NEW DELHI — India successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile on Sept. 26. The medium-range missile, with a flight duration of 483 sec. and reaching a peak altitude of 43.5 km (27 mi.), has the capability to carry a 500-kg (1,100-lb.) warhead. The test of the missile, which has a maximum range of 350 km, was part of a user trial by the Indian armed forces, defense ministry officials said.

INDIAN MRO: Pipavav Defense and Offshore Ltd., India’s largest shipbuilder by market value, has signed an agreement with Airbus SAS and SKIL Infrastructure to develop aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities for both civilian and military applications in India. “The first phase [of] MRO facilities and associated infrastructure are likely to cost $100 million,” a Pipavav Defense official says. Initially, Airbus parent company EADS will have a 26% stake in the project and may raise it to 49%. Pipavav Defense will hold 51%, the official says.

Kingfisher Airlines, India’s second-largest airline by passengers carried, will close its low-cost operation, Kingfisher Red, Chairman Vijay Mallya says. “We are doing away with Kingfisher Red because we don’t intend to compete in the low-cost segment. We believe there are more than enough guests who prefer to travel full-service, and that shows in our own performance, where the load factors in [full-service] Kingfisher Class are more than in Kingfisher Red,” Mallya says.