Prithvi (missile). Prithvi (Sanskrit:  "Earth") is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India's Strategic Forces Command.

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 attempted to build a surface-to-air missile under Project Devil. 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.

The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at the National Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.

Variants 
The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three 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.
Prithvi I (SS-150) – Army version ( range with a payload of )
Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version ( range with a payload of )
Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version ( range with a payload of )

Description

Prithvi I 
Prithvi I is a single-stage liquid-fuelled surface-to-surface ballistic missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1,000 kg, with a range of . It has an accuracy of  and can be launched from transporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994. As per DRDO's former chief Avinash Chander, the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missile will be replaced with the Prahaar missile, which is more capable and has more accuracy. According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.

As per reports, in the 1990s, 75 missiles were initially ordered and the order was subsequently increased. The missiles are generally paired with conventional warheads but can be equipped with nuclear warheads as well. The units under the Regiment of Artillery, that are equipped with these missiles includes

 222 Missile Group
 333 Missile Group (Secunderabad under XI Corps)
 444 Missile Group
 555 Missile Group

Prithvi II 
Prithvi II is a single-stage liquid-fuelled missile. Initially, it was developed for an extended range of  and maximum warhead capacity of 500 kg. This was gradually enhanced to a range of  and 500–1000 kg payload. It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user.

It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the developmental trials were completed in 2004. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of  and had improved navigation due to an improvement in inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.

The missile was inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003. After a failed test on 24 September 2010, two more missiles aimed at two different targets were launched on 22 December 2010 and were successful. According to reports, the range has been increased to  and the payload capacity now ranges between 500 – 1000 kg. On 2 June, India successfully test-fired another Prithvi-II missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha at 9:50 am.

On 20 November 2019, Strategic Forces Command carried out 2 night user trials of Prithvi-II missiles as part of its annual training cycle to test the combat readiness of its missile forces. Two Prithvi-II tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missiles were test fired from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) on Abdul Kalam Island in the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Odisha, according to government sources cited in local media reports. The trial of the surface-to-surface missile with a strike range of 350 km was carried out from a mobile launcher from Launch Complex III of the ITR between 7:00 pm and 7:15 pm.

On 4 December 2019, another night trial was conducted off Odisha coast at 07:48 pm from Launch Complex III of Integrated Test Range in Chandipur. The Strategic Forces Command conducted night trial of Prithvi II in full operational configuration from Launch Complex III of Integrated Test Range on 23 September 2020.

Prithvi III 
Prithvi III is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile. The first stage is solid fueled with a 16 metric ton force (157 kN) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid-fuelled. The missile can carry a 1,000 kg warhead to a distance of  and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of  and a 250 kg warhead up to a distance of .

Prithvi III was first tested in 2000 from , a . The missile was launched from the updated reinforced helicopter deck of the vessel. The first flight test of the  variant was only partially successful. The full operational testing was completed in 2004.

Dhanush (missile) 

Dhanush (Sanskrit: धनुष, "Bow") is a variant of the surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship Prithvi III missile for the Indian Navy. It is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear warheads with pay-load capacity of 500 kg-1000 kg and can strike targets in the maximum range of . Dhanush is a system consisting of a stabilization platform and the missile. It is a customized version of the Prithvi and is certified 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 as a weapon either to be used to destroy an aircraft carrier or an enemy port. The Dhanush missile can be used as an anti-ship weapon as well as for destroying land targets depending on the range. The missile has been tested from surface ships of the navy many times.

Trial history
A new variant of the Prithvi-III missile, named Dhanush, was test fired from the Rajput in March 2007 and successfully hit a land-based target.

The missile was successfully tested-fired from INS Subhadra, which was anchored about  offshore from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur on 13 December 2009. It was the sixth test of the missile.

The missile was test-fired successfully on 5 October 2012, on 23 November 2013, 9 April 2015, and 24 November 2015 from INS Subhadra in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast.

Dhanush was again tested on 26 November 2015 from INS Subhadra in the Bay of Bengal.

A successful user trial was conducted from a naval ship on 23 February 2018 by the Strategic Forces Command off the Odisha coast.

See also

Other Indian missile projects
 Project Devil
 SS-45 Missile
 Project Valiant
 Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme
 K Missile family

Comparable missiles

References

External links 

 CSIS Missile Threat - Prithvi I/II/III
 CSIS Missile Threat - Dhanush

Technical:
 DRDO Technology Focus : Warhead for Missiles, Torpedoes and Rockets

Short-range ballistic missiles
Ballistic missiles of India
Defence Research and Development Organisation
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s