India test-fires nuclear capable Prithvi-II

[1]

India on Saturday test-fired its indigenously developed nuclear-capable ‘Prithvi-II' ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range off Odisha coast as part of a user trial by the Army.

"The sophisticated surface-to-surface missile was flight tested at around 1100 hours from a mobile launcher at ITR's launch complex-3 as part of an operational exercise," defence sources said.

The test-fire of the short-range ballistic missile, which has already been inducted into the armed forces, was a user's trial conducted from the test range at Chandipur, about 15 km from here.

The sleek missile is handled by the strategic force command, they said. The trial was conducted in order to gauge the effectiveness of the weapon in a real time situation.

"The whole exercise was aimed at studying the control and guidance system of the missile besides providing training to the Army, which happens to be the user," said an official.

The state-of-the-art missile, capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads, has a length of 9 metres and is one metre in diameter with liquid propulsion twin engine.

Prithvi, the first ballistic missile developed under the country's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme has the capability to carry 500 kg of warheads with a strike range of 350 km.

The missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.