Prithvi-II Failed to Take Off

The Strategic Forces Command conducted an unsuccessful user trial of the nuclear weapons-capable, surface-to-surface Prithvi-II ballistic missile from Chandipur in Orissa on 24 Sept 2010. The nine metre-long, single stage liquid propelled missile with a maximum range of 350 km that was fired from a mobile launcher at 10:03 am from Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off the Orissa coast failed to take off. According to Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) the rocket engine stopped functioning a few seconds after the launch command was given and therefore failed to provide the necessary thrust for the missile. The missile is capable of carrying warheads weighing 500-1,000 kg and has been inducted into the Air Force. The missile was last tested on 18 June 2010 for a shorter range. The last four user’s trials of the surface-to-surface missile were successfully conducted during last one year from the same site in the ITR.