Prithvi-II Missile night test success details, features, specification

India Successfully Test Fired Night Trial of Prithvi-II Missile on 21st February 2018-Details, Features, Specification

India on 21st February 2018, successfully test-fired night trial of its Prithvi-II, a nuclear-capable tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM).

The Prithvi-II ballistic missile test was conducted as part of a user trial, by the Strategic Forces Command of the Army from a mobile launcher at the launch complex-3 (LC-3) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore, Odisha.

As per Defence officials, Prithvi-II, night trial launch conducted around 8.30 PM, is highly significant as all preparations are done in dark so that it can be invisible to enemies. This was the first trial of Prithvi-II during the night and has ambitiously achieved all the parameters within the stipulated time period.

The Prithvi-II missile reached the predefined target in the Bay of Bengal while being guided by an accurate Inertial Navigation System (INS) and controlled by the thrust vector control and Aero-dynamic control systems.

The Prithvi-II missile is the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) inducted into the Indian Armed forces in 2003.

The Prithvi-II missile is an indigenously built, single-stage liquid-fuelled ballistic missile, weighs around 4.6 tonnes, 9 metres in length and 1.1 metres in diameter.

The Prithvi-II missile is the short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile, upholding with a strike range of 350 km.

The Prithvi-II missile can carry payloads between 500 kg to 1,000 kg and is also capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

The Prithvi-II missile, powered by liquid propulsion twin engines, the missile uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manipulating trajectory to hit its targets.