NEW DELHI: Three more tests will be conducted in the next 12 months of India's indigenously-developed nuclear-capable Agni-V inter-continental ballistic missile, which can reach targets as far as Beijing, before it would be "ready for induction", its developer says.

"We need to do two to three more development launches and the forces may want to do some. We expect by mid-2016, the missile will be ready for induction," an official of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has developed the missile, told IANS on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

The jury, however, is out on that one as the 5,000-km-range missile that can carry a one-tonne warhead has repeatedly missed its deadlines. Also, "ready for induction" could be a case of semantics as the armed forces could well interpret this as "ready for user trials", which can be quite prolonged.

The missile has already undergone three tests, the last one being from a canister.

According to DRDO officials aware about the developments concerning the missile, two to three more tests will be undertaken in the next 12 months.

The Agni-5 has been tested thrice so far.

It was first tested in April 2012 and then in September 2013. The third launch, on January 31, was from a mobile canister.