A team of scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has reached here to carry out what is termed as the final round of tests before Navy accepts the anti-missile missile.

The missile was test-fired from Kochi twice before -- in June and November, 1998.

The naval version of the Trishul, unlike the configuration already finalised for other services, has an additional sea-skimming facility which allows the missile to dip low and cruise only metres above the sea surface to destroy in-coming, anti-ship missiles.

This short-range, anti-missile missile will be the last line of defence of the Navy against enemy missiles. The future fighting ships of the Navy will be equipped with Trishul systems, including a deck-mounted launcher, with the missile stored directly beneath in suitable magazines.

The naval version ofthe missile is integrated with state-of-art surveillance and tracking radars. Unlike the Army and Air Force versions of the Trishul, the naval version is a complex one since it involves the testing of additional sea-skimming fixtures.

The missile, developed indigenously, has a range of 9.5 km and can carry any type of warhead.

Senior scientists and personnel from DRDO, BEL, BHEL and the Indian Navy are likely to participate in the test-firing.