The test of the indigenously built Prithvi (earth) missile that can carry a nuclear warhead took place at the Chandipur-on-Sea test site in the eastern state of Orissa, the official said.

"The test took place from a mobile launcher at 10:10 am to finetune the accuracy of the missile," added the official.

"It is an extended verion being developed for the Indian airforce," he said. The Prithvi missile has a range of 150-300 kilometres (95 to 190 miles) and can carry conventional and nuclear warheads. A variant of it has already been inducted into the Indian army.

A scientist at the test range said he was "happy with the test results."

The 8.5-metre (28-foot) Prithvi missile can be tipped with incendiary and fragmentary munitions or can carry a sub-kiloton nuclear warhead for use against troops or armoured formations.

Nuclear-capable India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars, two over the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir, routinely carry out missile tests.

Officials said it was the 24th time the Prithvi missile had been tested.

Friday's test of the Prithvi missile comes just 10 days after Pakistan tested the first of its locally-built Shaheen II or Hatf-VI missiles, which can carry warheads up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).

The tests have come as nuclear rivals India and Pakistan inch towards closer ties after narrowly avoiding full scale conflict.

Soon after Pakistan's test early this month, Washington appealed for restraint in the region.

But Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said its testing of a Shaheen-II medium range missile would be followed by more tests in coming months.

Shaheen-II is the longest-range missile tested by Pakistan so far.

WAR.WIRE