India, on Sunday, test-fired an upgraded version of the nuclear capable surface-to-surface short range Agni-1 missile by improving its re-entry technology and manoeuvrability. The 700-900 km range missile was test-fired at 10.10 am from a mobile launcher of the Integrated test range located at the Wheelerâs Island in the Bay of Bengal off Orissa coast. âTodayâs flight was a text book launch,â Mission Director R N Aggarwal said. Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee have congratulated the defence scientists for the successful test-firing of the missile. DRDO officials said ground radars, telemetry stations and naval ships positioned close to the intended impact point monitored the course of the missile. Scientific Advisor to the Defence Ministry, A V Atre said the missile was tested in a user mode, specifically for the Army using mobile launchers. Pakistan said it was not worried by the test as it was a "sovereign right" for any country to enhance its defence and military capability. It said it had a âstrong deterrent capabilityâ.
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