New Delhi, Nov. 12th, 2008 --India successfully test-fired a new supersonic surface-to-surface missile (SSM) today, capable of hitting targets 600 km away.

The surprise announcement about the new missile, named Shourya (or Valour) was made after the test was conducted at 0955 UAE time. It was not stated if the missile is tactical or nuclear-capable but it may be recalled that India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has had notable successes in missiles since
2007.

India has already deployed land and naval variants of the Indo-Russian BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, but the new missile tested today is indigenous.

"It is an Indian missile, and has sophisticated agility and anti-missile interception capability," official sources told WAM.

It was not stated if Shourya is a cruise missiles with terminal-guidance capability, or a ballistic missile with only inertial guidance. India and Russia are the only two countries having supersonic cruise missiles at present.

The range of the BrahMos though is only 300 km. This limitation is imposed by Russia which is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which prohibits export of weapons beyond 300km of range and 500 kg of explosives.

India has not signed the treaty but has observed it as part of its non-proliferation policy. It may be noted that nuclear-capable missiles are described as strategic, and are designed to hit large targets like cities. Tactical missiles on the other hand are designed to hit battlefield targets to win advantage.

Shourya is maintained in and fired from a canister, giving it mobility in deployment. It can be positioned in silos.

A Ministry of Defence statement said: "Shourya has a unique feature of simplicity of operation and maintenance. The canisterised missile system can be easily handled, transported and stored within the canister for longer shelf life. The high manoeuvrability of the missile makes it less vulnerable to available anti missile defence systems.

This developmental flight trial of ?Shourya' missile system is a part of ongoing technology development work undertaken by DRDO." (WAM G WAM/MN)