India Successfully Test-Fires Its Nuclear-Capable Prithvi-II Missile

India today (21 November) successfully test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile twice in quick succession from a test range at Chandipur in Odisha.

The medium-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles were test-fired in a salvo mode as part of a user trial by the army. The trial launch was held from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range, sources said.

The missile has a strike range of 350km and is capable of carrying 500kg to 1,000kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid-propulsion twin engines. It uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target.

The launch activities were carried out by the Strategic Forces Command and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise, said defence sources.

The nine-metre-tall, single-stage liquid-fuelled Prithvi-II had been inducted into Indian armed forces in 2003 and was the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

With inputs from IANS