Another Prithvi II missile test proves its capability
28 Mar 2014
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India today once more test-fired the indigenously developed Prithvi II nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile.
A Prithvi II rocket, with a range of 350 km and capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg warheads, was launched from the test range near Balasore as part of a user trial by the Army.
"It was a perfect launch and all mission objectives were met," Integrated Test Range (ITR) director M V K V Prasad said.
The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 at Chandipur at about 9.45 am.
"The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha," Prasad said.
"The downrange teams on board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown," other defence officials added.
They said the training launch of Prithvi II, which was inducted into Strategic Force Command (SFC) in 2003, clearly indicates the country's ''operational readiness to meet any eventuality'', besides establishing the reliability of this deterrent component of India's strategic arsenal.
Prithvi II is the first missile to be developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, and is now claimed to be a proven technology.
The missile is thrust by liquid propulsion twin engines and uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.
The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC as part of a regular training exercise.
It was monitored by DRDO scientists, the sources said. The last user trial of Prithvi II was successfully conducted from the same base on 7 January 2014.
A Prithvi II rocket, with a range of 350 km and capable of carrying up to 1,000 kg warheads, was launched from the test range near Balasore as part of a user trial by the Army.
"It was a perfect launch and all mission objectives were met," Integrated Test Range (ITR) director M V K V Prasad said.
The missile was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 at Chandipur at about 9.45 am.
"The missile trajectory was tracked by DRDO radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations located along the coast of Odisha," Prasad said.
"The downrange teams on board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown," other defence officials added.
They said the training launch of Prithvi II, which was inducted into Strategic Force Command (SFC) in 2003, clearly indicates the country's ''operational readiness to meet any eventuality'', besides establishing the reliability of this deterrent component of India's strategic arsenal.
Prithvi II is the first missile to be developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, and is now claimed to be a proven technology.
The missile is thrust by liquid propulsion twin engines and uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.
The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially formed SFC as part of a regular training exercise.
It was monitored by DRDO scientists, the sources said. The last user trial of Prithvi II was successfully conducted from the same base on 7 January 2014.
