"All the 20 flight tests have met the mission objectives set for them," the minister said in a written reply to a question.

Fernandes said the 20 tests conducted between January 1 and June 30 cost about 750 million rupees (16.3 million dollars), including the costs of the launched missiles.

He said two variants of the nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Agni, which means "fire" in Hindi, were in the "induction phase." The Agni I has a range of 700 kilometres (437 miles) and the Agni II has a range of 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles).

On the Prithvi ("Earth") missile, which has a range of 200 kilometresmiles), Fernandes said a version used by the army had already been installed in the service while the version for the air force was being inducted.

India's missile tests, generally conducted at a testing range in the eastern state of Orissa, have drawn more international attention than usual since last year as they came amid a military standoff with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have begun to mend ties since April when Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee offered the neighbouring country a "hand of friendship."

SPACE.WIRE