CURRENT UPDATE : PRITHVI-II MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED

PRITHVI-II MISSILE SUCCESSFULLY TEST-FIRED

Sharpening its missile prowess, India on Monday(12-08-2013) successfully test-fired the indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km from a test range in Odisha.

Prithvi is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines, defence sources said, adding the missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.

The missile, based on a mobile transporter erector launcher vehicle, is versatile and designed for quick manoeuvrability and operational flexibility on battlefield, the sources said.

The sophisticated surface-to-surface missile was test fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range(ITR) at Chandipur at 9.15 AM. The user trial for the defence forces was conducted by a missile unit of the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) was a complete success, they said.

"It was a perfect text-book launch. The missile, equipped with advanced high accuracy indigenously developed navigation and manoeuvring system achieved all its targeting and technical parameters set out for this launch," they said.

The missile trajectory was tracked by radars of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha, said a defence official.

The downrange teams onboard the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal had monitored the terminal events and splashdown. Defence Minister A K Antony congratulated the Prithvi-II team for the success, the sources said.

Inducted into the SFC in 2003, Prithvi II missile is the first one to be developed by DRDO under India's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and is now a proven technology.

The launch was part of a regular training exercise of SFC and was monitored by DRDO scientists, defence sources said. Programme directors A D Adalat Ali and N Siva Subramanyam and others were present to oversee the launch operations.

"Such successful training launches clearly show our operational readiness to meet any eventuality as also establishes the reliability of this deterrent component of Indias strategic arsenal," a defence release said.

The last users trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on 20th December, 2012, the sources said.