India successfully test fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a naval ship off the coast of the Orissa state on Sunday, Indian media reported citing the firing range director.

The Dhanush missile with a range of 350 km and payload capacity of 500 kg is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear warheads.

The launch was made 35 km off the Chandipur firing range in Orissa.

The missile, which has liquid propellant, is the naval version of India's indigenously developed surface-to-surface Prithvi missile system.

Its first test launch ended in failure in April 2000 over technical problems related to the take-off stage, but subsequent trials were reported as successful. The latest Dhanush trial was successfully conducted off Orissa coast in March 2007.

NEW DELHI, December 13 (RIA Novosti)