New Delhi, July 30: The country's prime intermediate range ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, the 750 kms Agni I and 1500 kms Agni II have begun to be inducted, government informed the Rajya Sabha today. Declaring that India had undertaken 20 flight tests of seven types of missiles from January one to June 30 this year including both the Agni versions, the defence minister George Fernandes told the house in a written reply that all the tests had met "mission objectives set for them". He said after the tests, the 750 kms Agni I and 1500 kms Agni II were now under "induction phase".

Fernandes said besides this, the air force version of the 200 kms range Prithvi missile as well as naval version of the Dhanush missile were also being inducted.
In reply to other questions, the minister said two American Army Weapon Locating Radars (WLR) contracted on lease basis had arrived in the country.

He said delivery of 12 Antpq-37 from the US would commence from September 2004. The minister said a letter of intent for development and procurement of indigenous WLR's by state-owned Bharat electronic had been signed and the company would deliver the first prototype by April 2004, months before the delivery of Raytheon-built US Radars.

On advance light helicopters, Fernandes said the country was in a position to export these and that marketing efforts were underway overseas.

Bureau Report