India tests Trishul missile for third time in two days
BHUBANESWAR, December 20 (Online): India Friday successfully test fired the Trishul missile for the third time in two days from a range in Orissa, defence sources said here.
The short-range, surface-to-air missile was fired from a mobile launcher at the integrated test range at Chandipur in Balasore district, 230 km from here, at 11.20 a.m. and again at 2.45 p.m. The quick reaction, all-weather missile was tested once from the same range Thursday, reports IANS.
More tests of the Trishul are being planned, the sources said. All three tests since Thursday were successful and achieved all mission objectives, including proving the guidance system and operation in tandem of the missile and its ground-based control system, they said.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the solid fuel propelled missile has a triple battlefield role for the army, air force and navy.
Trishul has a range of nine km and carries a 15-kg warhead. It is about three metres in length and 200 cm in diameter and flies at supersonic speed.
Designed as an all-weather missile, Trishul's sea-skimming capability is meant to play a crucial role in its ability to intercept anti-ship missiles. Reports earlier this year had indicated there were, however, serious snags in its ground-based guidance system and the Trishul programme would be put on the backburner.
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Trishul looks like a useful short range missile and can prove to be of great use for the Indian Defence.
Moreover one more appreciable thing is that it is an indigenous project. Seems as if the LCA and Arjun tank will follow Trishul success very soon.