Bhubaneswar, Jul 21 (IANS): India Thursday successfully tested a new short range missile, which can hit a target 50-150 km away, from a defence base in Orissa, a top defence official said.

The Prahaar missile was tested from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur in the district of Balasore, about 230 km from here.

"We had a great launch," Defence Research and Development Organisation chief V.K. Saraswat told IANS, adding that all the mission objectives were completely matched.

"It was the first launch of the missile, which will be subjected to some more tests," he said.

The single stage missile, which is fuelled by solid propellants, has been described as an excellent and quick reaction weapon with high accuracy.

The new missile is aimed at filling the gap between the existing multi-barrel rocket system Pinaka and the nuclear capable Prithvi, which have the capability to hit a target 40 km and 350 km away respectively.

"The new missile completed its trajectory in a very short time. It performed considerably well with respect to navigation, control, guidance, propulsion and structure," said Saraswat, who is also scientific advisor to the defence minister.