object was tracked by pre-positioned naval ships confirming the impact and success of the mission," Agarwal added.
Defence ministry sources, meanwhile, said Sunday's flight-test comes just after the military armed itself with Agni-I missiles, which have a range of 700km.
India's previous battle-ready batteries comprise of the Prithvi (earth) surface missiles which can carry a half-tonne nuclear warhead to a maximum distance of 250km.
The missile tested on Sunday powered by solid fuel is capable of carrying 1,000kg nuclear or conventional warheads, the official said.
Developed by India's Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), the 20-metre (65-foot) missile weighs 16 tonnes. It can be fired from rail- and road-based launchers.
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