India tests nuclear-capable Prithvi missile

May 9, 2007, 9:56 GMT

New Delhi - India tested its nuclear-capable surface-to-surface Prithvi missile from a test range in eastern Orissa state Wednesday, a defence official said.

Prithvi, which translates as the earth in Hindi, is India's most sophisticated medium-range missile. It was test fired from the integrated test range of Chandipore in Orissa state.

Versions of the Prithvi have already been inducted into the army and air force. Wednesday's test involved one of the products picked randomly from the assembly line, PTI news agency reported.

Scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Army officials who conducted the test described it as a 'user's trial.'

Prithvi is one of five missiles under various stages of development by the DRDO under India's integrated missile development programme.

Defence analysts estimate that the Indian armed forces' current inventory of Prithvi missiles is about 75 to 100.

The 8.56-metre-long and one-metre-wide missile has a range of 50 to 150 kilometres. It weighs 4.4 tonnes and is capable of carrying a payload of another 1000 kilograms.

The missile, mounted on a transporter, can be taken close to the forward line in a range of terrains and had been designed to deliver conventional warheads deep in enemy territory, PTI news agency quoted unnamed defence scientists as saying.

The missile would take about 300 seconds to cover a range of 150 kilometres.

While the missile is nuclear capable, defence sources said current plans were to arm it with conventional warheads to be used as long-range artillery to destroy troop concentration, cripple air bases and strike at large static installations.

South Asian nuclear-capable neighbours India and Pakistan routinely test missiles. They have an arrangement by which they give each other prior information of such tests.