Balasore: India on Wednesday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km from the integrated test range (ITR), Chandipur off the Odisha coast about 15 km from here, as part of a user trial by the Indian Army.
The surface-to-surface short-range missile was test-fired at around 11.37 AM from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR). The missile covered around 340 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. It was planned for test between10 AM and 11 AM. But due to some technical problems it was held up for two times, 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 added.
It is inducted into India’s Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in 2003, Prithvi-II, the first missile developed by DRDO under India’s prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Program), is now a proven technology.
With a strike range of around 350Kms, the twin-engine Prithvi-II is 8.56 meters in length, 1.1 meters in width and weighs 4600 kg.
Prithvi-II has been designed to operate with both liquid and solid fuel and is capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 500 kg.
The last user trial of Prithvi-II missile was successfully carried out from the same base on June 2, 2017 from the same complex
