Dhanush test-firing likely in March

By Atul Aneja

NEW DELHI, FEB. 2. India is likely to test Dhanush, naval variant of the Prithvi missile, next month, sources here said. They pointed out that the 250 km-range missile was expected to be test-fired for the first time from an Indian naval ship to a target on land.

Analysts, however, expressed surprise that the Defence Research and Development Organisation, which developed the weapon along with the Navy, had chosen to mount the missile directly on a ship without testing it first in the ground-to sea-mode.

Sources also pointed out that the missile's accuracy would be of crucial significance. If it was not accurate enough, it would be useful only when tipped with nuclear warheads. This, analysts say, could be potentially destabilising as it could raise the level of military tensions in the neighbourhood.

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Section  : National
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