'Dhanush' testfired, naval version of 'Prithivi'

Chandipur-on-Sea (Orissa),Mar 30: India today testfired the indigenously developed ship-to-ship missile ''Dhanush'', having a striking range of 150 km from a naval ship anchored close to the Paradip Coast in the Bay of Bengal, after successful testfire of air-to-air short range missile''Astra'' yesterday.

The 8.56 metre missile, the nuclear capable and naval version of surface to surface missile ''Prithivi'' was testfired from the ship at 1430 hours.

The missile already inducted in the army, has made India proud of joining a few nations capable of firing the missile from a ship.

Scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Integrated Test Range(ITR) were stationed in the vessel for close monitoring of the test-firing.

ITR sources said the outcome of the test-firing would be known only after analysing the data collected from different tracking and telemetry centres.

'Dhanush' has a striking range of 250 km and can carry single warhead up to 750 kg but it could reach a target of 500 kms with the mounting of lighter warhead, sources said.

UNI