India successfully test-fired Prithvi Supersonic Interceptor Missile

India on 1 March 2017 successfully test-fired the Prithvi supersonic interceptor missile. The missile was test-fired by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast.

After receiving commands from the radars on the incoming missile, the interceptor missile Prithvi detected and tracked the enemy's ballistic missile.

The ‘enemy missile’ was fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha.

Prithvi, which has been dubbed as an advanced air defence interceptor, is part of India’s credible ballistic missile defence program.

With Prithvi in its armour, India has become the fourth country in the world to have a ballistic missile defence program.

The other three countries which have developed a similar ballistic missile defence system include the US, Russia and Israel.

Features of Prithvi Missile

• Prithvi Missile is a surface-to-surface battle field missile.

• It uses a single state, twin-engine liquid propulsion system and strap-down inertial guidance with real-time software.

• These features are incorporated in the on board computer to achieve the desired accuracy during impact.

• Compared to any equivalent class of missiles in the world, Prithvi has a higher lethal effect.

• Prithvi is a unique missile as it has a high manoeuverable trajectory and high level capability with field interchangeable warheads.