Agni-IV nuclear capable missile successfully test fired

Making a quantum jump in its missile programme, India has successfully test-fired a highly advanced nuclear capable Agni-4 long range ballistic missile with a strike range of 3,000 km from an island off Odisha coast.

The missile is one of its kind of world class providing many new technologies for the first time and its range can be boosted up to 3500 km, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) spokesman Ravi Kumar Gupta said.

Agni-4 missile system has opened a new era in the class of long range missile having capability to carry strategic warheads for the forces and has provided a 'fantastic deterrence' to the country, he said.

The missile was launched from a Road Mobile System at 0900 hours on Tuesday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Wheelers Island, defence sources said adding it paved the way for early test launch of Agni-5.

"The trial was fully successful. All mission objectives were fully met. All the systems functioned perfectly till the end encountering the re-entry temperatures of more than 3000 degree C," Gupta said.

Agni-4 missile, hitherto known as Agni-II Prime, had a text book trajectory and reached a height of about 900 km and reached the pre-designated target in the international waters of Bay of Bengal, a DRDO scientist said.

It is lighter in weight and has two stages of solid propulsion and a payload with re-entry heat shield. The composite rocket motor was used for the first time and gave excellent performance.

It is 20 metres long with launch weight of 17 tonne. It can carry one tonne pay-load.

 "While the Agni-II missile has a strike range of 2000 km and Agni-III can hit a target at a distance of up to 3500 km, this new Agni-IV missile would bridge the gap," defence sources said.

Govt to unveil National Telecom Policy in January, 2012

The much-awaited National Telecom Policy-2011, will be unveiled in January next year, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said on Friday.

The policy was earlier expected to be unveiled by December this year, but delays in receiving recommendations have pushed the date to next year.

"The (draft) policy I have already announced as I had committed. Industry wants some more time to respond, we will give them time. All what will happen is finalisation of the policy will happen in January instead of December," Sibal said in New Delhi at an event.

He added that Trai's recommendations on the National Telecom Policy have just come in and the Department of Telecom is looking into the same.

"The Trai recommendations have just come, we will consider them, call Telecom Commission (meet)... move to Cabinet," Sibal said.

Sibal said the media is confusing between Trai's recommendations and the Telecom Policy.

"People must understand the difference between policy and Trai's recommendation. The Trai recommendations deal with the nitty-gritty of mergers and acquisition and all the other specific issues which never go in to policy," Sibal said.

The draft of the National Telecom Policy, 2011, was announced by Sibal in early October with a major thrust on transparency, an improved investment climate and promotion of consumer interest.

Under the draft plan, the Telecom Ministry is also looking to facilitate nation-wide free roaming, frame an exit policy for operators to surrender licences, give a push to indigenous manufacturing and promote an eco-system for development of a self-dependent telecom industry.