KOLKATA: India successfully tested its own developed nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II on Friday from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km off the Orissa coast.

“The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was blasted-off from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 6:50am,” SP Das, Director of Integrated Test Range told journalists.

The trial of Prithvi-II, conducted by the Army, has gone through nicely with a maximum striking range of 350 Kilometers; Prithvi-II is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500 kg, Das added.  

Sources close to the project said the trial was conducted in presence of Army officials and scientists as part of an exercise to well acquaint the personnel with various aspects of the sophisticated missile”

The last trial of the Prithvi-II missile was successfully conducted from the same site on March 27, 2010.

Prithvi, the first ballistic missile developed under the country`s prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), is propelled by liquid propulsion twin engine.

With a length of nine meters and one meters diameter, Prithvi-II uses an advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory.

The entire trajectory of Friday`s trial was tracked by a battery of sophisticated radars and electro-optic telemetry stations positioned in different locations for the post-launch analysis.

IST: 0935 HRS. June 18, 2010
RD/LY