Balasore: For the second time at night, India on Wednesday, successfully test-fired the indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km from the integrated test range (ITR), Chandipur, as part of a user trial by army.
The surface-to-surface short range missile was test-fired at around 08.30pm from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR). The missile covered around 350 kms within 7 to 10 minutes and met all parameters, said defence sources.
“The launch of this sophisticated missile was a complete success. The mission achieved all parameters met during the trial,” sources added.
The launch activities were carried out by the specially formed Strategic Force Command (SFC) and monitored by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise,” the DRDO scientist added.
“The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located at Wheeler Island and along the coast of Odisha,” he further added.
Inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in 2003, Prithvi-II is the first missile developed by DRDO under India’s prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program). With a strike range of around 350Kms, the twin-engine Prithvi-II is 8.56 meters in length, 1.1 meter in width and weighs 4600 kg.
Prithvi-II has been designed to operate with both liquid and solid fuels, and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 500 kg.
