Tuesday, May 17 2005 12:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India would test-fire its 3,000 kms longest-range surface to surface missile Agni III by the year end and has started induction of the short and intermediate range Agni I and Agni II versions in the newly raised strategic command, country's top Defence scientist Dr M Natrajan today (May 17, 2005) said.

"Development of Agni III missile is on schedule and it would fly by the year end," Natrajan said in a presentation made at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Technology day awards function in New Delhi in the presence of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

His remarks assume significance as DRDO has put off tests of the wholly solid Agni III Missiles twice.

The missile was scheduled to be tested in mid-2004, but the trials were put off with Defence scientists saying some snags had been noticed in propulsion systems and that these were being rectified.

The country's scientific advisor on Defence also announced "nine successful test firings have been undertaken of the surface to air Akash Missile and fourth generation fire and forget Nag anti-tank missiles," he said declaring that Nag was now ready for user trials.

However, DRDO officials did not throw light on the recent claims by country's top missile scientist Dr Prahlada of the organisation developing a hypersonic missile development capability.