India testfires "Dhanush", naval version of "Prithivi".

Chandipur-on-Sea (Orissa), Mar 30 (UNI) 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.

The air-to-air short range missile''Astra'' was successfully testfired 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' 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