The Agni-III missile has completed a successful test, from the Wheeler Island off Orissa. The missile travelled its entire range of 3,500 km and came down accurately on its target in the Bay of Bengal, was also marked as the longest range in India's arsenal.

During its 800-second flight, it reached an altitude of 350 km and its re-entry module sliced into the atmosphere, withstanding searing temperatures of 3,000 deg. Celsius.

The surface-to-surface ballistic Agni-III missile can also carry nuclear warheads.

Mr. V K Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister, called the test as a fantastic launch.

He said it shows the maturity of the missile's design and the quality of its systems. The missile travelled accurately its entire range to its last decimal place as it was planned earlier.