India carries out routine training launch of Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile.
According to Biplob Ghosal in Times Now, the Indian Ministry of Defence said that a successful training launch of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) Prithvi-II was carried out on Tuesday, January 10 from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha.
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Firing of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile Prithvi-II (Picture source: Indian Defence)
"A well-established system, Prithvi-II missile, has been an integral part of India’s nuclear deterrence. The missile struck its target with high accuracy. The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile," the Defence Ministry stated.
Prithvi ("Earth") is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command.
Prithvi II class is a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km (160 mi) in comparison with the 150 km (93 mi) of Prithvi I. It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004. This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.
The missile was inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, and it was the first missile developed under the IGMDP. After a failed test on 24 September 2010, two more missiles aimed at two different targets were launched on 22 December 2010 and were successful. According to news sources the range is now increased to 350 km (220 mi) and the payload capacity now ranges between 500–1,000 kg.
India's Strategic Forces Command test-launched two short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles at night as part of its annual training cycle to test the combat readiness of the Indian Army's missile forces. Two Prithvi-II tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles were test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on Dr. Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha at nighttime. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km was carried out from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the ITR.
In June 2022, a successful training launch of the short-range ballistic missile, Prithvi-II, was carried out in from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, Odisha. The missile is a proven system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of precision. "The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile," the Defence ministry had then stated.
