India test-fires sea-based nuclear-capable missile: ministry

India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an undersea platform on Tuesday, completing its goal of having air, land and sea ballistic systems, the defence ministry said.

The launch from a submerged pontoon took place off India's southeast coast near the port city of Visakhapatnam around 1:00 pm (0730 GMT), a defence ministry spokesman said.

"The test was successful. We are waiting further details," said the spokesman who declined to be named.

India announced earlier this month that it would conduct its first test of a submarine-based ballistic missile named the K-15, which has a top range of 700 kilometres (438 miles).

S. Prahlada, chief controller of India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has said the K-15 missile would be "integrated" with a nuclear-powered submarine that India is building.

After conducting nuclear tests in May 1998, New Delhi announced a doctrine which stressed the development of air, land and sea ballistic capabilities.

With the latest test, India joins an elite group -- the United States, Russia, France and China -- that has such ability.

The test comes two months after India's chief military scientist M. Natarajan said New Delhi would test a ballistic missile with a range of 6,000 kilometres in 2008.BBC