Thursday’s Roll-up Of Missile News

(ed. Been a while since we’ve run this recurring item – some interesting items of note from this week for your perusal.  – SJS)

 

India: Agni-III IRBM Test Successful

 

India’s third test of the indigenously developed Agni-III IRBM on 7 May was evidently a complete success.  Launched from Wheeler Island on the east coast of India, the instrumented payload splashed down about 3,000 km downrange.  Effective range for the Agni-III is claimed in the open press to be in the 3,000-3500 km range with payloads up to 1.5 tonnes.  The two previous tests were split between a failure and claimed success (Apr 07).  There has been much discussion in the open press about the presumed target nation(s) and requirement for such a missile.  Commenting in an article in today’s Times of India, Group Captain R K Das, spokesperson of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command noted:

More Fallout from Georgian UAV Losses

From the Messenger Online comes word that Georgia has withdrawn from a mutual air defense pact with Russia:

 

Georgia withdraws from air defence treaty with Russia

Georgia has withdrawn from an anti-air defense cooperation treaty with Russia, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. A Russian consul was summoned to the ministry and given a note informing Russia of the decision. The treaty was signed by the defense ministries of Georgia and Russia in 1995.
(Interfax)

and 

Foreign Ministry calls on UN to investigate Abkhaz air defense systems

The Foreign Ministry called on the UN to investigate Abkhaz air defense systems yesterday, a day after de facto authorities claimed to have downed two more Georgian spy planes in the breakaway region.   Georgia denied the allegations. The Foreign Ministry addressed Jean Arnault, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Georgia, urging Arnault and the UN Observer Mission in Georgia to immediately investigate the Abkhaz side’s air defense capabilities.

Georgia claims that a Russian MiG-29 shot down one of its drones on April 20. Russia and de facto Abkhaz authorities claim separatists downed the aircraft.
(Prime News)

 Reading today’s headlines (Minister: Georgia and Russia ‘Very Close to War’) it appears things may indeed be headed south in relations between the countries.  Certainly since (former President now Prime Minister) Putin took a harder stance regarding former Soviet Republics a few years ago, there is a sense that Russia has been spoiling for a fight with Georgia.  There has been no small amount of criticism stemming from the Kremlin regarding Georgia’s rapprochement with the West in general, but the US in particular and especially over possible membership in NATO.  Claiming an interest in protecting Russian citizen’s rights in the breakaway territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Russia has taken the opportunity to present rather bold military displays, not the least of which was the recent downing of a Georgian UAV by a MiG-29, captured on the UAV’s sensors.   This follows an incident last year where Russian air-to-surface missiles were fired into Georgian territory, again with Russian denials despite evidence collected that showed the Russian origin of the missiles in question.  All in all, something to keep an eye on if we can get past the hand-wringing reports about gas prices and Hillary continuing the campaign, interrupted occasionally with news from Myanmar.