First night trial of nuclear capable Agni-III missile held

India conducted the first night trial of nuclear capable long-range ballistic missile Agni-III from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast on Saturday.

The Strategic Forces Command of the Indian Army conducted the first night trial of the missile from launch pad-IV of the Integrated Test Range in Bhadrak district at 7.17 p.m., said defence sources.

According to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Agni-III is the mainstay of India's nuclear arsenal.

The missile was inducted into the armed forces in June 2011.

The missile has a strike range of 3,000 km to 5,000 km and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads weighing up to 1.5 tonnes.

The missile is powered by a two-stage solid propellant engine. It is 17 metres long with two-metre diameter and weighs around 2,200 kg.