India plans to test-fired next week Agni-4 nuclear-capable ballistic missile 1701141.

The third testfiring of the Agni-4 missile is planned to be carried out early next week off the coast of Odisha, DRDO officials said.

This missile has been branded as a quantum leap in terms of missile technology by the DRDO as it is lighter in weight and has two stages of Solid Propulsion and a Payload with Re-entry heat shield.

The indigenous Ring Laser Gyros based high accuracy INS (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINGS) complementing each other in redundant mode have been successfully flown in guidance mode in this weapon system during earlier trials.

Compared to the Pershing missile of the US in terms of technology, the Agni-IV has many cutting-edge technologies which can meet global standards.

The DRDO recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully testfiring twice the Agni-5 missile, which has a range of over 5,500 km and is categorised as an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile.

Agni-IV is the fourth in the Agni series of missiles. With a range of 3,000 - 4,000 km Agni-IV bridges the gap between Agni II and Agni III. Agni IV can carry a warhead of 1 tonne.