Nuclear-capable, surface-to-surface Prithvi-II missile was successfully test-fired for its full range of 350 km on June 09 by the personnel of Strategic Force Command as part of a regular user training exercise.

The nine-metre tall missile, fired from a mobile launcher at the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, off the Orissa Coast at 9 a.m, achieved a high-degree accuracy, according to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) sources. After a flight duration of about eight minutes, the indigenously-built missile impacted the target in the Bay of Bengal with a single-digit accuracy of less than 10-metres of CEP (Circular Error Probability), the sources added.

A battery of state-of-art radars, electro-optical telemetry stations and a ship located near the target point tracked the entire event.

The missile was picked up randomly from the production lot and test-fired by the SFC personnel, while the logistics were provided by DRDO scientists.

The single-stage, liquid fuelled Prithvi-II is capable of carrying payloads ranging from 500-1,000 kg and was already inducted by the Armed Forces. It is equipped with a high-accuracy inertial navigation system with sophisticated on-board control and guidance. Prithvi-II's mobile launcher has user-driven features and the road mobile system could be launched from anywhere in the country.

Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister, V.K. Saraswat and top officials from SFC and DRDO witnessed the launch.

In December last, two Prithvi-II missiles were successfully test-fired for different ranges within a span of one hour.