N-capable missile Dhanush test-fired successfully

Describing the trial as successful,ITR director S P Dash said,8221;It has met all the mission objectives and all the events occurred as expected and also monitored by the range of sensors. It was a text book launch and a fantastic mission has been accomplished.8221;

8216;Dhanush8217; has a payload capacity of 500 kg and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads. It can hit both sea and shore-based targets.

The missile,which has a liquid propellant,is the naval version of India8217;s indigenously developed surface-to-surface 8216;Prithvi8217; missile system,the officials said.

The test launch of 8216;Dhanush8217;,developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation,was carried out by the Navy,a DRDO press release said.

8220;Today8217;s test was tracked from its take-off to impact point through an integrated network of sophisticated radars and electro-optic instruments for post-mission data analyses,8221; the officials said. The scientific advisor to Defence Minister A K Antony,V K Saraswat,was on-board the ship during the mission,the DRDO release said. The missile had failed in its first test at the development stage on April 11,2000 due to certain technical problems relating to the take-off stage,but subsequent trials were successful.

The last trial of 8216;Dhanush8217; was successfully conducted from a naval ship off Orissa coast on March 30,2007,defence personnel said.