India will be soon inducting the first batch of its Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, Agni-V

The missile systems will be inducted into the Strategic Forces Command (SFC), Official Sources were quoted as saying by PTI Sunday.

The missile with a strike range of 5000 km and capable of carrying nuclear warhead will see a series of user trials before it is handed over to the SFC, the sources said.

Defence experts said the missile is capable of bringing targets across China including its prominent cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong under its range.

Last month, Agni-V was successfully test-fired off the Odisha coast and the sources said a number of other pre-induction tests are being planned in the next few weeks.

"It is a strategic asset which will act as a deterrent. We are at the almost end of the strategic project," said an official, who is part of the Agni-V program.

He said it is the most advanced weapon in its series as it has latest technologies for navigation and its capability of carrying nuclear warhead is much superior.

The first batch of Agni-V will be handed over to the SFC "soon", the sources said while declining to elaborate further on the closely-guarded defence project.

The missile is being inducted at a time when India's neighbourhood is witnessing evolving security threats. Very few countries including the US, China, Russia, France and North Korea have intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In its armoury, India currently has Agni-1 with 700 km range, Agni-2 with a 2,000-km range, Agni-3 and Agni-4 with 2,500 km to more than 3,500-km range.