India Successfully Test-fires Prithvi-II Missile

New Delhi, Aug 13, IRNA -- India on Monday successfully test-fired its indigenous developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile, which has a strike range of 350 km, as part of a user trial for the defense forces. 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 in Odisha state at 09:15 hours IST (Indian Standard Time), pti reported quoting defense sources as said. Describing the trial as successful, they said the launch of the sleek missile was conducted as part of operational exercise by the strategic force command (SFC) of the defense services, they said. 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 the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) as part of practice drill, the sources said. The Prithvi-II missile, developed by the DRDO, is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces. Prithvi, the first missile developed under Indias prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory. The last users trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on on December 20, 2012, the sources said./end