India test-fired a sea-based nuclear-capable missile on Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said.

Sagarika, India's indigenously developed submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) was launched at noon, from an underwater launcher positioned 50 meters under the surface of the sea and 8 km off the eastern Orissa coast, the officials said.

Powered by a turbojet, the missile, which was developed by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) can carry a 500-kg payload. It is 8.5 meters long and about a meter in diameter, with a range of 700-km, according to the Indo-Asian News Service.

(Xinhua News Agency February 26, 2008)