India on Thursday successfully conducted a user trial of its indigenously-developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile from the test range at Chandipur in Baleswar district.
The state-of-the-art missile, which is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads, was test-fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch pad-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at about 9.19 am. The launch of the weapon was conducted as part of the operational exercise by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Defence services.
The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the total launch activities were carried out by the specially-formed SFC and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of a practice drill.
The Prithvi-II, developed by the DRDO, is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces. With a strike range of 350 km, it is 8.56 metres in length, 110 cm in girth and weighs 4,600 kg. It is moved by liquid propulsion twin engines and uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.
Work on development of the Prithvi-II began way back in 1983 jointly by the DRDO and the Bharat Dynamics ltd. The missile was first test-fired in 1996 and then several times subsequently. During its first test, the missile had a strike range of 250 km which following subsequent trials and development has been raised to 350 km.