India recently achieved a significant milestone in its defence capabilities by successfully conducting a night trial of the Prithvi-II, a surface-to-surface, nuclear-capable short-range ballistic missile. Prior to this event, the nation tested the Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile Agni-IV, capable of travelling distances up to 4,000 km.
About the Prithvi II Missile
A proud product of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under its Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), Prithvi-II is an indigenously developed, Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missile (SRBM) with an operational range of up to 350 km. It can carry a payload of around one tonne.
This single-stage liquid-fueled missile can mount warheads weighing between 500 kg to 1000 kg. The highly efficient missile serves as a formidable asset in striking targets with high precision. An advanced inertial guidance system that manoeuvres the missile along its trajectory enhances the accuracy.
Initially developed to bolster the Indian Air Force, it was subsequently incorporated into the Indian Army. The Strategic Forces Command of India inducted the missile for the first time in 2003. Prithvi II is notably the first missile developed under the IGMDP.
The Prithvi Missiles Series
The Prithvi missile lineup includes several tactical Surface-to-Surface Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBM). The development of these missiles commenced in 1983, making them India’s first indigenous ballistic missiles. The maiden test was carried out in 1988 from Sriharikota SHAR Centre. Depending on the variant, the operational range varies between 150 to 300 km.
The naval variants of Prithvi I and Prithvi III, codenamed Dhanush, are believed to have borrowed its propulsion technology from the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile. Since 1994, the Prithvi I missiles have been serving the Indian Army. The Prithvi II missiles were introduced into service in 1996. Prithvi III, with an extended range up to 350 km, was successfully test-fired for the first time in 2004.
The Legacy of the Soviet SA-2 Surface-to-Air Missile
Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile, an innovation of the mid-1950s, was the first effective missile produced by the Soviet Union. Besides playing the role of a tactical nuclear weapon, it was also developed as a battlefield missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP)
The Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) was an initiative by the Indian Ministry of Defence to research and develop a wide range of missiles. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam initiated the project in 1982-1983, which consequently earned him the title of “Missile Man of India”. The programme concluded in 2008, having successfully developed five types of missiles: Prithvi (a short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile), Agni (a medium to intercontinental surface-to-surface missile), Trishul (a short-range low-level surface-to-air missile), Akash (a surface-to-air missile with a range of up to 25 km and a multi-target handling system), and Nag (a third-generation “fire & forget”, “top attack” anti-tank missile).
The Agni-IV Missile
Agni-IV, a nuclear-capable long-range ballistic missile, has a strike range of 4,000 km. This two-stage, surface-to-surface missile is a robust 20 metres long and weighs around 17 tonnes. It is a solid fuelled system capable of carrying a one-tonne nuclear warhead over its full operational distance. It does not utilise liquid propellant, and contrary to certain speculations, it is not designed for carrying warheads up to a distance of 7500 km.
