Balasore, Orissa: India today successfully test-fired its 150-250 km range surface-to-surface Prithvi missile, which can carry a pay load of 1000 kg explosives, from the integrated test range at Chandipur.  

"The Prithvi missile was test-fired as part of a user's trial by the Indian Army and the test was successful," defence sources said.  

The 8.56 metre-long and one metre thick Prithvi missile can carry a pay load of 1000 kg explosives. The indigenously built missile, developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO), has already been inducted in the army, they said.  

"Mounted on a mobile tatra transporter-erector launcher, the sophisticated missile took off vertically at about 1030 hours and plunged into the pre-designated splash-down point in the Bay of Bengal," the sources said.   

Powered by liquid propellant, Prithvi can operate with both liquid as well as solid fuel. All parameters of the missile are now being analysed after the successful test fire," said the sources.   

Today's test was conducted jointly by DRDO and the special missile regiment raised by the army.

Source : PTI