Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed nuclear capable missile.
By Sreekanth A Nair
India passed yet another milestone by successfully test-firing it’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile on Thursday. Army version of the surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km.
The test was conducted from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) Chandipur in Balasore district, Odisha. It was done as part of user trial by the Indian Army.
Prithvi- II can carry 500 to 1,000 kg of weapons at once. It is 8.56 metre long and one meter thick and has a launch weight of 4.6 ton. It can operate with both liquid as well as solid fuel.
“The trial data of the missile conducted by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) shows positive results,” a defense official told Press Trust of India (PTI).
The missile was developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
“The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of training exercise”, PTI quoted one of the scientists as saying.
The missile reportedly carried a dummy payload and covered the expected striking range before touching down.
According to a report in the New Indian Express, the flight path of the missile was smooth and in accordance with the pre-decided coordinates. The missile took only 6 minutes to cover a range of 300 km.