India tests surface-to-air missile Trishul twice

India on Monday tested two short-range surface-to-air missile Trishul from a defence base in Orissa.

India on Monday tested two short-range surface-to-air missile Trishul from a defence base in Orissa, officials said.

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The home-grown missile, about three-metre long and 200 cm in diameter, was test-fired from a mobile launcher at about 2.15 pm and again after a few seconds at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur-on-Sea in the coastal district of Balasore, about 230 km from state capital Bhubaneswar, they said.

The missile was earlier tested from the same range on Sunday.

Trishul is part of India's integrated guided missile development programme.

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the solid fuel propelled missile has a triple battlefield role for the army, air force as well as navy.

Designed as an all-weather missile, the Trishul's sea-skimming capability is meant to aid its ability to intercept anti-ship missiles. It has a range of 9 kilometres and carries a 15-kg warhead.