The missile -- christened Brahmos -- has a range of 300 kilometresmiles) and can carry a 200-kilogramme (440-pound) conventional warhead. It was first test-fired in June 2001.

The test took place Wednesday morning at the Interim-Test-Range at Chandipur, 180 kilometres (111 miles) from Orissa's state capital Bhubaneswar.

"It was a wonderful test flight. This was done to evaluate the precision guidance system and improved fire control system of the missile," said A.S. Pillai from India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

The three-tonne, eight-metre (26 feet) missile can be launched from a variety of platforms including ships and aircraft.

The missile was developed by a joint venture company formed in 1998 between the DRDO and Russia's State Unitary Enterprise NPO Mashinostroyenia.

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