India is ready to export missiles to countries whose names are cleared by the government, top DRDO scientist S Prahlada has said, disclosing that trade inquiries have been received from at least five nations.

"Government, in principle, is in favour of exports of missiles," he said, adding Defence Research and Development Organisation is in a position to meet such sale orders.

Though Prahlada did not name the missiles, which could be offered in world market but sources said that India could place Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile Brahmos and recently tested surface-to-air missile Akash for sale.

"Countries are looking at Indian products like missile systems and at a recent export exhibition several nations had come and discussed prospects," Prahlada, the Chief Controller (Hqrs) at DRDO said.

Referring to the air-to-air beyond visual range Astra missile, he said the missile would undergo ground testing later this year and would subsequently be integrated with the Sukhoi multi-role fighter by 2009-10.

He also said India's longest range surface-to-surface nuclear capable 3,500 km range Agni III missile will undergo more tests.

Claiming that DRDO's missile programme had come of age, Prahlada said user trials of the anti-tank Nag missile would be undertaken next month and it would be offered to the Army for induction by July.

DRDO is in preparedness to meet the exports since the missile systems are in production for India's own defence needs and can be delivered whenever these countries ask, Prahalada said.

He dismissed allegations that DRDO had delayed in delivery schedules as 'a charge out of ignorance'.

No doubt there have been delays but in any such complex system in the world for instance surface-to-air missile system the Barak missile from Israel or the Patriot missile from the US took 20 years to develop, the defence scientist said.

"Any complex system requires this much time," he said.

The Brahmos supersonic cruise missile took just five years to develop and Astra perhaps will take about six to seven years, he said.

Prahlada pointed out that during the Information Technology boom DRDO lost its top scientists, which was a major set back to the organisation.

"The post-Pokhran export controls and sanctions also added to the delays," he said.