Air defence exercise of Prithvi-II missile held

Balasore (Orissa), Nov 27: India today carried out Air Defence Exercise(ADE) of surface to surface Prithvi-II missile from both the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on Sea and the Wheeler Island inside the Bay of Bengal close to Dhamra coast.

ITR sources said after an exhaustive preparation following the successful test of Prithvi-II on November 19 last from the ITR,the programme of great national security interest particularly for air defence exercise of the missile was put on test at 1010 hrs.

While one Prithvi missile of the version(P-II) was fired from Launch Complex-III at ITR, Chandipur as ''attacker'' to check the air defence capabilities, another Prithvi missile was test fired from the board as ''interceptor'', few seconds later from Launch Complex IV from the Wheeler Island to have an alignment with a pre designated point.

ITR sources said if the missile alignment would be up to the desired level under the trial,the test would be considered as successful.

As the defence had been trying for air defence exercise of the Prithvi missile, the achievement would add another feather in the cap of the defence scientists of DRDO.

Chief controller of Research and Development of the DRDO Air Defence Programme director M V Saraswat and Director of DRDO lab Dr Prahallad were present to witness the interception exercise programme at the ITR.

The 200-250 km range Prithvi designed for quick manoeuverability and war time efficiency soared into the sky in clear weather in presence of hudnreds of DRDO scientists. ITR sources said the missile could be used as a tactical battlefield weapon. Although it has a range of 250 km with a 700 kg warhead, the payload could be increased to 1,000 kg.

The first test firing of Prithvi missile was conducted on 22 February, 1988, from the Rocket launching Centre of Sriharikota in Andhra Prdaesh. Since then several testfires had been conducted from the ITR.

Prithvi is one of the five missiles under various stages of development as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP).

The missile, sources said, was a modified version of the indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle(SLV-3) and used liquid propellant with almost all components made in the country.

Several scientists of the DRDO and officials of the ITR were present during the launching of Prithvi Missile from both the launch complexes.

The ITR authority had evacuated over 2800 people of 600 families in four villages located within 2 kms radius of the ITR to temporary make shift camps this morning as a preacautionary measures.

UNI