DRDO To Conduct User Trails Of Prithvi And AAD Interceptor Missiles

India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) will conduct user trail of Army version of Prithvi weapon system and developmental trail of Advanced Air Defense (AAD) interceptor missile later this month or early March.

 “The Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army will carry out the test of Prithvi from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea while the interceptor missile will be tested from the launching complex-IV located in Wheeler Island near Dhamra in Bhadrak district,” an unnamed source was quoted as saying by Indian Express Daily Thursday.

Prithvi, the first missile developed under India's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP), is capable of carrying 500 kg to 1000 kg of warheads and thrust by liquid propulsion twin engines, uses advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory.

Developed by DRDO, the 7.5 meter tall AAD interceptor is a single stage solid rocket propelled guided missile equipped with an inertial navigation system, a hi-tech computer and an electro-mechanical activator totally under command by the data up-linked from the ground based radar. The missile weighs around 1.2 tons and has a diameter of 0.5 meter.