India Test Fires Agni-II Missile

India on Friday morning successfully test fired an indigenously developed intermediate range ballistic missile the Agni-II, the Press Trust of India (PTI)reported.

The missile was launched at about 8:50 a.m. local time Friday from a launch complex on the Wheeler's Island off the coast of east India's Orissa state, the PTI quoted defense sources as saying.

This is the sixth time that the Agni-II missile was launched from the Orissa coast since its maiden test fire on May 22, 1989, said the PTI.

With a range up to 2,000 km, Agni-II had its last two test fires in April 1999 and January last year, both claimed successful.Indian External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh said in May last year that Agni-II was already operational and planned for induction during 2001-02.

Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes and senior army officers were present during the test fire, the PTI said.

(Xinhua News Aagency January 25, 2002)