India test-fires two nuclear capable Prithvi-II missiles in Chandipur
Chandipur: India successfully testfired two nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missiles having a range of 350 kilometres from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore city in Orissa. Both
are indigenously developed missiles. They were testfired in quick succession
at 10:28 a.m. and 10:33 a.m. from mobile launchers as part of user trials by the
army. Scientists of the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) supervised
the test-firing with logistic support from the ITR personnel here. The trajectories
of the missiles were tracked by a battery of long-range, multi-function radars
and electro-optic telemetry stations at different locations for post-launch analysis.
Naval ships were anchored near the impact points in the Bay of Bengal. Scientific
Advisor to the Defence Minister V K Saraswat, other top scientists and army officers
were present during the trials. The twin-engined Prithvi-II measures
nine metres in length and one metre in width. It has features to deceive enemy
missiles and is equipped with ''added inertial'' navigation systems.
It is a longer-ranged, lower payload version of Prithvi-I.
Prithvi is India's first indigenously built ballistic missile. It is one of five
missiles being developed under the Integrated Missile Development Programme (IMDP).
Prithvi-II is capable of carrying a payload of between 500 kg and one ton, including
nuclear weapons. Two versions of the missile have been inducted into the Army
and Air Force.
