Prithvi (missile)
| Prithvi (missile) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1994 (Prithvi I) |
| Used by | Indian Armed Forces |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer |
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) |
| Produced | February 25, 1988 (Prithvi I) January 27, 1996 (Prithvi II) January 23, 2004 (Prithvi III) |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4,400 kg (Prithvi I) 4,600 kg (Prithvi II) 5,600 kg (Prithvi III) |
| Length | 9 m (Prithvi I) 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III) |
| Diameter | 110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) 100 cm (Prithvi III) |
|
|
|
| Engine | Single-stage liquid fuel dual motor (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Single-stage solid motor (Prithvi III) |
|
Operational
range |
150 km (Prithvi I) 250–350 km (Prithvi II) 350–600 km (Prithvi III) |
|
Guidance
system |
strap-down inertial guidance |
|
Launch
platform |
8 x 8 Tata Transporter Erector launcher |
Prithvi (Sanskrit: pṛthvī "Earth") is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by DRDO of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command.
The Government of India launched the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 to achieve self-sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of ballistic missiles, surface-to-air missiles etc. Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under the program. DRDO attempted to build a surface-to-air missile under Project Devil. Variants make use of either liquid or both liquid and solid fuels. Developed as a battlefield missile, it could carry a nuclear warhead in its role as a tactical nuclear weapon.
The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner.
Prithvi I class is a surface-to-surface missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1,000 kg, with a range of 150 km (93 mi). It has an accuracy of 10–50 m (33–164 ft) and can be launched from transporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994. As Per (DRDO) Chief Avinash Chander the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missile will be replaced with the Prahaar missile, which is more capable and has more accuracy.” According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.
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