India Wednesday successfully conducted two tests of its indigenously developed nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a military base in Orissa, defence officials said.
The surface-to-surface missile, which has been inducted into the Indian armed forces, was blasted off from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 230 km from here, first at 8.16 a.m. and then again at 9.15 a.m., the officials said.
“The tests were done by armed forces. Both were perfect launches,” Integrated Test Range director S.P. Dash told IANS.
The latest tests were conducted as part of a user trial in the presence of senior scientists of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The missile has a maximum range of 350 km and can carry a pay-load of 500 kg.
The last test of the medium-range missile from the same defence base Sep 24 was unsuccessful. But it had been successfully tested June 18 from the same base.
The DRDO has developed the tactical surface-to-surface Prithvi ballistic missiles under India’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.