The homegrown Trishul (Trident) missile, India's version of the US-made Patriot, was one of five developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) since 1983.

The missile -- developed for the army, navy and air force -- was powered by a solid fuel engine and configured to deliver a 15-kilogram (33-pound) warhead up to nine kilometres (five miles) away.

But V.K. Aatre, scienfific advisor to the defence minister and head of the DRDO, confirmed media reports that the three billion-rupee (62.5 million dollar) project was being scrapped.

"It did not meet the set requirements. The programme is ... converted into a research and development programme," PTI quoted Aatre as saying in India's southern city of Bangalore late Saturday.

"We have allowed Barak to be bought," he said, referring to the Israeli-built Barak anti-aircraft missile system the Indian navy is buying due to the delays in developing the Trishul.

Four tests of the Trishul last month were aimed at solving the technological problems, he said, but declined to say what the drawbacks were.

"We will try solve the technological problems one by one. It has not been driven by user (military) requirements directly. The user said, if it takes some more time, allow us to buy (Barak). We have allowed them to buy," he added.

SPACE.WIRE