India missile ready for army use

Agni means "fire" in Hindi and Sanskrit

India's medium-range nuclear-capable ballistic missile, Agni-III, is ready to be inducted into the armed forces after a successful test, the army says.

The surface-to-surface missile was test-fired off an island near Orissa state in eastern India on Sunday, defence officials say.

With a range of more than 3,000km (1,865 miles), the missile can carry a nuclear payload of 1.5 tonnes.

The Agni series is among India's most sophisticated missiles.

This was the fourth test of the Agni-III missile, a statement by the defence ministry said.

The first attempt in 2006 failed, but the last two tests were successful.

The Agni-III missile, tested last year, has a range of more than 3,000km and could hit targets as far off as Beijing and Shanghai, analysts say.

The Agni-I has a range of 750km (470 miles).

Correspondents say the Agni (literally "fire" in Hindi and Sanskrit) missile family is the mainstay of India's missile-based nuclear deterrence.