India has the ability to develop ballistic missiles with a range of 10,000 km or even beyond, Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) chief Avinash Chander said.

Mr. Chander said that India didn't require missiles beyond 5,000-km- range at the moment, but the country has the full ability to go to any range.

Speaking on the topic, he said, "Range is no problem. We have the full capability to go to any range. It will take about two to two-and-a-half years." When asked if India could develop a 10,000-km-range missile, he said, "Yes, absolutely."

Mr. Chander's comments followed the recent second successful test of the country's 5,000-km-range Agni-V Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), which can reach as far as China's capital Beijing.

The Agni-V missile is scheduled to be inducted into the Indian armed forces by the year of 2015.

Separately, an American expert said that the launch of Agni-V missile would enhance India's deterrence ability against China, but it was unlikely to change the security dynamics between the two countries and Asia as a whole. Christopher Clary, an ex- country director for South Asian affairs in Defence Secretary Office, explained that Pakistan can threaten India's key commercial & political centres with its existing missile system, while China already owns long-range missiles.