Nuclear capable 'Dhanush' ballistic missile successfully test-fired

The Indian Military on Friday successfully test-fired indigenously developed nuclear-capable "Dhanush" ballistic missile from a naval ship off Odisha coast.

This was test fired by Naval Strategic Command from a ship to surface and successfully hit the target.

Dhanush is a Prithvi variant and Friday's test was the third test of the missile this month and the second in the last three days.

"The missile launch was part of a training exercise by the SFC of the Indian Navy", said officials.

The test aimed at checking the performance of manoeuvring stealth warheads besides gauging the efficiency and killing probability of the missile in a realtime situation. The missile achieved close to zero circular error probability (CEP) accuracy. The test launch was "a complete success", unidentified officials told PTI, adding that all the objectives of the missions were met. The missile has a declared strike range of 350 km, and is capable of carrying a warhead up to 500 kg in weight.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources said, "It was a ideal mission and the missile splashed down near the target point with high degree of accuracy".

"Dhanush" is a single stage, a liquid-propelled missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under a program named "Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme" and has been induced in defence services by the defence forces. It has already been inducted into the Armed Forces.