India carried out a successful test Thursday of its longest-range ballistic missile, the Agni III, which is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead more than 3,000 kilometers, scientists said.

The launch of the longest-range Agni, which means "fire" in the Sanskrit language, came after a failed test last July when the missile plunged into the Bay of Bengal after take-off.

"Yes, the test was absolutely successful," said W. Selvamurthy, a senior official of the Defense Research and Development Organisation, which designed the missile.

"It took off at 10:50 AM (05:20 GMT) and landed at 11:05 AM," he said. "We are absolutely satisfied with all the results and we have rectified the errors of last year's failure. It met all the target coordinates."

India's Defense Minister A. K. Anthony congratulated defense scientists on the successful launch of the missile, a ministry press statement said.

"India has matured in the missile technology area and was definitely at par with many other developed countries," the release added.

The missile was launched from Wheeler Island off the eastern state of Orissa and is also said to be capable of carrying up to a 300-kiloton nuclear warhead.

India has around 100 to 150 nuclear warheads and staged tests in 1974 and 1998.

India's missile program, together with its nuclear program and drive for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, is part of its ongoing efforts to establish itself as a world power.

India's homegrown missile arsenal already includes the short-range Prithvi ballistic missile, the medium-range Akash, the anti-tank Nag and the supersonic Brahmos missile, developed jointly with Russia.

Pakistan had been notified about the missile test, Kar said.

(China Daily via agencies April 13, 2007)