Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

India test fires extended version of `Prithvi` missile

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, March 19, IRNA -- India`s extended version most 
sophisticated medium range surface-to-surface missile `Prithvi` 
capable of carrying nuclear war heads was on Friday successfully 
test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at 
Chandipur-on-sea, about 13 kms from Balasore in the Eastern 
Indian State of Orissa. 
The missile has a range of about 150 to 200 kms, defense 
sources said. 
The extended version has been developed for Indian Air Force 
(0AF) and was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 10:10 a.m. 
(local time) from the ITR, the sources said. 
The indigenously developed 8.5 meter high and one meter thick 
sleek missile had a perfect lift off, the sources said. 
This is the 24th test of the missile since its first trail 
on February 22, 1988 from Sriharikota in Southern Indian State of 
Andhra Pradesh. 
Prithvi, one version of which has already been inducted in 
the Indian Army, can be equipped with both conventional and 
nuclear warheads and had a capacity to carry warheads weighing 
upto 1000 kg. 
It uses a two-stage propellant, both solid and liquid, the 
defense sources said. 
Part of India`s Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, 
the missile has the latest on-board computer and an advanced 
inertial navigation system. 
Prithvi has a launch weight of 4.6 tons including a one ton 
pay load. This variant of the missile takes just 300 seconds to 
reach the target located at a distance of 150 km, the sources said. 
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