Ship-based ballistic missile, Dhanush, test fired successfully
14 Dec 2009
ITR, Chandipore, Orissa: India has successfully test fired a ship-based, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), the 'Dhanush' (Bow) from a naval ship anchored off the coast of Orissa at 11.30 am on Sunday, 13 December 2009.
A naval variant of the land-based Prithvi SRBM, the Dhanush has a 350-km range and may also be nuclear-capable, though it is likely that it is primarily configured for a conventional role.
A single-stage, ship-based missile the Dhanush was launched from the Indian Navy's Large Patrol Craft, INS Subhadra, which was anchored 35 km offshore from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near here, defence officials said.
Describing the trial as successful, ITR director SP Dash said the test met all mission objectives. The test was monitored by a range of sensors.
"Today's test launch has been tracked from its take-off to impact point through an integrated network of sophisticated radars and electro-optic instruments for post-mission data analyses," sources said.
The 'Dhanush' may boast of a payload capacity of 500 kg and is usable against both sea and shore-based targets. The missile uses liquid propellant, which allows it great manoeuvrability.