India on 9th April 2015 successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km from a naval ship off the Odisha coast.

Always Seek Knowledge:

• The ship-based Dhanush missile was launched from an Offshore Patrolling Vessel (OPV), deep inside the Bay of Bengal to test its full range.
• It successfully hit the target point with high degree of accuracy.
• The test was carried out by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the defence force as part of regular user training.
• The single-stage, liquid-propelled 8.53m-long Dhanush was built by the A Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP)
• It is one of five missiles being created under the IGMDP and is intended for deployment by the Indian Navy as an anti-ship weapon and to destroy land targets within its range.
• Aim of the Dhanush missile is to provide the Indian Navy with the potential to precisely strike enemy targets.
• It has already been inducted into the armed services.
• The Dhanush missile was successfully test-fired in November 2014.

Charctherstics of Dhanush Missile:

• Launch weight: approximately 4.4t.
• It can carry a traditional as well as nuclear payload of approximately 500kg to 1000kg.
• Long: 8.53 m
• It is a single-stage, liquid-propelled missile and has range of 350 km.