India will test-fire the newly improved medium-range ballistic missile Agni-II+ around the end of this month to strengthen the aerial strategic deterrent capability, local media reported on Thursday.

The Agni-II+ will be launched from an interim test range on the coast of the eastern Indian state of Orissa by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), the Orissa government-run website Orissadiary quoted an official of the DRDO as saying.

The missile is a completely new version of the Agni-II with several advanced technologies adopted in its design. In comparison to its previous version, Agni-II+ has the extended range of 3,000 kilometers, bridging the gap between the 2000km-range Agni-II and 3500km-range Agni-III medium-range ballistic missiles, said the official.

Agni-II+ weighs about 17 tons with the length of 21 meters. It could carry a nuclear warhead of over one ton for long-range strike, according to the official.

Agni-II is the second member of the Indian most powerful surface-to surface ballistic missile family of Agni series, which include Agni-I, Agni-II, Agni-III and Agni-V.

On Aug. 27, Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony said India was ready to first test-fire the newly developed inter-continental ballistic missile Agni-V. But he did not disclose the date for Agni-V's test.