Feb 3, 2006, 16:52 GMT
New Delhi - India's nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile 'Agni III' with intercontinental reach capability, is ready for launch, top defence scientist M Natarajan said Friday.
'All technical parametres for the launch have been completed,' Natarajan, Secretary, Defence Research and Development Organization told reporters about the indigenously developed missile which has a range of about 3,500 kilometres and can carry a one-ton nuclear payload.
The decision on testing the Agni missile, named after the Hindu God of Fire, is to be made by the government.
Two versions of the Agni, Agni I and Agni II, with a range of between 800 kilometres and 2,500 kilometres respectively have been successfully tested and are in the armoury of the Indian defence services.
The Agni III is a solid and liquid propellant ballistic missile whose primary purpose is to extend India's nuclear deterrent against China, defence analysts said.
But it is not an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) which generally has a range of more than 5,000 kilometres.
'On Agni missile, though DRDO had claimed that India was ready for the launch of the almost ICBM a year and a half back, no trials were undertaken apparently keeping in view the international opinion,' PTI news agency reported.
Natarajan also disclosed details of various missiles that are being developed by the DRDO under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) which was launched in 1983.
Natarajan also said India's first air-to-air beyond visual range missile 'Astra' (weapon in Hindi) is being prepared for launch by April.
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