BHUBANESWAR (India): India on Monday successfully test-fired indigenously developed and nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile, having a range of 350km, as part of a trial for its defence forces.

The surface-to-surface missile was fired from a mobile launcher in salvo mode from launch complex-3 of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur at 9.15am, defence sources said.

Describing the trial as successful, they said the launch of the missile was conducted as part of operational exercise by the strategic force command (SFC) of the defence services.

“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 Organisation (DRDO) as part of practice drill,” the sources said.

Prithvi, the first missile developed under India’s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme, is capable of carrying 500kg to 1,000kg of warhead and propelled by liquid propulsion twin engines and uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory.

By arrangement with Times of India