Prithvi (missile)

Prithvi
Prithvi II missile during a launch
TypeShort-range ballistic missile
Place of origin India
Service history
In service1994 (Prithvi I)
Used byStrategic Forces Command
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
ManufacturerBharat Dynamics Limited
Produced25 February 1988 (Prithvi I)
27 January 1996 (Prithvi II)
23 January 2004 (Prithvi III)
No. built30 (2017 est.)[1]
Specifications
Mass4,400 kg (Prithvi I)
4,600 kg (Prithvi II)
5,600 kg (Prithvi III)
Length9 m (Prithvi I)
8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III)
Diameter110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II)
100 cm (Prithvi III)
WarheadHigh explosives, penetration, cluster munition, fragmentation, thermobaric, chemical weapon and tactical nuclear weapon
Warhead weight500 kg (1,100 lb) - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[2]

EngineSingle-stage liquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II),
Two-stage solid rocket (Prithvi III)
PropellantLiquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II),
Solid fuel (Prithvi III)
Operational
range
150 km (Prithvi I)
250–350 km (Prithvi II)
350–750 km (Prithvi III)
Guidance
system
Strap-down inertial navigation system
Accuracy50 m CEP (Prithvi I, Prithvi II)
<10 m CEP (Prithvi II upgrade)[3]
25 m CEP (Prithvi III)[4]
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 Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command.

  1. ^ The Military Balance 2017. Taylor & Francis. 14 February 2017. ISBN 9781857439007.
  2. ^ "DRDO Technology Focus : Warhead for Missiles, Torpedoes and Rockets" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organisation. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. ^ Rout, Hemant Kumar (16 October 2020). "Night trial of nuke capable Prithvi-II missile successful, second trial in a month's time". The New Indian Express. ENS. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  4. ^ CSIS. "Prithvi-I/II/III". Missile Threat. Center for Strategic and International Studies. Retrieved 28 January 2020.