N-capable Prithvi-II missile successfully test-fired
04 Oct 2012
India on Thursday successfully test fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur in Balasore district, around 230 km from Bhubaneshwar.
The 350-km range missile blasted off from the launch complex No III at the ITR. "The test was successful," ITR director M V K V Prasad told the media.
The launch was carried out by the Indian armed forces as part of user trial, and monitored by the scientists of the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Prithvi is India's first indigenously built ballistic missile. It is one of the five missiles being developed under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
The medium-range missile, with flight duration of 483 seconds and reaching a peak altitude of 43.5 km, has the capability to carry a 500-kg warhead.
Prithvi uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring capabilities and comes within metres of its target. The missile has been successfully flight tested in the past on a number of times as part of the training exercise.
