Fernandes told parliament's upper house that Indian scientists were working on the glitch-ridden Trishul (Trident) to turn it into the country's first anti-missile system.

"The programme has been currently delinked from user service (mass production) in view of delays due to technological problems," he said, adding that four flight-tests of the Trishul between June 22 and 25 were successful.

"All the four tests of the missile had achieved all mission objectives like proving guidance system and operation..." Fernandes said, in written reply to queries from MPs on the missile's uncertain future.

Fernandes said the army, navy and the airforce have been permitted to import similar missiles "to meet their urgent requirements" while scientists work to get Trishul off its launch pad.

The homegrown Trishul, India's ambitious version of the US-made Patriot, was one of five developed by India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) since 1983.

The missile is powered by a solid fuel engine and configured to deliver a 15-kilogram (33-pound) warhead up to nine kilometres (five miles) away.

But V.K. Aatre, scientific advisor to the defence minister and head of the DRDO, earlier this month said the three billion-rupee (62.5 million dollar) project was being scrapped.

WAR.WIRE