NEW DELHI, May 14: India’s longest-range ballistic missile is ready for a test launch, the country’s top military scientist announced on Sunday.

“We are technically ready for the test-firing of the missile,” M. Natarajan, scientific adviser to the defence ministry, announced at an official function here which was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“We are awaiting a nod from the government,” he said of the Agni-III nuclear-capable ballistic missile which has an official range of 4,000 kilometres.

Some experts believe the solid-fuel missile can travel a distance of 6,000 kilometres but the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which built the system, declined to confirm the estimates.

The Agni ballistic missile can be deployed through rail or road mobile launches and has greater accuracy for its 200 to 300-kilogram conventional or nuclear warhead payloads, according to the DRDO.

India has already tested several variants of the Agni missiles with the ability to strike targets between 800 and 1,500 kilometres and has developed an arsenal of other surface and maritime missiles.

REMOTE TECHNOLOGY: Mr Singh said India would soon embark upon production of cutting edge technology weapons in sensors, robotics, propulsion systems, stealth and fighting wars through use of remote technology. “We also plan to go in for precision guided munitions and unmanned vehicle technologies,” Mr Singh said while giving away awards of excellence to the country’s top defence scientists.—Agencies