November 8, 2004 :: RIA-Novosti :: News
India yesterday successfully tested a nuclear-capable ship-launched missile from its eastern coast. The Dhanush missile was launched from a ship in the Bay of Bengal.
The Dhanush is capable of carrying either nuclear or conventional warheads. The missile, with a strike range of 250 kilometers, can carry a load between 500 and 750 kilograms. It has dimensions of 8.56m in length, and one meter wide. The ship which launched the one stage, liquid launched missile was said to be the INS Subhadra.
The Dhanush is a naval variant of India’s Prithvi II missile. Sunday’s test is the third missile launch by India in recent weeks. On October 27 it fired off a naval version of what was reported to be a “Prithivi III,” and on November 3 it successfully launched its supersonic cruise missile BrahMos, which India is jointly developing with Moscow. As noted here, the October 27 test appeared to be of a Dhanush missile.
According to news reports, the Dhanush was first tested (unsuccessfully) on April 11, 2000, and again (successfully) on September 21, 2001. (Article)
» Press release, Govt. of India
» AFP on Dhanush launch
» More stories on: India, Testing - Foreign
» Missile details: Dhanush
