India successfully test-fired Dhanush ballistic missile

Surface-to-surface nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile was test-fired from a naval ship off the Odisha coast on 14 November 2014. Dhanush, a naval variant of India’s indigenously-developed Prithvi missile was fired from a ship in the Bay of Bengal by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence force.

The missile launch was part of an exercise by the armed forces and it reached the designated target with high precision. Missiles launch and flight performance was monitored from the ITR at Chandipur, Odisha.

About Dhanush Missile
• Dhanush missile is capable of carrying conventional as well as nuclear payload of 500 to 1000 kilogram and can hit both land and sea-based targets.
• The single-stage, liquid-propelled Dhanush already inducted into the armed services is one of the five missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).
• It has been developed for the Indian Navy and can be used as an anti-ship weapon and can also destroy land targets depending on the range.
• The missile gives the Indian Navy the capability to strike enemy targets with great precision.

Earlier on 14 November 2014, Surface-to-surface missile Prithvi-II with strike range of 350 kilometer was also test-fired from a test range at Chandipur.

• Director of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) - MVKV Prasad