India is preparing to test a range of missiles over the next few days, including a shorter-range version of its Agni nuclear-capable missile, a defence official said today.
The surface-to-surface Agni, which means "fire" in the Sanskrit language, is a key element of India's nuclear self-defence strategy against nuclear-armed neighbours China and Pakistan. India has had an indigenous missile programme for nearly 20 years.
The Indian defence official said preparations had been made to test an Agni 1 missile, with a range of 600 to 800 kilometres, from a launch pad in the Bay of Bengal.
An intermediate version of the ballistic missile with a range of 2,500 kilometres, has already been declared operational.
Defence scientists also plan to test a supersonic cruise missile jointly developed with Russia. The Brahmos missile, with a range of 280 kilometres, is set to enter production by year end.
Russia and India have close defence ties stemming from the Cold War. Nearly 70 per cent of India's defence hardware is of Soviet origin. In recent years, New Delhi has ordered fighter planes, tanks and submarines from Russia.
Pakistan, which matched India's underground nuclear explosions in May 1998 with tests of its own, has also developed a range of missiles to deliver such weapons.