Indian defense scientists have successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II missile from a base in the eastern state of Odisha.

The Prithvi-II missile is capable of carrying nuclear warheads and has a range of 350 km. The missle was test fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore district. M. V. K. V. Prasad, director of the test range announced that test has been successful.

The Prithvi-II missile is the country’s first indigenously built ballistic missile and is a part of five missiles being developed under the country's Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme. It has flight duration of 483 seconds, reaches peak altitude of 43.5 km and has a capability to carry a 500kg warhead.

The surface-to-surface missile was launched at around 1100 hrs from the mobile launcher from ITR's launch complex-III at Chandipur. “It was a perfect launch. All the mission objectives were accomplished during the trial.” It said.

It is handled by the strategic force command (SFC) and the new test was conducted to test effectiveness of the weapon in a real time situation. The officials aimed to study the effectiveness of the control and guidance system.