Tell about Prithvi Missile ?

The Prithvi is India's only deployed nuclear capable missile. Two versions are now in service and a third is under development.

This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994. As Per (DRDO) 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 According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.

The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

Prithvi-I has a 150 km range and a 1,000 kg payload. It has been in army service since 1994 and is capable of striking roughly a quarter of Pakistani territory, including Islamabad and most other major cities.

The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner.

Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km (160 mi). It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004.

Prithvi-II has a 250 km range and a 500-750 kg payload. It is currently in Air Force service and could strike at least half of Pakistan, including almost all important military targets and all major cities. It was first test-fired on January 27, 1996.

This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.

Prithvi-III, which has a 350 km range and a 1,000 kg payload, is currently under development. It is a longer-range, naval version of the Prithvi and is also referred to as the Dhanush. Prithv-III was first successfully tested September 21, 2001, and according to statements made by India's ministry of Defense, it will soon be operationalized and integrated into the Indian Navy. (See the Dhanush page for more details.)

Prithvi I class is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1,000 kg, with a range of 150 km (93 mi). It has an accuracy of 10–50 m (33–164 ft) and can be launched from transporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994

The missile was inducted into India's Strategic Forces Command in 2003, and it was the first missile developed under the IGMDP

Prithvi-III, which has a 350 km range and a 1,000 kg payload, is currently under development. It is a longer-range, naval version of the Prithvi and is also referred to as the Dhanush. Prithv-III was first successfully tested September 21, 2001, and according to statements made by India's ministry of Defense, it will soon be operationalized and integrated into the Indian Navy. (See the Dhanush page for more details.)

As Per (DRDO) 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

The Prithvi was India's first indigenously developed ballistic missile produced by the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is a road-mobile, short range ballistic missile (SRBM) powered by a single-stage, two engines, and liquid-fuel.

On June 2, India successfully test-fired its indigenous nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile. The launch happened at the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur in Odisha at 9:50am.

The Prithvi-I is relatively small, 8.55 meters long and 1.1 meters in diameter. It weighs 4,000-4,500 kg. India has demonstrated its ability to launch the Prithvi from mobile launchers through at least two test fires by artillery personnel. It was paraded in mobile launchers during India's Republic Day parade in January 1996.

According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.

The missile, capable of carrying payloads of up to 1,000kg, was inducted into the armed forces in 2003. It is the first to be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organization under its Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.

Despite US pressure on India to halt the program, serial production of Prithvi-I began at Bharat Dynamic Limited sometime between mid-1994 and 1997. An estimated 75 Prithvi warheads have been produced.

Development of the Prithvi began in 1983, and it was first tested fired on February 25, 1988. The three versions of the Prithvi have been tested twenty times since.

Prithvi III class 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-fueled. The missile can carry a 1,000 kg warhead to a distance of 350 km (220 mi) and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 km (370 mi) and a 250 kg warhead up to a distance of 750 km (470 mi).

Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fueled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km (160 mi).

The Indian army is reluctant to incorporate the Prithvi-I into its practices largely because of its lack of precision and the difficulties associated with its liquid fuel. The Prithvi is reported to have a relatively high circular error probable (CEP) -- 300 meters at 150 km range and 500 meters at 250 km range, (0.2 percent of the range). There have been reports of plans by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) to install Global Positioning System (GPS) units on the Prithvi, in order to reduce its CEP to about 75 meters.

The Prithvi is not a particularly sophisticated missile, incorporating propulsion technology derived from the Soviet SA-2 surface-to-air missile. According to the Carnengie Endowment for International Peace "Given the Prithvi's range, its role would be restricted to use against Pakistan.

It was developed with the Indian Air Force being the primary user. It was first test-fired on 27 January 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004