BALASORE:Indian Army is likely to test fire surface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a defence base off Odisha coast on Thursday. The test, a part of user training exercise will be conducted by the armed forces from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur.
Prithvi is the first missile to be inducted in the armed forces and touted as one of the proven missiles of the country. The user trial, which was earlier planned to be carried out on February 21, was rescheduled as tests of a couple of other missiles have been lined up.
Preparations for the test have been completed. The missile will be tested from the launching complex-III by the strategic forces command of the Indian Army with the logistic support from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
Prithvi is the first ballistic missile developed under the country's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The nine-metre tall missile is a single stage, liquid-propelled system. It weighs around 4.6 tonnes.
With a maximum strike range of 350 km, this nuclear-tipped missile is capable of carrying a payload of 500 kg. The missile has three versions – land, Air Force and Naval. Since 2002, Prithvi has been in use by the Indian Army with the overarching logistical control and support retained by the Indian Air Force (IAF).