Thursday, August 3 2006 11:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Prithvi and Agni strategic missile systems, as well as their variants, have been inducted in the armed forces, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told Rajya Sabha today (Aug 3, 2006).

In a written reply, he said the development of the Akash and Trishul surface-to-air missiles and Nag anti-tank missile is complete and the armed forces have been requested to place orders for them.

The BrahMos supersonic cruise missile has completed successful flight trials for the Navy and Army from ships and mobile land platforms. Production orders for it have also been received, he said.

Mukherjee, however, clarified that there was no missile project named Sagarika. Reports have suggested that Sagarika is a submarine-launched cruise missile.

He said the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme begun in 1983 consists of five missilesAgni, Prithvi, Akash, Trishul and Nag. The strategic Agni and Prithvi missiles have been completed along with their variants for the armed forces.

Mukherjee said there were certain technical problems with the Trishul, Akash and Nag, but these were subsequently solved.