CHENNAI: The maiden launch of Agni-III, India's long-range ballistic missile, will take place in late August or September from the Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast, after the peak southwest monsoon is over, according to authoritative sources in the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). "There are some technologies relating to special systems which will be evaluated during this intervening gap," the sources said.

Agni-III, a surface-to-surface missile, has a range of 3,500 km. It will carry nuclear warheads and is the most powerful missile built by India.

The launch, slated for January or February this year, was postponed because of the visit of U.S. President George W. Bush to India in March. The nuclear cooperation agreement signed during the visit included India's plans to separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities. The July 18, 2005 Joint Statement by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mr. Bush spoke about how the U.S. Congress would amend laws that would allow the export of nuclear power reactors to India after India submitted its separation plan.

The Union Government decided to put on hold the launch of Agni-III till the U.S. Congress amended its laws, allowing for export of nuclear power reactors to India. But it could be October or November before the U.S. Congress did so. "We will not wait till then," the sources said.

It would be "precarious" to launch the Agni III during the peak southwest monsoon period of June and July.

"We have so many new technologies [in Agni-III]. We will be testing them one by one in June and July," the sources said.

The visiting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the U.S. military, Peter Pace, has been quoted as saying in New Delhi on June 5 that the U.S. would not view as "destabilising" if India test-fired Agni-III.

"Many countries in this region have tested missiles and as long as the weapons being tested are of defensive capability, we do not view it as [a] destabilising factor," Gen. Pace is reported to have said.

A two-stage missile

Agni-III is a two-stage missile. Both the stages are powered by solid propellants.

It can carry nuclear warheads weighing about 1.4 tonnes. It is more than 20 metres tall and weighs about 48 tonnes.

Agni-III was to be originally test-fired in 2004 but testing of its systems took time.

Other missiles in the Agni series include Agni, Agni II and Agni I. Several launches of these missiles have taken place.

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