WHEELER ISLAND (ODISHA): The final round count down has begun for the maiden test of India's longest range and most powerful nuke-capable Agni-V missile from the Wheeler Island off Odisha coast.The indigenously built Inter-continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) has been scheduled to be test-launched from the launching complex-IV of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 7 pm on Wednesday.The DRDO took the decision for the evening hour launch following the international aviation clearance. As for the first time the DRDO is carrying the test of a missile having a strike range of over 5000-km which is expected to fall in Indian Ocean way beyond Indonesia, the aviation clearance was sought and the movement of ships also was coordinated accordingly.More importantly, a defence official told 'The New Indian Express' that the launch time was decided taking the rotation of satellites into consideration. "We had also to coordinate with the rotation of satellites and ensure the safer timing at which the missile will cross the orbit and re-enter into atmosphere. The missile is expected to attain a vertical height of 500 km to 800 km before following its ballistic trajectory," he informed.The test of Agni-V is significant in India's defence point of view as it can reach all most all cities in China, which has posed a major threat for the country. Except America, the missile, which is later to be developed for a6000-km strike range, can also hit the target anywhere in Asia, Africa and Europe. What makes the missile more effective is that it can Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicles (MITRV) capable of deliveringmultiple warheads at different targets at long distances.Sources said hundreds of scientists and technical staffs from Hyderabad based Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI), Advances Systems Laboratory (ASL), Chandipur based Integrated Test Range (ITR) and Pune based Research and Development Establishment (R&DE) besides other various DRDO labs have been camping here for the test launch since past over a fortnight.DRDO chief and Scientific Advisor to Minister of Defence V K Saraswat and Programme director of Agni missiles and Chief Controller (Missiles and Strategic Systems) Avinash Chander are overseeing the launch preparation.The surface-to-surface canister-launched missile, which can carry a payload of 1 tonne is 17 meter long, 2 meter wide and weighs 50 tonnes. If the trial is successful, it will club India into a select band of countries in theworld to possess the technology for ICBM.Meanwhile, the preparation has reached at final stage and the missile integrated with the launcher. "We have made the best link ups with the telemetry and radar stations as for the first time our tracking systems are tracking a missile for 5000 km range. Besides the long range tracking radars at Chandipur, Dharma and Chandrabhaga, two ships with telemetry system and radar have been kept ready near the point of impact. This apart, the radarsat down range Port Blair and ISRO station at Sriharikota will also track the missile," the source added.Fishermen of both Balasore and Bhadrak districts have been alerted not to venture out into the sea while security personnel are patrolling in motor boats along Dhamra coast. After the Agni-V test, the Indian Armed forceswould carry two user trials of 700-km range Agni-I and 2000-km range Agni-II missiles within next one week.
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