India successfully test fired short-range nuclear-capable Prithvi II ballistic missile on Wednesday from an Integrated Test Range on Dr. Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island) in Odisha. According to the Defence Ministry, the missile was test fired around 7:30 pm.
This is the second ballistic missile test conducted this month by India, the first one was Agni-IV missile test on 6 June. The Agni-IV is also a nuclear capable missile with the capability to strike enemy targets 4,000 km away.
According to the official website of Asian News International Media Agency, A successful training launch of a short-range ballistic missile, Prithvi-2 was carried out on Wednesday, informed by the Ministry of Defense.
“A successful training launch of a short-range ballistic missile, Prithvi-2 was carried out on June 15, 2022. at approximately 1930 hours 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, “read a press statement from the Ministry.
The user training launch successfully validated all operational and technical parameters of the missile.
According to the Defence Ministry, the Prithvi-II missile is a extremely successful weapon system and is capable of striking targets with a very high degree of accuracy.
About the Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile
The Prithvi-II is a further version of the Prithvi tactical ballistic missile which was developed in 1994 by DRDO. The Prithvi-II is a single-stage liquid fueled missile with the maximum payload capacity of 500 kg (1,100 lb). The missile was specifically developed for the use of the Indian Air Force. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and was inducted into the India’s Strategic Forces Command (Nuclear strike command of the Indian Military) in 2003.
The missile has the mass of 4,600 kg with the strike range of 250–350 km. The Prithvi-II is also inducted in the Indian Army. The missile has <10 m CEP accuracy and can be launched from 8 x 8 transporter erector launchers. The missile has improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system.
The Prithvi-II missile is available for use in several different types of warheads, such as thermobaric, tactical nuclear weapon, chemical warhead, fragmentation, cluster munition, penetration warhead, and High Explosive warhead.