The surface-to-surface 2,000-km range ballistic missile Agni-II was successfully flight tested for the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) from Wheeler Island in Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha.

The two-stage solid propellant Agni-II launched as part of regular SFC exercise as they reached the pre-designated target point in Bay of Bengal within accuracy of few metres. The two ships located near the target point have tracked the terminal phase of the vehicle and witnessed the final event. The radars and electro-optical tracking stations have tracked and monitored the vehicle and all the relevant parameters.

All the systems, propulsion, control, actuators, on-board computers, missile interface units and the navigation, guidance systems functioned fully to the perfection and ensured the vehicle reached the target within few metres of accuracy.

The launch operations carried out by SFC and DRDO scientists have monitored and guided all the activities. The teams were led by the Project Director Laxminarayana and the Mission Director Avinash Chander, DS & CC R&D (MSS). Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister, Secretary Department of Defence R&D and DG (R&D) DRDO were present during the launch and cleared the launch of the vehicle after a thorough review.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony congratulated the armed forces, DRDO scientists and the industry for the successful launch of Agni-II. Dr V.G. Sekaran, Director ASL, Dr S.K. Chaudhary, Director RCI, M.V.K.V. Prasad, Director ITR, Dr Satish Kumar, Dr D.N. Reddy, Chairman of RAC were present.