India’s nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile was successfully test-fired on Thursday from the launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Odisha at 12.10 hrs. This surface to surface missile has a strike range of 350 km and can carry 500-1000 kgs of warheads. This missile drives with liquid propulsion twin engines and has an advanced inertial guidance system that steers the missile precisely towards its target.

 

This test fire of missile has been conducted as part of training exercise and to cross check operational readiness to meet any eventuality and for training purpose. Earlier, it test- fired on February 19, 2015. DRDO and Strategic Force Command (SFC) jointly monitored this test-fire operation. Officials of DRDO and SFC expressed satisfaction over its performance. They said the missile unit was taken randomly from the stocks to make sure that each and every piece of them is working perfectly.

 

While the DRDO radars, elctro optical tracking systems and telemetry systems located along the coast of Odisha are monitoring the missile trajectory, another team stationed on a ship at the designated impact point somewhere in Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splash down. According to final reports, Prithvi-II performance is up to mark and very satisfactory.

 

Prithvi-II was inducted into India’ armed forces in the year 2003 and it is first of its kind developed by DRDO under India's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.