India successfully test-fires ballistic missile

India on Friday successfully test-fired its indigenously developed, nuclear-capable, ballistic missile Prithvi-II from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore off the Orissa coast, reported The Times of India electronic edition.

The missile mounted on a mobile launcher was blasted off from the launch complex-3 in the ITR at around 6:50 a.m., the report quoted defense sources as saying.

The trial of Prithvi-II was conducted by the Indian Army. It has a maximum striking range of 350 km and is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500 kg, said the report.

Prithvi is the first ballistic missile developed under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Program and is propelled by liquid propulsion twin engine, according to the report.

The last trial of the Prithvi-II missile was successfully conducted from the same site on March 27 this year.

Source: Xinhua