The Prithvi-I, Agni-I and Agni-II are the nations fully operational land-based ballistic missiles and form the foundation of the country's ballistic missile arsenal. The Prithvi series of missiles includes three road-mobile, surface-to-surface systems (Prithvi-I, II, III); and one sea-to-surface (Dhanush). The Prithvi-I, with a range of 150 km and a payload of 1,000 kg, is known to be deployed with the 333rd and 355th Missile Groups of the Indian Army; however, as expected it is unknown exactly where the missile groups are located. The Prithvi-II, in service with the Indian Air Force since 2004, possesses a range of 250 km and a maximum payload of 500 kg. This missile, which uses advanced inertial guidance systems to achieve accuracy within several meters, was successfully tested in 2014. India developed the two-stage Prithvi-III as a ship-to-surface missile for the Navy. While every Prithvi-class missile is theoretically nuclear-capable, only the Prithvi-I is thought to be armed with nuclear warheads.
The Dhanush sea-to-surface ballistic missile is a variant of the Prithvi-II with a range of 350 km and maximum payload of 500 kg. Eight subsequent tests since 2000 have been successful, including a test in November 24, 2015. In 2013, the Dhanush was successfully tested for the final time. The Dhanush is said to be a highly accurate missile with a CEP of under 5 meters, one of the few ballistic missiles in the world to have such deadly accuracy. Years of hard work by Research Center Imarat on the navigation systems of the missile comprising both the hardware and software elements has paid off in a big way.
The Latest Test
India added a new chapter to its on-going strategic defence program with successfully test-firing of the land based version of short range surface-to-surface ballistic missile - Prithvi-II SRBM - from a defence base located in Balasore district on 26th November 2015.
This was the Fourth trial of DRDO developed missile in the last four days. While the DRDO had conducted a developmental trial of AAD interceptor missile from Abdul Kalam island on Sunday, the Navy carried a user trial of Dhanush ballistic missile from a warship anchored off the Puri coast on Tuesday. Earlier today Strategic Forces Command (SFC) carried out the successful test launch of the Agni-1 IRBM from the same defence base.
Mounted on a Mobile Tatra transporter-erector Launcher (MTL), the indigenously built Prithvi-IIsophisticated SRBM was fired from the launching complex - III (LC-III) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea at about 12.10 pm.
As part of user training exercise, the test was conducted by the SFC of the Indian Army with logistic support from the DRDO. The missile used for the test was one of the products picked randomly from the assembly line, adding that the missile met all mission objectives successfully.
The 9 meter high and 1 meter thick missile, with a launch weight of 4.6 tonne, has a strike range of up to 350 km. Powered by liquid propellant, Prithvi-II can operate with both liquid as well as solid fuel. The missile, which carried a dummy payload (conventional explosive), covered the desired striking range before plunging into the sea at a predetermined splash-down point.
The entire flight path of the missile was smooth in accordance with pre-decided coordinates. It travelled more than 300 km in just over six minutes.
Body of the missile, which is made from Aluminium alloy and the wings from magnesium, has been inducted with the 333-missile regiment of Indian Army. This missile has the capability to carry a payload of up to 1,000 kg but if the same was reduced by half, the striking range of the sleek missile could be enhanced.
