Indian Government Approves Agni Missile ProjectThe Indian government on Thursday approved the Agni project for development of long range missile system and declared that the 2,000 km range Agni II Ballistic Missile was operational and planned for induction during 2001-2002.This decision was conveyed by Indian Defense Minister Jaswant Singh to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee members attached to his ministry, the Press Trust of India (PTI) reported here. "Agni II is an operational missile system designed and developed using various technologies," Singh was quoted as saying to the committee. With the recent successful test firing of Agni II on April 11, 1999 and January 17, 2001, the limited production of the surface- to-surface missile had begun and "its induction is being planned during 2001-2002," he added. The PTI quoted defense sources as saying that the government was considering giving green signal for development of missiles having a strike range longer than that of Agni II. Earlier on Thursday, the PTI quoted the latest annual report of Indian Defense Ministry as saying that profile of the "credible minimum nuclear deterrent" New Delhi was seeking would include accurate and refined delivery systems. India's defense ministry also announced on Thursday that the country was now on the verge of developing beyond visual range air- to-air missile "Astra" for arming the indigenous light combat aircraft, the PTI said. This will make India join the ranks of eight powerful countries including U.S. and Russia which have the capability of producing such missiles, it noted. |
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