India is likely to carry out the first test of the long-range, nuclear-capable Agni-III ballistic missile next month, the Indo-Asian News Services quoted Indian defence sources as saying Wednesday.

The test might be conducted in the second week of July from a test range in Orissa, east India.

Agni-III, which is designed to have a range of 3,000 km, is an improved version of two earlier versions of the Agni missile that are currently in service with the armed forces.

Developed under India's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program launched nearly 20 years ago, Agni-I was test fired in May 1989.

The existing two versions of Agni have a range of 700 km and over 2,000 km.

The defence sources said scientists had begun preparation for the test of Agni-III at the test range at Dhamra in the northern district of Bhadrak of Orissa.

V.K. Aatre, scientific advisor to the defence minister and the chief of the Defense Research and Development Organization, had said earlier this month that he planned to test the missile this year.

The first test of Agni-III has been put off twice since late last year.