Balasore: The country's most sophisticated medium range surface-to-surface missile 'Prithvi' was successfully test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 kms from Balasore on March 26, defence sources said.

The indigenously developed 8.5 metre high and one metre thick sleek missile, mounted on a mobile launcher, witnessed a perfect lift off at about 11.30 am (IST), ITR sources said.

Today's trial was a routine work of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to improve the country's missile defence system under Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) and the mission objectives of the trial had been fully achieved, the sources said.

The March 26 flight trial of 'Prithvi' was described as users trial by the Army.

With one tonne pay-load, 'Prithvi' is considered to be a unique missile of its kind for the country's defence system, the sources said.

It has a launch weight of 4.6 metres, which included one tonne pay load and it can be fired on targets located at a minimum distance of 40 kms.

With latest on-board computer and an advance inertia navigation system, the missile can use both solid and liquid propellant and takes just 300 seconds to reach its target at a distance of 150 kms.

DRDO had so far conducted 16 trials of the Army version of the missile since its first trial on February 22, 1988 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

PTI