New Delhi, February 26:

India conducted its first test of a nuclear-capable missile from an undersea platform on today, 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 , a defence ministry spokesman said. “The test was successful. “ 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.