Another test proves worth of India’s N-capable Prithvi-II

India once again tested its indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile, capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 350 km, from a test range at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore in Odisha.

The surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range at 9.14 am, defence officials said.

"The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially formed Strategic Forces Command (SFC) and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of a practice drill," a defence spokesperson said.

"The missile trajectory will be tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha," he said. "The downrange teams on-board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal will monitor the terminal events and splashdown.''

Inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, the Prithvi II is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India's prestigious IGMDP (Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme).  It is now a proven technology, said defence authorities.

"The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists," the source said.

Prithvi is capable of carrying 500kg to 1000kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twine engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.

The last user trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on 12 August this year.