He said production of Agni I and Agni II has already started.

Agni I has a range of 700 kilometres (437 miles) and Agni II a range of 2,000 kilometres.

Fernandes said a third variant, Agni III, with a range of 3,000 kilometres was under development.

"The development is in progress and the missile is likely to be tested in near future," the minister said.

The defence minister also denied that Israel under US pressure was backing off from a deal with India for the supply of Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS).

Separately, he said 28 of the 50 Russian-built SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft which had been contracted for had been delivered and the remaining aircraft would reach India by the year end.

Fernandes added another 140 SU-30MKI fighters would be manufactured at India's state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited under a transfer of technology arrangement.

The production of these aircraft was planned to be completed by 2017-2018, Fernandes said.

SPACE.WIRE