Indigenously developed Prithvi-II missile successfully test-fired from Odisha

India’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile was successfully test-fired as part of a user trial by the Indian army. The surface-to-surface was test-fired from a test range at Chandipur located in Odisha.

As per defence sources, the trial was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at around 0940 hrs.

Even though two trials of Prithvi-2 were planned, the second one had to be abandoned because of a technical problem.

Talking of the missile, it’s got a strike range of 350 km, is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads, is pushed by liquid propulsion twin engines, and uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.

A defence scientist said that the missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and a specially formed strategic force command (SFC) managed the entire launch activities. The operation was monitored by DRDO scientists as part of training exercise.

There were downrange teams on board a ship that was deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal that monitored the terminal events and splashdown.

The nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fueled Prithvi II was inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003 and is the first missile to be developed by DRDO under India's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.

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