Russia-India missile test 'successful'

The missile is the latest in a series of cooperative ventures between Moscow and New Delhi

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- India says it has "successfully" test-fired a cruise missile co-developed with Russia.

Indian defense officials said the PJ-10 cruise missile has a range of 280 km (170 miles).

They said the test took place Tuesday in Chandipur-On-Sea, in the eastern state of Orissa.

The missile incorporates technology from Russia, the defense officials said, and includes a guidance system built in India using Indian software.

They said its main characteristic is the ability to skim the sea, flying low over water.

According to the officials, the warhead would help strengthen the anti-ship warfare capabilities of the Indian navy.

It marks the first collaboration between India and Russia on missile technology.

Published reports in India noted the potential threat such a missile would pose to Pakistan.

The English-language newspaper The Pioneer, published in New Delhi, printed an editorial Wednesday saying the missile "would bring a huge chunk of Pakistan under its arc of attack."

Growing cooperation

The missile is the latest in a series of cooperative ventures between Moscow and New Delhi in the field of defense.

Last week Russia announced it had agreed to devise an air defense system for India and expand cooperation between the two countries on the development of high-tech weaponry.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov said talks were proceeding on developing next-generation jet fighters.

The two countries intend to develop a military transport aircraft, the Il-214, in what Russia describes as "the plane of the 21st century."

India and Russia would also try to develop "the latest type of submarine" while Moscow would go ahead with the sale of Su-30MKI fighter planes to Delhi, he added.

Russia hopes to turn its military exports sector into a significant currency earner, with India and China the two biggest buyers of its hardware.

Over the next four years Russia has contracted to supply more than $10 billion worth of defense equipment to India.