India test-fired local-made Prithvi-II nuclear-ready surface-to-surface ballistic missile 1408132

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Defence & Security News - India

 
 
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 01:19 PM
 
India test-fired local-made Prithvi-II nuclear-ready surface-to-surface ballistic missile.
A defense official in India said the military test-fired a domestically built nuclear-ready missile with a range in excess of 200 miles from a coastal facility. An unnamed spokesman for the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization said the nuclear-ready Prithvi-II ballistic missile was fired from a test range along the country's eastern coast.
     
A defense official in India said the military test-fired a domestically built nuclear-ready missile with a range in excess of 200 miles from a coastal facility. An unnamed spokesman for the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization said the nuclear-ready Prithvi-II ballistic missile was fired from a test range along the country's eastern coast.
Surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi II
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The surface-to-surface missile has a range of about 215 miles. The DRDO said the missile hit its target in the Bay of Bengal within a few feet of a bull's-eye. The test was described as a "100 percent success," the Times of India reported Tuesday.

The Prithvi-II was placed in service by Indian forces in 2003. It's the first missile developed by the DRDO under a domestic integrated guided missile development program.

While tensions between India and Pakistan have been high because of border disputes in Kashmir, the Indian military said the missile test was part of a regular training exercise.

The Times of India said the missile can reach a peak altitude of 27 miles. It can carry a 1,100-pound payload and stay in flight for slightly more than 8 minutes.