India will test its longest-range ballistic missile, Agni-III, sometime this year, the country's chief military scientist said here Tuesday.
Experts were "working overtime to ensure a flawless launch" of the 3,000-kilometre (1,860-mile) Agni-III, which can be tipped with a one-tonne nuclear warhead, scientist V.K. Atre said.
"We have put in operation elaborate plans that the test-firing is successful," Atre told reporters, adding that the launch could be "anytime this year."
"Any failure in the launch would be a great setback to the defence scientists," Atre said.
Highly placed military sources say the Agni-III, the longest-ranged of India's five locally designed missiles, could be tested next month.
The original test was reported to have been slated for 2003 but was deferred amid fresh moves between India and Pakistan to bury decades of mutual hostility.
India has already begun the production of the 700-kilometre (435-mile) range Agni-I and the 2,500-kilometre (1,550-mile) range Agni-II.