Asia-Pacific

India test fires 2 short-range missiles

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-27 16:00

NEW DELHI - India successfully tested two home-developed short-range missiles capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads on Saturday, an official said.

The Dhanush or Arrow missile, which can hit a target up to a distance of 245 miles (395 kilometers), has already been tested thrice before - in 2002, 2007 and 2009, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

India also tested the Prithvi II, a short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile. The missile, which can hit targets up to a distance of 185 miles (295 kilometers), has already been inducted into the Indian army and Saturday's test was a user trial, the official added.

The Dhanush missile was test fired from a naval warship in the Bay of Bengal, while the Prithvi II was fired from a testing range. Both tests were conducted in the eastern state of Orissa.