The Hindu : IAF version of Prithvi missile launched

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 20, 2004

National

National

IAF version of Prithvi missile launched

By T.S. Subramanian

CHENNAI, MARCH 19. The Prithvi missile, meant for the Indian Air Force (IAF), was successfully test-fired from the Interim-Test-Range at Chandipur in Orissa today.

A product of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the surface-to-surface missile is called P-II.

P-II is metres tall and has a diameter of one metre. The five-tonne, single-stage missile can carry a payload of 500 kg over a distance of 250 km and is fuelled by liquid propellants xylidine and red-fumic nitric acid. It has been flight-tested many times and is in the final stages of operationalisation.

The P-I version has already been operationalised and delivered to the Army.

It is under regular production now.

The naval version, called Dhanush, has a range of 250 km. It can deliver a warhead of about 500 kg.

The Army version can travel over 150 km, with a warhead that can weigh up to one tonne. Prithvi can be used in smashing airport and prevent aircraft from landing.

Prithvi forms part of the DRDO's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP). The IGMDP's other constituents are the Agni series of surface-to-surface missiles; Trishul which is a surface-to-air missile; Akash, surface-to-air missile and Nag, the anti-tank missile.

The DRDO has also launched an air-to-air missile called ASTRA.

The supersonic cruise missile, BrahMos, has been jointly developed by India (DRDO) and Russia. BrahMos has been innovatively configured to be launched from land (both ground silos and mobile launchers), ships, submarines and aircraft.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National