India Tests Nuclear-capable Prithvi-II Missile From Mobile Launcher

India has test-fired the land version of the short range surface–to–surface ballistic missile Prithvi-II, mounted on a Mobile Tatra transporter-erector Launcher (MTL).

The missile was fired from the launching complex - III (LC-III) of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea in the morning, New Indian Express reported Friday.

The test was conducted by the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Indian Army as part of user training exercises.

The missile used for the test was picked randomly from the assembly line. Carrying a dummy payload, it covered the desired striking range and met all mission objectives successfully, said an unnamed official.

The 9-metre-high and one-metre-thick missile, with a launch weight of 4.6 tonnes has a strike range of up to 350 km.

This missile has the capability to carry a payload of up to 1,000 kg but if the same was reduced by half, the striking range could be enhanced. It stops gaining altitude when it reaches a height of 30 km and dives towards the target at an 80 degree angle.

It uses an inertial guidance system with good accuracy while the warhead uses a radar correlation terminal guidance system. It can hit mobile targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles.