Short-Range Ballistic Missile - Prithvi-II

Source: The Times of India

Context: A successful training launch of a Short-Range Ballistic Missile, Prithvi-II was carried out from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur off the coast of Odisha

Details:

About:

Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP).

It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command.

Variants:

The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner:

Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version (150 km) range with a payload of 1,000 kg

Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version (350 km) range with a payload of 500 kg

Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version (350 km) range with a payload of 1,000 kg

Prithvi I

1. Prithvi I class is a single-stage liquid-fueled surface-to-surface ballistic missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1,000 kg, with a range of 150 km
2. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994

Prithvi II

1. Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km
2. It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user.
3. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004.
4. This variant has been inducted into the army as well.

Prithvi III

1. Prithvi III class is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile.
2. The first stage is solid fueled. The second stage is liquid-fueled.
3. Prithvi III was first tested in 2000 from INS Subhadra, a Sukanya-class patrol vessel.

Dhanush (missile):

• Dhanush is a variant of the surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship Prithvi III missile, which has been developed for the Indian Navy.
• It is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads with pay-load capacity of 500 kg-1000 kg and can strike targets in the range of 350 km.
• Dhanush is a system consisting of a stabilization platform and the missile.
• It is a customized version of the Prithvi and is certified for sea worthiness.
• Dhanush has to be launched from a hydraulically stabilized launch pad.
• Its low range acts against it and thus it is seen as a weapon either to be used to destroy an aircraft carrier or an enemy port.
• The missile has been tested from surface ships of the navy many times.