India flight-tests new generation ballistic missile Agni Prime

New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has successfully flight-tested the new generation ballistic missile Agni Prime.

The flight test was conducted at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island, off the coast of Odisha, on 7 June. During the flight test, all objectives were successfully demonstrated, the ministry of defence said on Thursday.

"This was the first pre-induction night launch conducted by the users after three successful developmental trials of the missile, validating the accuracy and reliability of the system," the defence ministry said.

Range instrumentation like radar, telemetry and electro-optical tracking systems were deployed at different locations, including two down-range ships, at the terminal point to capture flight data covering the entire trajectory of the vehicle, it added.

Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and the armed forces on the successful test.

Senior officials from DRDO and Strategic Forces Command witnessed the flight test, which has paved the way for induction of the system into the Indian armed forces.