India:  Agni-Variant Advantages Analyzed

The short-range Agni ballistic missile, successfully test-fired last week, is similar to its predecessor, the Agni II, the Hindu reported Sunday (see GSN, Jan. 29).

The chief difference between the Agni-II and the recently tested Agni-variant is that the variant is only a single-stage missile, according to the Hindu.  The variant still retains the solid fuel propulsion system of the Agni II, which allows it to launch with little notice.  The liquid-fueled, single-stage Prithvi missile, on the other hand, needs advance time to fill its fuel tanks before it can be fired.

The Agni variant will also retain the Agni-II “velocity trimming package,” which helps to compensate for small performance variations that come with solid motors.  The relative similarities between the Agni variant and the Agni II will also aid in production and maintenance, the Hindu reported (N. Gopal Raj, Hindu, Jan. 27 in FBIS-NES, Jan. 27).

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Pakistan:  Officials to Test Shaheen Missile Soon

Pakistan is prepared to test its new Shaheen solid-fuel missile and will probably do so in the next few weeks, according to the Pakistani paper Jang.  The test would assess the missile’s ability to carry more weight and would not be a response to India’s Agni missile test last week, Jang reported (see GSN, Jan. 28).

Meanwhile, Pakistani scientists told Jang that India’s Agni missile was not working successfully and has fallen short of its expected range.  Pakistan’s missiles have more reliable terminal guidance systems than India’s missiles, sources told Jang (Rawalpindi Jang, Jan. 26 in FBIS-NES, Jan. 28).

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India:  Pakistan To Refrain From Missile Test Response

Pakistan does not plan to test one of its own missiles to respond to India’s Agni missile test on Friday, Pakistan authorities said Saturday.

“Pakistan is neither in a race with India, nor it is going to do anything in reaction to what India does,” said Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi, head Pakistani spokesman.  Pakistan has no reason to increase tensions between India and Pakistan by conducting a test, but the country is reserving its right to test when it sees fit, Qureshi said.

India conducted a test Friday of an Agni missile with a range of 700 kilometers — less than previous Agni tests (see GSN, Jan. 25).  Pakistan said the test threatened the region’s stability (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Jan. 26).

“We are exercising restraint … But our deterrence is in place, and our response is ready … We don’t want the enemy to know how ready we are,” Qureshi said (Michael Regan, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Jan. 26).

Test Does Not Inflame Tensions, Powell Says

“I would just as soon they had not performed that test at this time of high tensions, but I don’t think it will inflame the situation particularly,” said U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.  The situation remains tense, but both sides are seeking a diplomatic solution, Powell said (Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post, Jan. 26).

India Postponed Test

The Agni missile test was originally scheduled for mid-December, but India postponed the test after the Dec. 13 attack on the Indian Parliament, because the test would have increased tensions between India and Pakistan, according to the Hindu.  India postponed the test a second time due to mid-January visits (see GSN, Jan. 22) from Powell and Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji (C. Raja Mohan, Hindu, Jan. 26).

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