Prithvi-II missile successfully test fired

India on Thursday successfully conducted a user trial of its indigenously-developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile from the test range at Chandipur in Baleswar district.

The state-of-the-art missile, which is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads, was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch pad-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 9.19 am. The launch of the weapon was conducted as part of the operational exercise by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Defence services.

The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially-formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of a practice drill.
“The missile was tested for full range. It was a perfect text-book launch. Equipped with indigenously developed advanced navigation and manoeuvring systems, the missile achieved all its technical parameters, set out for this launch,” said a defence official.

The missile trajectory was tracked by the DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast. The downrange teams onboard a Navy ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown.

The missile used for the test was picked up randomly from the assembly line after production. It has achieved single digit accuracy reaching close to zero circular error probability (CEP). The entire flight path of the missile was smooth in accordance with pre-decided coordinates. The missile carrying a dummy payload (conventional explosive) covered the distance in around eight minutes.

Prithvi, the first missile developed under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), has the capability to carry 500 kgs to 1000 kgs of warhead. It has a length of nine metres with one metre diameter thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engine and uses Advanced Inertial Guidance System (AIGS) with manoeuvring trajectory.

Inducted into SFC in 2003, the Prithvi-II missile is now a proven technology. The launch was part of a regular training exercise of the SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists.

The missile based on a mobile Transporter Erector Launcher Vehicle is versatile and designed for quick manoeuvrability and high operational flexibility on the battlefield.