Taking another step in bolstering its nuclear reach, India on Wednesday successfully test-fired Agni-IV - a nuclear-capable strategic missile that boasts a strike range of about 4000 km.

Designed and developed by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), the missile lifted off from a road mobile launcher at 11.48 a. m. sharp, zoomed to an elevation of more than 800 km, then re-entered the atmosphere and then finally hit the pre-designated target in the Indian Ocean with remarkable degree of accuracy.

With a re-entry heat shield, the payload in the missile is capable of withstanding searing temperatures of over 3,000°C.

Announcing the success of the trial, DRDO said, "The trial was successful and the missile reached the pre-defined target in about 20 minutes."

The organisation added that the success of the mission underlined the stoutness of the design and subsystems of the missile.

Two naval ships were located in the Indian Ocean to record the trajectory of the missile plus the terminal phase. The ships recorded that data and transmitted the data in instantaneously.

Agni-IV, a modified version of the Agni-II, was initially called Agni-II Prime, whose first test in December 2011 had failed.