India’s longest range nuclear-capable Agni-III was successfully test-fired from the Wheeler Island, off the Orissa coast on Sunday, revealed a defense source said, days after proposing a resumption of talks with arch-rival Pakistan.

The more than 3,500-km range home-grown ballistic missile, cited to be most lethal of the weapon systems developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) scientists, was blasted at 10.50 hrs and covered the pre-designated range with 100 per cent accuracy, top officials told The Hindu from Wheeler Island soon after the successful launch.

In addition, they posted that the missile was the fourth test of the weapon, capable of carrying conventional or nuclear payloads of 1.5 tonnes and requires solid fuel.

A. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, Life Sciences and Human Resources, DRDO also termed it as an “important milestone in developing the country's defense and developing the second strike capability. The flight proved the robustness of all the systems and software.”

The missile technologist claimed that the missile nuclear triggering mechanism worked well, though it did not carry a live warhead. Instead of a nuclear warhead, it carried chemical explosives.

The Agni-III -- Agni means fire in Sanskrit -- was first tested in 2006 and brings major cities in China, such as Shanghai, within striking distance, defense analysts say.