India tests nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missiles

India tests nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missilesNew Delhi  - India on Monday test fired its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile twice from a military range in the eastern state of Orissa, media reports said.

The missiles, with a strike range of about 350 kilometres, were fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipore-on-Sea, the IANS news agency reported quoting defence sources.

The Defence Ministry headquarters in New Delhi said it was waiting for details of the tests.

Prithvi, which means "Earth" in the Hindi language, is India's first locally built ballistic missile. It is about 9 metres in length and 1 metre diameter, and can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.

Two versions of the missile have already been deployed with India's army and air force. Monday's tests were described as part of the user trials.

Prithvi is one of the five missiles being developed by the state-run Defence Research and Development Organization which include the intermediate-range ballistic missile Agni, the surface-to-air missile Akash and the anti-tank missile Nag. (dpa)