Indian ballistic missile test ends in failure

Agni-II

11:52 10/12/2010

© AFP/ RAVEENDRAN

The maiden test launch of an Indian nuclear-capable missile ended in fiasco on Friday after it plunged into the sea a few seconds after takeoff, the Indian Express newspaper reported.
The Agni-II Plus, a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile with a maximum range of 3,000 km, was launched from Wheeler Island off coastal waters of the eastern state of Orissa at 10:00 a.m. local time [04:00 GMT].
It is as yet unclear why the missile dropped off into the sea, India's Defense Ministry said.
A nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile failed to take off during a test fire on September 24. An Agni-I missile was successfully test fired a month later.

MOSCOW, December 10

(RIA Novosti)