The News
- The Strategic Force Command of the Indian Army successfully test-fired the nuclear capable Prithvi-II surface to surface missile during night time as part of training exercise from a test ranges in Balasore, Odisha.
About Prithvi ll
- Prithvi ll is the first indigenously developed short range ballistic missile under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
- First test-fired in 1996, it was inducted by the SFC into the armed forces in 2003.
- Prithvi ll is a 9 meter long nuclear capable surface-to-surface missile with a diameter of 1.1 meter.
- It has a strike range of 350 km capable of carrying warheads in the range of 500-1000 kg.
- It is a liquid-propellant single-stage engine with two liquid propellant motors.
The missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target with high accuracy. - Thus it is a battlefield weapon used to combat opponents in war like situations.
- Once Agni-I regiments are fully operational, Prithvi missiles may retire from service with India’s nuclear forces.
- However, they will continue to be used for non-nuclear missions and as part of the ballistic missile defence technology development program.
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