Defence scientists are prepared to test India’s longest-range missile the Agni-III on Wednesday from the test range off the coast of Orissa.

This will be the third test of this “Agni”. The first test in 2006 had failed when shortly after lift off, the missile plopped into the Bay of Bengal. The second test carried out on April 12, 2007 was successful.

The missile also bolsters India’s second-strike capability as it can be launched from anywhere in India using a mobile launcher. It will need a few more tests before it can be inducted into the armed forces.

The stubby two-stage 16 meter long missile weighs about 48 tonnes & has a range of more than 3000 kilometers. This surface-to-surface missile can carry a 1.5 tonne war head.