India to launch Agni III during 2007

India is planning to launch Agni III, a 3,500 km-range Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM), during 2007.

This was disclosed by Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister and Secretary to Department of Defence Research and Development, New Delhi, M Natarajan at a function organized in Bangalore to open the new campus of Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR).

“Agni III would be launched sometime in 2007”, Natarajan said. He also said the missile had a good trial last time, but there was a small material-related failure that was being analyzed.

Speaking on the occasion, Natarajan also called for a thorough scrutiny before making the choice of equipment for deployment in the armed forces.

He said a dialogue was underway between Department of Defence Research and Development and NASSCOM for generating product support from the software industry to the armed forces. “This will go a long way in generating confidence in Government circles on the capability of private companies in handling defence related services”, he said.

Earlier, Defence Minister A K Antony opened a 16 acre campus for Centre for Artiricial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) at C V Raman Nagar in Bangalore. The CAIR will provide information and communication services in areas including communication and networking, command and control systems, information security and intelligent systems.

“The development of futuristic communication systems should take into account the requirements of all the three wings of the armed forces”, Antony said while declaring the CAIR open.