India test fires nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile

India on Thursday successfully test fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a test range in Odisha.
“The 350-km range missile blasted off from the launch complex no.III at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) of Chandipur in Balasore district, around 230 km from here,” Hindustan Times reports.
“The test was successful,” ITR director M.V.K.V. Prasad said.
The launch was carried out by the Indian armed forces, as part of user trial, and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).
Prithvi is India’s first indigenously built ballistic missile.
It is one of the five missiles being developed under the country’s Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
The medium-range missile, with flight duration of 483 seconds and reaching a peak altitude of 43.5 km, has the capability to carry a 500-kg warhead.
Prithvi uses an advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring capabilities and comes within metres of its target.
The missile has been successfully flight tested in the past on a number of times as part of the training exercise.