Report - India test-fires missile for second time in three days

NEW DELHI, India -- India test-fired a new air-to-air missile for the second time in three days Sunday, a local news agency reported.

The Astra missile was fired from a test range at Chandipur, in the east coast state of Orissa, the Press Trust of India said.

The missile has a striking range of 15 to 25 miles and was developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organization.

The Astra was first test fired from Chandipur on Friday.

India has said it has a fixed schedule of missile tests and routinely denies they are connected to other events, although India and its archrival Pakistan often conduct weapons tests a day apart.

Last week, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said his country was seeking friendship with neighboring Pakistan, but would move cautiously toward restoring relations.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they became independent in 1947. International diplomacy averted another war last year.