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BALASORE: India added another feather in its cap on Wednesday when the Armed forces successfully tested two nuclear capable Prithvi-II missiles within a gap of one hour from two mobile launchers stationed in the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off the Orissa coast.

Both the missiles were launched from the launching complex III (LC-III) at the ITR in Chandipur-on-sea, nearly 15 km from Balasore at about 8.15 am and 9.15 am. Mounted on two Mobile Tatra transporter-erector Launchers (MTL) the indigenously developed surface-to-surface short range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) were launched one after another.

The total launch activities were carried out by the Strategic Force Command while the DRDO provided all logistic supports. "It was a fantastic launch. Two missiles aimed at two different targets, met all the mission objectives. It was a copy book success," said ITR director S P Dash.

"The tests were conducted as part of the operational exercises. Two naval ships located at the impact points tracked and monitored both the missiles hitting the targets very accurately. All the radars and other sensors along the east coast also monitored the missiles trajectory parameters," he informed.

Defence sources said, it was a test from the limited stock production (LSP) series. "The missiles used for the test were picked up randomly from the assembly line after production and were launched with inertial navigation system. It has achieved single digit accuracy reaching close to zero circular error probability (CEP)," said a source.

"The entire flight path of the missiles was smooth in accordance with pre-decided coordinates. Both the missiles covered nearly same distance because all the mission parameters like elevation, trajectory, azimuth, flight path and stage separation were in one coordination. Only difference was the missiles were fired from two launchers," said the source.

Prithvi, the first missile developed under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP), has the capability to carry 500 Kg of warhead. It has a length of nine meters with one metre diameter. It is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engine and uses Advanced Inertial Guidance System (AIGS) with maneouring trajectory and reaches the targets with few metre accuracy.

The missile uses an inertial guidance system with reasonably good accuracy and the warhead uses a radar correlation terminal guidance system. It can target mobile targets including unmanned aerial vehicles.

Earlier this year while the June 18 test of the missile was a success, the test on September 24 was a failure as the missile fell down immediately after it took off from the launch pad. It then caught fire after hitting the sea side wall of the launching complex in the ITR.

Prithvi was test tested in 1988 and inducted into the Army in 1994. At present, 10 to 30 missiles are manufactured each year for all versions of the Prithvi.

Director of DRDL P. Venugopalan, Director of ITR S.P. Dash. Programme Director VLN Rao, Project Directors DS Reddy, Adalat Ali were present and overseen all the operations. Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri Dr V.K. Saraswat has congratulated all the Scientists and Armed Forces for the successful flight tests.