India is developing another variant of its nuclear-capable medium-range surface-to-surface missile that is likely to be tested later this year.
"The development of Agni-III is on," Mr V.K. Aatre, the scientific adviser to India's defence minister, was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency (PTI).
"It is being designed to hit targets at a distanceof more than 3,000 kilometres. We will hopefully test-fire it before the end of the year," Mr Aatre told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on defence and internal security.
India has begun serial production of the Agni-II, capable of delivering a one-tonne nuclear warhead up to 1,500 kilometres.
On Thursday, New Delhi launched the Agni-I, capable of delivering a one-tonne nuclear payload up to 800 kilometres away.
The missile test came amid high tension with nuclear armed rival Pakistan, whose army just took possession of the Ghauri missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead up to 1,500 kilometres.
Both variants of India's Agni, which means "fire," use solid fuel and can be launched from rail and road missile launchers giving it high mobility.
AFP