Akhir 06 , 1432 H. / March 11, 2011 -- India on Friday successfully test-fired two medium-range, nuclear-capable missiles, defence officials said, according to dpa. The surface-to-surface Prithvi II was fired from a test range in the eastern state of Orissa an hour after a naval version, Dhanush, was fired from a ship off the state's coast, defence spokesman Sitanshu Kar said. The Prithvi II has a range of 350 kilometres and is capable of carrying a payload of 500 to 1,000 kilogrammes, including a nuclear warhead. The Dhanush can carry a payload of up to 500 kilograms. It is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads and is adapted to hit sea- and shore-based targets. The tests were part of a regular training exercise, Kar said. The launches were witnessed by senior officials of the Defence Research and Development Organization, which developed the missiles, and army and navy officials. India has been developing a range of ballistic missiles as part of its defence programme.
