Prithvi-II, a nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile with India's strategic forces command has been test-fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, Odisha on Monday.
The "twin trail" was done in salvo mode from a mobile launcher in the Odisha test range, PTI reported.
The testing was part of "practice drill" and was carried out by personnel of the strategic forces command with scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) monitoring it.
The missile has been inducted into the air force and the army and has a strike range of 350km. It also can carry warheads weighing 500kg to 1,000kg. The missile is propelled by single stage liquid propulsion with twin engines.
The missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory to hit its pre-designated target.
It is however not clear if the tests were part of India's very own anti-ballistic missile shield, which has the capability of destroying incoming enemy missiles.
As part of the Advanced Air Defence (AAD), Indian armed forces regularly test a modified Prithivi-II, which is intercepted and destroyed by an interceptor missile at an altitude of 15 km.
The New Indian Express has reported that DRDO will also be testing Agni-I and AAD interceptor on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. These are part of India's crucial Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme.
#India successfully conducts twin trial of nuclear capable Prithvi-II #missile from a test range in Odisha: Defence sources.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2016
