Later, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said, “The first phase of the launch was successful. In the second phase there was a technical snag, which is being analysed. This is nothing abnormal, it is being looked into.”

The missile can deliver a one tonne warhead some 3,500 km away, bringing within reach Shanghai and Beijing. Defence establishment experts describe it as India’s credible second-strike capability deterrent.

Fired from Wheeler Island, part of the missile testing zone off the Orissa coast, the 16-metre-long Agni-III followed a “predicted ballistic trajectory” before hitting a designated target spot near the Nicobar Islands. The flight path was tracked by electro-optical and telemetric sensors, three radars and high resolution cameras.

Mukherjee and his scientific advisor, DRDO chief M Natarajan, were at Wheeler Island to witness the launch.

According to DRDO, Agni III marks a complete transformation from the technologies used in the two earlier Agni versions, and includes advanced counters to anti-ballistic missile measures.

The test gives the Defence establishment the analytical and technical vindication to push towards its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) programme, called Surya, envisaging missiles with effective ranges of 9,000-12,000 kms or more.

Agni-III is comparable to Pakistan’s Ghauri-III and China’s Dongfeng, though the latter has progressively evolved into a full-fledged ICBM programme — it’s currently being tested to develop the Dongfeng-41, with an effective range of 14,000 kms.

Agni-III had purportedly been ready for a launch for at least the last 18 months, though a variety of considerations are understood to have come into play, including hectic diplomatic activity with Washington over the civilian nuclear deal.

The defence minister has indicated that there was no US pressure on the programme’s progress or the launch, though today’s test, coming as it does when the civilian nuclear deal is not through yet, appears to send out a firm message that the country’s indigenous weapons programme is independent.

INSAT-4C to be launched today

CHENNAI: India's latest communication satellite INSAT-4C will be launched by a GSLV from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 80 km from here on Monday, ISRO sources said.

“Everything is proceeding according to plan, including loading of solid propellants and hypergolic liquid propellant. All systems are being checked and the launch will be at 16.30 hrs on Monday,” the sources said. The 2,168-kg INSAT-4C satellite is the heaviest in its class. INSAT-4C, the second satellite in the INSAT 4 series, will give a boost to DTH services, video picture transmission and digital satellite news gathering. — PTI