India has successfully test-fired its home-made Agni-IV nuclear-capable ballistic missile 2001142.

It was test launched from the launch complex-4 of the ITR at Wheeler Island, at about 10:52 AM, defence sources said.

Defence sources said while range integration had been completed for the test, initial countdown has begun at the test range. The intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) would be fired in full operational configuration between 8 am and 12 noon on Monday.

A high performance on-board computer with distributed avionics architecture, a high speed reliable communication bus and a fully digital control system were used to control and guide the missile to the target, the sources said.

The DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation of India) recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully test-firing twice the Agni-V missile, which has a range of over 5,500 km and is categorised as an Inter Continental Ballistic Missile.

Having a strike range of around 4,000 km, the two-stage solid propelled missile is 20 metre tall and weighs around 17 tonne. Agni-IV is better than 3,000-km range Agni-III in terms of performance envelop.

Defence experts said with the twin success of 5,000 km range Agni-V missile India would emerge as another missile power in the region after the induction of Agni-IV, Agni-V and submarines launched K-15 missiles.