Prithvi Prithvi SRBM (Short-range ballistic missile) Comparison Type Short Range Ballistic Missile Place of origin India Service history In service 1994 (Prithvi I) Used by Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy Production history Manufacturer Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) Produced February 25, 1988 (Prithvi I) January 27, 1996 (Prithvi II) April 11, 2000 (Dhanush) January 23, 2004 (Prithvi III) Specifications Weight 4400 kg (Prithvi I) 4600 kg (Prithvi II) 5600 kg (Prithvi III) Length 9 m (Prithvi I) 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III) Diameter 110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) 100cm (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 km (Prithvi II) 350 - 600 km (Prithvi III) Guidance system strap-down inertial guidance Launch platform 8 x 8 Tatra Transporter Erector Launcher

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Prithvi (Sanskrit: पृथ्वी, 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.

In September 2008 Indian scientists developed a path-breaking technology that has the potential to increase the range of missiles and satellite launch vehicles by at least 40%.The enhanced range is made possible by adding a special-purpose coating of chromium metal to the blunt nose cone of missiles and launch vehicles, increasing the stated range.

Contents 1 Development and History 1.1 Variants 2 Description 2.1 Prithvi I 2.2 Prithvi II 2.3 Prithvi III 3 See also 4 References

[edit] Development and History

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 earlier attempted to reverse engineer SA-2 Surface-to-air Missile under Project devil. The Prithvi is said to have its propulsion technology derived from the SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The dual liquid engine of Prithvi I might have been derived from scaling down of 30 ton Project Valiant Engine and scaling up of V-755 engine used by SA-2 surface-to-air missile.^[1]

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.

[edit] Variants

The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing 3 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.^[2]

• Prithvi I (SS-150) - Army Version (150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg)
• Prithvi II (SS-250) - Air Force Version (250 km range with a payload of 500 kg)
• Prithvi III (SS-350) - Naval Version (350 km range with a payload of 500 kg)
• Dhanush- Dhanush is reportedly a naval version of Prithvi which can be launched from Ships.^[3]. Some sources claim that Dhanush is a System consisting of stabilization platform and missiles, which has the capability to launch both Prithvi II and Prithvi III from Ships^[1] while others report that Dhanush is a variant of Prithvi-II Ballistic Missile.

Over the years these specifications underwent a number of changes. While the codename Prithvi stands for any missile inducted by India into its armed forces in this category, the later developmental versions are codenamed as Prithvi II and Prithvi III.

[edit] Description

[edit] Prithvi I

Prithvi I class was a surface-to-surface missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1000 kg, with a range of 150 km. It has an accuracy of 10 - 50 metres and can be launched from Transporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994.

[edit] Prithvi II

Prithvi II class is also a single stage liquid-fuelled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1000kg, but with an extended range of 250 kilometres. It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. It was first test-fired on January 27, 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004. The Prithvi II class of missiles are in the process of induction by the Indian Airforce. In a recent test, the Missile was launched with an extended range of 350 kilometres and improved Aided Inertial Navigation. The missile has the features to deceive Anti Ballistic Missiles. [1] According to news sources[2] the range is now increased to 350kms[3]

[edit] Prithvi III

Prithvi III class (codenamed Dhanush meaning Bow) is a two-stage ship-to-surface missile. The first stage is solid fuelled with a 16 metric ton force (157 kN) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid fuelled. The missile can carry a 1000 kg warhead to a distance of 350 km and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 kilometres and a 250 kilogram warhead up to a distance of 750 kilometres. Dhanush is a system consisting of a stabilization platform (Bow) and the Missile (Arrow). Supposedly it is a customised version of the Prithvi and that the additional customizations in missile configuration is to certify it for sea worthiness. Dhanush has to be launched from a hydraulically stabilized launch pad. Its low range acts against it and thus it is seen a weapons either to be used to destroy an aircraft carrier or an enemy port. The missile has been tested from the surface ships many times

Prithvi III was first tested in 2000 from INS Subhadra (P51), a Sukanya class patrol craft. The missile was launched from an updated, reinforced helicopter deck of the vessel. The first flight test of the 250 km variant was only partially successful.^[4] The full operational testing was completed in 2004.^[5] The following year in December an enhanced 350 km version of the missile was tested from the INS Rajput (D51) and successfully hit a land based target. ^[6].

[edit] See also

• IGMDP
• Project Devil
• SS-45 Missile
• Project Valiant

[edit] References

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