CHANDIPUR (ODISHA) : India on Friday successfully carried out a training launch of the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) Agni-3 from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, off the coast of Odisha.
The test, conducted on February 6, 2026, was carried out under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), which is responsible for the management and administration of the country's strategic nuclear assets.
According to defense officials, the launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters.
Routine User Trial Sources indicated that the test was a "routine user training launch" aimed at validating the operational readiness of the system. The missile was reportedly selected randomly from the production lot for the trial, a standard procedure to ensure the reliability of the country's nuclear deterrence backbone.
The flight path was monitored in real-time by a network of radars, telemetry stations, and electro-optical systems positioned along the eastern coast. Two naval ships stationed down-range in the Bay of Bengal also tracked the missile's terminal phase to ensure it impacted the pre-designated target area with high accuracy.
Strategic Capabilities The Agni-3 is a cornerstone of India’s nuclear arsenal. It is a two-stage, solid-propellant missile capable of carrying a warhead payload of approximately 1.5 tons.
With a strike range of over 3,000 kilometers, the Agni-3 provides India with the capability to engage targets deep within neighboring regions. The missile, measuring 17 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter, has already been inducted into the armed forces.
The successful test reinforces the credibility of India's deterrence capabilities and demonstrates the high state of readiness of the Strategic Forces Command.
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