Congragulate India for AGNI III success

[Indian]

Congragulate all Indian scientists for successful launch of AGNI III missile



See extract from Desicritics.com





India Tests Agni III Successfully

April 13, 2007

Cynical Nerd



With a "No First Use" nuclear doctrine, India's successful testing of the indigenous Agni III ballistic missile is a landmark event towards achieving minimum credible deterrence. The fire-and-forget missile can be launched from a fixed or mobile platform with an estimated range of more than 3000 km. It is capable of carrying up to 3-ton of load including thermonuclear warheads. This two-stage solid-fuelled brings large parts of China including Beijing and Shanghai and West Asia within India's reach.



Most P-5 nations have three-stage ICBMs such as the American Minuteman, Russian Topol-M or the Chinese DF-31A with a much longer 8,000+ km range. While yesterday's maiden test carried a 1.5 ton dummy warhead, India's current 200 kT yield thermonuclear warhead is much lighter at around 400 kg. Hence, some experts* have speculated that Agni III can very well venture into the ICBM range (5000+ km) with a sub-ton warhead.



India's missile program has come a long way since its inception in 1983. The program overcame several technological challenges and external pressure to stop its development. The precursor to this missile Agni II was formally suspended in 1995 owing to American pressure only to be restarted in 1998. Amazingly, the entire Integrated Guided Missile Program cost the taxpayer $400 million so far in contrast to several billions India spends on imported weaponry. It is a tribute to our scientist's diligence and brilliances that we have achieved this feat.



The missile has to be validated with more tests and the program needs to be adequately financed for quick induction into our Armed Forces. This brings us one-step closer towards the development of longer-range intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. This alone will guarantee a devastating "second-strike" capability acting as a deterrent against present and future threats.