Agni-4 IRBM missile tested off Odisha coast

NEW DELHI: Days after commissioning its second nuclear-powered submarine, India on Friday conducted a successful launch of the intermediate range ballistic missile Agni-4 from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur off the Odisha coast.

The launch of the Agni-4 missile, which has a strike range of 4,000-km, "successfully validated all operational and technical parameters", a defence ministry official said.

India on Aug 29 had inducted into the SFC its second 6,000-tonne nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighaat, which is armed with the over 3,000-km range K-4 missiles unlike her forerunner INS Arihant that only has the 750-km range K-15 missiles, as was earlier reported by TOI.

The third SSBN, in turn, will be commissioned as INS Aridhaman early next year. With a displacement of 7,000-tonne, she is bigger than the first two SSBNs and can carry more long range nuclear-tipped missiles.