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India tests nuclear capable Prithvi-II Missile
December 20, 2012, 10:56 am

India’s indigenously developed nuclear capable Prithvi-II missile was successfully test fired today at Chandipur, near the east Indian city of Balasore.

The surface-to-surface missile has a strike range of 350 km.

It was test fired from a mobile launcher at 9.21 am, Indian Defence sources said.

The launch of the sophisticated missile, conducted as part of operational exercise by the Strategic Force Command (SFC) of the Defence services, was successful, they said.

“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 Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of practice drill,” sources said.

The Prithvi-II missile, developed by the DRDO, is already inducted into the Indian Armed forces.

Prithvi, the first missile developed under India’s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1,000 kg of warheads.

It uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory.

The last trial of Prithvi-II was successfully carried out from the same base on October 4, 2012.

India fired its first satellite into orbit in 1980, and began its missile development program in 1983.

Source: Agencies