Wednesday, August 17 2005 17:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (August 17,2005) ruled out any move to convert the short-range surface-to-surface Prithvi missile into an anti-missile or a nuclear shield.

"There are no plans to integrate Prithvi missile with Israeli Greenpine radar as a defense cover in respect of nuclear threat," Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha in a written report. Defense minister's reply assumes significance amidst reports that Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been working on a project to develop an anti-missile shield. But experts feel that Prithvi with its liquid base propellent does not fill the bill. While working on development of an indigenous system, India is also looking to acquire such a system from abroad with the US administration now offering it advanced Patriot PAC-3 anti-missile system. Indicating this, Pranab Mukherjee said that during recent bilateral discussions, Washington had conveyed its readiness to enter into defense supply, co-production and research and development relationship in areas of advanced defense technologies with India. On whether, the country proposed to increase the range of Prithvi missiles from 150 kms to 350 kms, Mukherjee said the missile already had a range exceeding 150 kms.