India Tests Powerful Short Range Prithvi-II Missile Amid Soaring Tensions With China, Pakistan

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India has successfully test-fired the indigenous Prithvi – II missile, the third weapon tested in the last three days.

Earlier, India successfully tested ABHYAS – High-Speed Expandable Aerial Target and Anti Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) from MBT Arjun.

Prithvi-II missile was tested from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Balasore in Odisha. The last test for the missile was conducted on November 20, 2019. Reportedly, the indigenous missile, has a strike range of 350 kilometers and is capable of carrying 500 to 1,000 kilograms of warheads.

The surface-to-surface missile was launched from a mobile launcher from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore around 8.30 pm, reported PTI. The missile is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines and uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target, it added.

“The missile trajectory was tracked by radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations by the DRDO along the coast of Odisha,” the sources told PTI.

The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially-formed Strategic Forces Command of the Army and monitored by the scientists of DRDO as part of training exercise, said the report.

Prithvi missile was inducted in the Indian Army in 2003. It is a short-range ballistic missile and has a reported accuracy of 50 meters CEP against targets at 150 kilometers.

Prithvi – II becomes the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. In the backdrop of deteriorating relations with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, both the nations have been ramping up their military capabilities.