New missile Dhanush to be test-fired in March

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which has designed and built the missile as part of the indigenous integrated missile development programme, is coordinating with the navy for the first test launch, they said.

Once successfully tested, the missile will be placed onboard offshore patrol vessels, the sources said, adding the missile would be capable of delivering a nuclear warhead.

The sources said certain other missiles on board destroyers like `INS DELHI’ and `INS MYSORE’ and some other warships could also be tipped with nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, the navy would "shortly" be receiving its new submarine `Sindhushastra’ from Russia. Thesubmarine will be equipped with the latest weapon systems, including torpedoes.

The government has also decided to go in for three more of the latest `Delhi class’ destroyers taking the total number of ships in this category to six, they said adding that the new destroyer `INS MUMBAI’ of this class is likely to join the fleet next month.

India’s aircraft carrier `INS VIRAAT’, currently under repairs in Cochin, would also rejoin the navy by the year end, the sources added.

While the surface-to-surface version of Prithvi has a strike range of 150 km, the surface-to-air version can strike a target upto 250 km. The surface-to-surface version of the missile can carry a one tonne payload.