All You Need To Know About Prithvi Missile

The Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) created the tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), Prithvi as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is sent out by the Strategic Forces Command of India. 

 

•    Type -    Short-range ballistic missile

 

•    Place of origin - India

 

•    In Service - 1994 (Prithvi I)

 

•    Used by - Strategic Forces Command

 

•    Designer - Defense Research and Development Organization

 

•    Manufacturer - Bharat Dynamics Limited

 

•    Produced - February 25, 1988 (Prithvi I)

 

    January 27, 1996 (Prithvi II)

 

    January 23, 2004 (Prithvi III)

 

•    Mass - 4,400 kg (Prithvi I)

 

o    4,600 kg (Prithvi II)

 

o    5,600 kg (Prithvi III)

 

•    Length - 9 m (Prithvi I)

 

o    8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III)

 

•    Warhead - High explosives, penetration, cluster munitions, fragmentation, thermobaric, chemical weapon and tactical nuclear weapon

 

•    Warhead weight - 500 kg (1,100 lb.) - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.)

 

•    Engine - Single-stage liquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II),

 

    Two-stage solid rocket (Prithvi III)

 

•    Propellant -    Liquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II),

 

    Solid fuel (Prithvi III)

•    Operational range - 150 km (Prithvi I)

 

•    250–350 km (Prithvi II)

 

•    350–750 km (Prithvi III)

 

The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program was started by the Indian government in 1983.

 

To design and produce a variety of ballistic missiles, surface-to-air missiles, and other weapons independently. The program's initial missile to be created was the Prithvi. Project Devil was DRDO's attempt to construct a surface-to-air missile. Variants use either liquid fuels or fuels that are both liquid and solid. It was created as a battlefield missile that was also capable of carrying a tactical nuclear bomb.

 

•    For use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and Indian Navy, three variants of the Prithvi missile were developed. The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program's basic project framework describes the variants in the following way.

 

•    Army version of the Prithvi I (SS-150), having a range of 150 km (93 mi) and a payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb).

 

•    Air Force version of the Prithvi II (SS-250) having a range of 350 km (220 mi) and a payload of 500 kg (1,100 lb.)

 

•    The Naval version of Prithvi III (SS-350) has a 350 km (220 mi) range and a payload of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb.). 

 

•    A single-stage liquid-fueled surface-to-surface ballistic missile of the Prithvi I class has a range of 150 km and can carry warheads up to 1,000 kg (93 mi). It can be launched by transporter erector launchers and has an accuracy range of 10 to 50 meters (33 to 164 feet). The Indian Army received this particular class of Prithvi missile in 1994. 

 

•    The Prahaar missile, which is more competent and accurate, would replace the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missile, according to former DRDO Chief Avinash Chander. The Prithvi I missiles that were taken out of service would be improved and utilized for longer ranges.

 

•    The Prithvi II class is a single-stage liquid-fueled missile with an enhanced range of 250 km and a maximum warhead attachment capability of 500 kg (160 mi). The Indian Air Force was the main user when it was being developed. On January 27, 1996, it was fired for the first time, and 2004 saw the end of the development process. The army has also been given access to this variation. 

 

•    In a test, a missile with an increased range of 350 km (220 mi) and an enhanced navigation system was fired. The missile has anti-ballistic missile deception characteristics. The missile, which was the first to be created under the IGMDP, was included into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003.

 

•    Following a test that was unsuccessful on September 24, 2010, two further missiles were successfully launched on December 22, 2010 at two distinct targets.

 

•    News sources claim that the range has been extended to 350 km (220 mi) and that the payload capacity has been increased to 500–1000 kg.

 

•    India successfully tested its homegrown Prithvi-II nuclear missile on June 2. At 9:50 am, the launch took place at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, Odisha. The missile, which can transport payloads up to 1,000 kg, entered service with the armed services in 2003. 

 

•    It is the first product of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program, which the Defense Research and Development Organization [DRDO] has created.

 

•    As part of its annual training cycle, India's Strategic Weapons Command test-launched two short-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles at night to assess the missile forces of the Indian Army's battle preparedness. On November 20, at night, two Prithvi-II tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles were test fired from the Dr. Abdul Kalam Island Integrated Test Range (ITR) in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha. 

 

•    India tested its nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface missile at night on Tuesday off the coast of Odisha. The night test of the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile was performed by the Strategic Forces Command from launch complex 3 at the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur. According to defence officials, the missile, which has a 350 kilometer striking range, was tested at 7:48 PM on Tuesday, December 4. 

 

•    On September 23, 2020, the Strategic Forces Command performed a night test of Prithvi II from Launch Complex III of the Integrated Test Range. Prithvi III is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile from the Prithvi III class. A 16 metric tons force (157 kN) thrust motor solid fuels the first stage. 

 

•    The second stage is powered by liquid. The missile can travel 350 km (220 miles) with a 1,000 kg payload, 600 km (370 miles) with a 500 kg warhead, and 750 km with a 250 kg warhead (470 mi).

 

•    Prithvi III underwent its initial trials in 2000 from the patrol ship of the Sukanya class, INS Subhadra. The missile was fired from the ship's modernized, reinforced helicopter deck. The 250 km (160 mi) variant's initial flight test was only partially successful. In 2004, the comprehensive operational testing was finished.

 

•    The surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship Prithvi III missile has been modified for the Indian Navy and is known as Dhanush (Sanskrit: "Bow"). With a payload capacity of 500 kg to 1000 kg, it can carry both conventional and nuclear bombs and strike targets up to 350 kilometers away. The Dhanush system consists of a missile and a platform for stabilization. 

 

•    It is a modified Prithvi that has received seaworthiness certification. Dhanush needs to be launched from a launch pad that is hydraulically stabilized. Due to its short range, it is thought of being a weapon to be used to either destroy an enemy port or an aircraft carrier. The navy's surface ships have conducted numerous missile tests from them.

 

•    On December 13, 2009, the missile was successfully fired during a test firing from the INS Subhadra, which was anchored about 35 kilometers (22 miles) offshore from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur. It was the missile's sixth test.

 

•    The missile was successfully test-fired from the Indian Navy ship INS Subhadra (P51) in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Orissa.

 

•    An improved 350 kilometer version of the Dhanush was tested from INS Rajput in December 2015, and it successfully targeted a land-based target.

 

•    On November 26, 2015, Dhanush underwent another test from INS Subhadra in the Bay of Bengal.

 

•    The Strategic Forces Command successfully completed a user testing on February 23, 2018, off the coast of Odisha, while operating from a naval ship.

 

Depending on the range, the Dhanush missile can be employed as an anti-ship weapon or to strike terrestrial targets.