India test fires nuclear-capable missile

India says it has successfully test-fired two nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missiles in the eastern state of Orissa.

The missiles were fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipore-on-sea, a source at the Defense Research and Development Organization said on Monday.

The 8.5-meter (28-foot) Prithvi-II missile has a range of 150-350 km (90-220 miles) and can carry conventional or nuclear payload.

The domestically developed and produced weapon was last tested on April 15 this year.

Prithvi, which means "Earth" in the Hindi language, is the country's first locally built ballistic missile.

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