India to test four critical defence systems in coming months

India to test four critical defence systems in coming monthsAfter successfully test-firing the 2,000-kilometer range Agni-II missile on Sunday, India is now advancing with its plans to conduct four critical 'tests' of extremely complex defence systems in coming months.

In a presentation last Thursday, the DRDO briefed to the Cabinet Committee on Security that there would be the sea trials of nuclear submarine INS Arihant, the test-firing of its K-15 missile, the test-firing of the two-tier ballistic missile defence (BMD) system, and the second test firing of the 5,000-kilometer Agni-V intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Launched at Visakhapatnam in 2009, the 6,000-tonne INS Arihant is the country's first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine. It has already undergone harbor-acceptance trials on shore-based steam. Now, it is preparing to undergo sea trials next month.

However, none of the aforementioned weapon systems will be inducted into the country's armed forces in the near future. The INS Arihant is expected to become fully-operational close to the end of 2014.

As per DRDO's plans, the Agni-V, which will be able to reach any part of China, is expected to be tested around June. This long-range missile will require at least three more tests before being put into the production phase for its eventual induction into the army by 2015-2016.

Sources also suggested that DRDO is also mulling plans to test a 6,000-kilometer range Agni-VI missile sometime in the future.