December 19, 2003	Friday	Shawwal 24, 1424

BHUBANESWAR, Dec 18: India on Thursday test-fired a surface-to-air missile, with defence officials describing the launch as a success.

The Trishul missile was launched from a missile range in Orissa, they said, adding that it successfully hit an airborne target.

The launch of the Trishul, India’s version of the US-made Patriot missile, was the fifth since June.

The missile — one of five developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organization since 1983 — is powered by solid fuel and can deliver a 15-kilogram warhead up to nine kilometres away. The missile is being developed for the army, navy and air force.—AFP