Avinash Chander, Chief Controller R&D (Missiles and Strategic Systems) at DRDO has said that the country’s 5,000-km version of the nuclear capable missile, the Agni-V in its final stages of testing and will be set for launch soon.

"Agni-V is in the final phase of testing. I cannot predict the exact date of its launch, but it will be launched shortly," said Chander. He was speaking at a press conference at the Terminal Ballistics Research Laboratory in Chandigarh.

The three-stage Agni-V missile system, which will boost the country’s nuclear capabilities significantly, comes after the testing of surface-to-surface missile two-stage Agni-IV. Agni-V and Agni-IV will provide a reliable deterrence against other countries with similar capabilities, according to Chander.

The Agni-V will feature Multiple Independently-Targeted Re-entry Vehicles (MIRVs). Each missile will be able to carry 3-10 separate warheads. "By 2020, India will be among the leading countries in the missile development," he said.

Meanwhile, TBRL) has developed the detonator which can trigger the explosive in a nuclear warhead at the DRDO’s lab in Chandigarh. Chander is behind has developed the missile which will be launched next month.