AGNI-III TEST FIRED

It's been a good fortnight for rocket scientists. After the PSLV launched 10 satellites into space 10 days ago, India inched closer towards building a "minimum credible nuclear deterrent" against China by testing its longest-range Agni-III ballistic missile on Wednesday. Emboldened with the "textbook launch" of the 3,500 km-range Agni-III from Wheeler Island off Orissa coast at 9.56am, defence scientists promptly declared that the missile's "developmental flights" were now complete and it was ready for induction. The intermediate range Agni-III provides India with strike capabilities deep into China, with Shanghai and Beijing well within its reach. This is in tune with India's "no first use nuclear weapons" policy, which holds that "nuclear retaliation to a first strike will be massive and designed to inflict unacceptable damage". But the euphoria has to be tinged with a reality check. The complex 16.7-metre tall missile, with a liftoff weight of 50 tonnes - including a 1.5-tonne warhead - would require another four-five tests, series production and user trials before it can become operational.