Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) Director Dr Prahlada, who is heading the indigenous missile development programme, told media that the mission was "in its final stages" and its maiden test launch was expected by the year-end.

"The missile is under development... Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee had announced the launch in 2005 and we are working on that," Dr Prahlada said.

All the technical problems related to Agni-3 development have been successfully tackled, he said.

Hyderebad-based DRDL is developing the missile, aimed at providing a flexible second strike capability for the country.

The Agni-3, currently in development, is an intermediate-range, surface-based, solid- and liquid-propellant ballistic missile. Its primary purpose will be to extend India's nuclear deterrent against China.

At present, the Agni-3 is believed to be a three-stage missile that essentially adds a third stage onto the first and second stages of the Agni-2.

It will probably be deployed from either rail- or road-mobile launch vehicles.

It will most likely be equipped with an inertial guidance systems with an improved optical or radar terminal phase correlation system.

This would likely give it a high degree of accuracy with a medium to large nuclear payload, most likely a 200 or 300 kT warhead.

Sources differ as to the Agni-3's maximum range. Some indicate that it will have a maximum range of 4,000 km (2,485 miles), while others place this number as high as 5,000 (3,107 miles) to 6,000 km (3,728 miles).

At 5,000 km, the Agni-3 would be more than capable of reaching its primary target: Beijing. Although not technically an intercontinental ballistic missile, its ability to strike Beijing would make the Agni-3 a strategic asset for India.

India To spend 120 Billion Rupees On Missile Production Over Next Eight Years
New Delhi, India (SPX) Jul 05, 2005
India will invest around Rupees 120 billion in the next eight years to produce world class missiles, said Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) director Prahlada, adding that another Rs 100 billion will be spent on maintaining and upgrading missiles.

The director of the Hyderabad-based organisation said the missiles - including the Agni, Prithvi, Akash, Nag, Trishul and BrahMos - and around 200 companies, would take part in the production.

He said BrahMos, a supersonic anti-ship cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia, was already in production along with the Prithvi and Agni, surface-to-surface missiles.

"Akash, Trishul and Nag are ready for production and their problems are being solved," he said.

However the Indian newspaper The Hindu quoted him as admitting that nothing was smooth in missile technology and the last three missiles had to undergo many flight tests.

Ram Narain Agarwal, programme director of Agni missile, said work had started on the Agni-III, and the long-range surface-to-surface missile would be inducted into the military by 2007-08.

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