Balasore: India today successfully test-fired the indigenously developed nuclear-capable Prithvi-II surface-to-surface short-range missile, with a range of 350 kms, as part of user trial by the armed forces from Chandipur off Odisha coast, about 15 km from Balasore.

The missile was test-fired at around 8.35 pm from a mobile launcher in salvo mode. The missile hit the target within 7 to 10 minutes meeting all parameters, said defence sources.

Prithvi-II was previously successfully test-fired during night time on February 21 this year from the ITR at Chandipur. The missile is capable of carrying 500 to 1,000 kilogrammes of warheads and is thrusted by liquid propulsion twin engines. The state-of-the-art missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its target, they said.

The missile was randomly chosen from the production stock and the entire launch activities were carried out by the specially-formed Strategic Forces Command of the Army and monitored by the scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) as part of training exercise, they said.

"The missile trajectory was tracked by radars, electro-optical tracking systems and telemetry stations by the DRDO along the coast of Odisha," the sources said.

The downrange teams on board the ship deployed near the designated impact point in the Bay of Bengal monitored the terminal events and splashdown.