India on Thursday conducted a successful test-fire of its indigenously developed nuclear capable "Agni-V" ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000 km from a test range off Odisha coast.

"The mission was successful. The missile hit the target in Indian Ocean in a perfect way," chief of defence research and development organisation (DRDO), V K Saraswat said.

The three stage, solid propellant missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher from launch complex-4 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Wheeler Island near here at about 0805 hours, defence sources said, describing the successful trial as a milestone in India's missile programme.

After the maiden launch, the Agni-V witnessed a smooth and perfect vertical lift-off from the launcher and thorough analysis was done to assess its health parametres after retrieval of data from all a wide range of sophisticated communication network systems, they said.

The test-fire of the first of its kind missile, which was originally scheduled to be held yesterday, had to be postponed at the last moment due to bad weather marked by rains and heavy lightning for safety reasons, sources said.

The successful trial of Agni-V, considered by many to be having the features of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM), demonstrated giant strides taken by India in its integrated missile development programme.

Only the United States, Russia, France and China possess the capability to operate an ICBM at present.

"The sleek missile, within a few seconds of its blast-off from the Island launch pad roared majestically into the sky leaving behind its a trajectory a trail of thin orange and white smoke before disappearing," said an eyewitness to the launch.

The surface-to-surface Agni-V is capable of striking a target more than 5,000 km away. It is about 17 meter long and two metre wide with launch weight of around 50 tonnes. The sophisticated missile can carry a nuclear warhead of more than one tonne.

Preparation for Agni-V test had gathered momentum after India achieved successful results from the first development trial of Agni IV, which has a strike range of more than 3,500 km, from the same launch pad on November 15, 2011.

Apart from V K Saraswat, who is also the scientific advisor to the Defence Minister, a host of top defence scientists, military officials and functionaries of concerned agencies were present at the site to monitor, supervise and witness the maiden test of the new generation missile.

Top scientiests present at the test site said at least 20 laboratories of the DRDO were engaged for several months to prepare the state-of-the-art missile.

About 800 scientists, staff and support personnel had been engaged to make the first ever launch of the Agni-V a success, they said.

Unlike other missiles of indigenously built Agni series, the latest one - Agni V - is the most advanced version having several new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine, said a scientist associated with the project.

India has at present in its armoury of Agni series, Agni 1 with 700 km range, Agni 2 with 2,000 km range, Agni 3 and Agni 4 with 2,500 km to more than 3,500 km range.

Today's succsessful trial has put India into an exclusive club of nations possessing such long-range ballistic missile technologies.

DRDO chief V K Saraswat had recently said the missile was being integrated at various facilities for the test launch at an appropriate time.

DRDO plans to conduct more such tests of the missile over the next one year after studying and analysing the parameters achieved in each subsequent trial.

Regarding the timeline fixed for fully developing the Agni V, Saraswat had said another year of testing would be required.

Meanwhile, defence minister A K Antony today described the maiden test flight of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Agni-5 as an "immaculate success" and a "major milestone".

"The nation stands tall today. We have joined the elite club of nations (to possess the ICBM capability)," Antony told the DRDO Chief Dr V K Saraswat on phone after the test flight of the missile was declared successful today.

"The immaculate success of the Agni-5 is a major milestone in the country's missile research and development programme," he said.

The about 5,000 km range Agni-5 was launched from a test range at Wheeler Island off the coast of Odisha at 0807 hours and took 15 minutes to reach its target in Southern Indian Ocean.

The missile achieved all the mission parameters and has turned out to be a huge success, Defence Ministry officials said.

The launch was cancelled last night due to bad weather and a spate of heavy lightning in the test range.

Antony also spoke to the Agni-5 project director Dr Avinash Chander and congratulated his entire team for their hard work and dedication.

DRDO took four years to develop the missile.

In his conversation with Dr Saraswat and Dr Chander, Antony told them that the nation is proud of its defence scientists and recalled the contributions made by former DRDO chiefs, specially Dr M Natarajan, a brain behind success of various projects such as MBT Arjun and pioneering efforts in LCA Tejas and Pinaka MBRL projects.