The Army on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed,nuclear-capable,ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a launch complex of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was blasted off from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 6:50 am,defence officials said. DRDO sources said it was a text book launch and met all the mission objectives. The entire operation for the launch were conducted by the Strategic Force Command of the Army. The terminal phase of the flight and the events were monitored by downrange ships located near the site of impact. All the operations of today's test were reviewed by VK Saraswat,scientific advisor to Rakshya Mantri and programme director VLN Rao among other scientists of the organisation. With a maximum striking range of 350 km,Prithvi-II is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500 kg. Today's test firing of the surface-to-surface missile was fourth such test in a span of 8 months. Prithvi,propelled by liquid propulsion twin engine,is nine metre long.
