Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Serial production of Prithvi begins

Serial production of the Army's version of the formidable surface-to-surfacePrithvi missile has begun, according to the latest annual report of theDefence Ministry. Prithvi, having a strike range of 150 km, "is inproduction phase", the 1997-98 report said.

The second flight trial of the Air Force version of the surface-to-surfacemissile system Prithvi, having a range of 250 km, has been successfullyundertaken, it said. Giving details of the integrated guided missile developmentprogramme, the report said development of short-range quick-reaction missileTrishul, medium-range surface-to-air missile Akash and anti-tank missileNag has been delayed. The delay has been due to additional time taken inrealisation of state-of-the-art technologies, change in user's requirementsand non-availability of some critical components, necessitating their indigenisation."Allout efforts are being made to complete these projects before June 1999,the revised estimated completion date," it said.

Guided flight tests of the Army version of Trishul have been carriedout successfully, it said, adding that launcher and surveillance radarfor naval Trishul had been realised.