Prithvi (missile)


Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by the Defence [Research and Development Organisation] of India under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. 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 – Army version '
  • Prithvi II – Air Force version '
  • Prithvi III – Naval version ''''

    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 According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.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
  1. 222 Missile Group
  2. 333 Missile Group
  3. 444 Missile Group
  4. 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 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.
On 17 July 2025, India successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, Odisha, as part of a routine user training launch. The test was conducted alongside the Agni-I missile under the aegis of the Strategic Forces Command.
Test typeDateOperatorStatusNotes
Developmental Trial27 January 1996DRDOSuccess
User Trial/Training12 October 2009 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training12 October 2009 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training24 September 2010Strategic Forces CommandFailure
User Trial/Training22 December 2010 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training22 December 2010 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training9 June 2011Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training25 August 2012Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training4 October 2012Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training7 October 2013Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training7 January 2014Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training28 March 2014Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training26 November 2015Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training16 February 2016Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training18 May 2016Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training21 November 2016 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training21 November 2016 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training2 June 2017Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training7 February 2018Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
User Trial/Training21 February 2018Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training21 November 2019 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training21 November 2019 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training4 December 2019Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training23 September 2020Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training16 October 2020Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training16 November 2021Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training15 June 2022Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training10 January 2023Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
Night trail/Training22 August 2024 Strategic Forces CommandSuccess
17 July 202517 July 2025Strategic Forces CommandSuccessIntegrated Test Range

Prithvi III

Prithvi III is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile. The first stage is solid fueled with a 16 metric ton force 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 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.

Other Indian missile projects

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