User trial of Agni-I deferred till July

BALASORE: After a high-five moment following the successful maiden test of Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-V, a reported technical glitch seems to have struck again the country’s ambitious Agni project forcing the defence officials to defer a user trial of Agni-I missile.  Sources at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) here said the user specific trial of nuclear capable short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) Agni-I, which was scheduled for Tuesday from the Wheeler Island, has been deferred till July. The test was to reconfirm the technical parameters set for the user-associated launch and check the Army’s readiness to use it. User trial of the 700-km range missile, already inducted in the Army, was to be conducted by the Army personnel while the DRDO was supposed to provide logistics support to track the missile and collect data for post-mission analysis. “The missile system developed snags during the integration for which the test was postponed. Before a missile goes for test, it is integrated with the tracking systems and other sub-systems. In fact, integration is a major part of the mission. As it could not be done as per schedule, the officials deferred the test,” the  source said.  A defence official, on condition of anonymity, said the test was deferred as the senior scientists and officers are busy with annual assessment, which, it is believed, cannot be a reason for postponement. It was not for the first time that the missile developed snags during the user trial.  The 12-tonne Agni-I can blast off from both road and rail mobile launchers and carry both conventional and nuclear payload of about 1,000 kg. Compared to its long-range cousins, its height is just 15 metres and it is powered by both solid and liquid propellants, which imparts it a speed of 2.5 km per second.