BHUBANESWAR: Indian army on Wednesday flight tested short-rangesurface-to-surface ballistic missile Prithvi-II reconfirming its readinessto launch the weapon system in a short notice. Capable of hitting targets350 km away, the missile has already been inducted in the armed forces.

Defence sources said mounted on a Mobile Tatra transporter-erector Launcher(MTL), the indigenously built sophisticated missile Prithvi-II was firedfrom the launching complex – III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) offOdisha coast at about 11.35 am.

The test was conducted as part of user training exercise by the StrategicForces Command (SFC) of the army with logistic support from DefenceResearch and Development Organisation (DRDO).The missile used for the test was picked up randomly from the assembly line.

“The mission met all mission objectives successfully. Carrying a dummypayload the missile covered the desired striking range before plunging intothe sea at a predetermined splash-down point. The entire flight path of themissile was smooth in accordance with pre-decided coordinates. It travelledaround 300 km in six minutes,” informed the sources.

India has conducted tests of its three different weapon systems in threeweeks. The user trial of Prithvi-II came after the successful launch ofnuke-capable 700-km range Agni-I missile on Tuesday and first pre-inductiontrial of inter-continental range ballistic missile Agni-V from Abdul KalamIsland on January 18.

The nine-metre-long and one-meter thick missile, with a launch weight of4.6 tonnes, is powered by liquid propellant. It can operate with bothliquid as well as solid fuel. The missile has the capability to carry apayload of up to one tonne. The strike range of the sleek missile can beenhanced by reducing the weight of warhead.

Designed and developed by DRDO, the missile has been inducted with the333-missile regiment of Indian Army. It can be taken close to the forwardline over any kind of terrain. It dives at the target at an 80-degree angleand stops climbing when it reaches an altitude of 30 km.

A state-of-the-art inertial guidance system fitted with the missileprovides reasonably good accuracy while the radar correlation terminalguidance system makes it more lethal. It can target mobile targetsincluding unmanned aerial vehicles.

Prithvi was first tested in 1988 and inducted into the armed forces in2002. At present, nearly 30 missiles are manufactured every year for allversions of the Prithvi. It was last test fired in June last year.