SPACE WIRE
India tests supersonic cruise anti-ship missile
BHUBANESWAR, India (AFP) Nov 09, 2003
India Sunday successfully tested a supersonic cruise anti-ship missile, it is jointly developing with Russia, from a launch site in the eastern state of Orissa, defence officials said.

The Brahmos missile has a range of 300 kilometres (186 miles) and can carry a 200-kilogramme (440-pound) conventional warhead. It was first test-fired in June 2001.

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

"After achieving precision guidance capability in the surface-to-surface version from a fixed launcher in its fourth trial on October 29, the missile was tested to check its other parameters today," a defence source said.

The three-tonne, eight-metre (26-foot) long 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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