Prithvi (missile)
Indian series of short-range missiles
title: "Prithvi (missile)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["short-range-ballistic-missiles", "ballistic-missiles-of-india", "defence-research-and-development-organisation", "military-equipment-introduced-in-the-1990s"] description: "Indian series of short-range missiles" topic_path: "geography/india" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prithvi_(missile)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Indian series of short-range missiles ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox weapon"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| is_missile | yes |
| name | Prithvi |
| image | File:Prithvi-II missile launch on 11 March 2011 (cropped).jpg |
| caption | Prithvi II missile during a launch |
| origin | India |
| type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| used_by | Strategic Forces Command |
| designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| propellant | Liquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), |
| Solid fuel (Prithvi III) | |
| production_date | 25 February 1988 (Prithvi I) |
| 27 January 1996 (Prithvi II) | |
| 23 January 2004 (Prithvi III) | |
| service | 1994 (Prithvi I) |
| engine | Single-stage liquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), |
| Two-stage solid rocket (Prithvi III) | |
| weight | 4,400 kg (Prithvi I) |
| 4,600 kg (Prithvi II) | |
| 5,600 kg (Prithvi III) | |
| number | 30 (2017 est.) |
| length | 9 m (Prithvi I) |
| 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III) | |
| diameter | 110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) |
| 100 cm (Prithvi III) | |
| vehicle_range | 150 km (Prithvi I) |
| 250–350 km (Prithvi II) | |
| 350–750 km (Prithvi III) | |
| filling | High explosives, penetration, cluster munition, fragmentation, thermobaric, chemical weapon and tactical nuclear weapon |
| filling_weight | 500 kg - 1000 kg |
| guidance | Strap-down INS |
| accuracy | 50 m CEP (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) |
| | launch_platform | 8 x 8 Tata transporter erector launcher | ::
| is_missile = yes | name = Prithvi | image = File:Prithvi-II missile launch on 11 March 2011 (cropped).jpg | caption = Prithvi II missile during a launch | origin = India | type = Short-range ballistic missile | used_by = Strategic Forces Command | designer = Defence Research and Development Organisation | manufacturer = Bharat Dynamics Limited | unit_cost = | propellant = Liquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Solid fuel (Prithvi III) | production_date = 25 February 1988 (Prithvi I) 27 January 1996 (Prithvi II) 23 January 2004 (Prithvi III) | service = 1994 (Prithvi I) | engine = Single-stage liquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Two-stage solid rocket (Prithvi III) | engine_power = | weight = 4,400 kg (Prithvi I) 4,600 kg (Prithvi II) 5,600 kg (Prithvi III) | number = 30 (2017 est.) | length = 9 m (Prithvi I) 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III) | height = | diameter = 110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) 100 cm (Prithvi III) | wingspan = | speed = | vehicle_range = 150 km (Prithvi I) 250–350 km (Prithvi II) 350–750 km (Prithvi III) | ceiling = | altitude = | filling = High explosives, penetration, cluster munition, fragmentation, thermobaric, chemical weapon and tactical nuclear weapon | filling_weight = 500 kg - 1000 kg | guidance = Strap-down INS | detonation = | accuracy = 50 m CEP (Prithvi I, Prithvi II)
| launch_platform = 8 x 8 Tata transporter erector launcher
Prithvi () is a tactical surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by the 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 (150 km range with a payload of 1,000 kg)
- Prithvi II (SS-250) – Air Force version (350 km range with a payload of 500 kg)
- Prithvi III (SS-350) – Naval version (350 km range with a payload of 1000 kg)
Description
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Agni_and_Prithvi.jpg" caption="Agni]] and Prithvi missile models in [[DRDO]], [[Balasore"] ::
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 150 km. It has an accuracy of 10 – 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 250 km and maximum warhead capacity of 500 kg. This was gradually enhanced to a range of 350 km 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 350 km 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 350 km 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.
On 17 July 2025, India successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II short-range ballistic missile from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) 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 (SFC).
::data[format=table title="Test log of Prithvi II"]
| Test type | Date | Operator | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental Trial | 27 January 1996 | DRDO | Success | |
| User Trial/Training | 12 October 2009 (I) | Strategic Forces Command | ||
| 12 October 2009 (II) | ||||
| 24 September 2010 | Failure | |||
| 22 December 2010 (I) | Success | |||
| 22 December 2010 (II) | ||||
| 9 June 2011 | ||||
| 25 August 2012 | ||||
| 4 October 2012 | date=4 October 2012 | title=Prithvi-II ballistic missile test fired | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/prithvi-ii-ballistic-missile-test-fired/article3964130.ece | access-date=4 October 2012 |
| 7 October 2013 | ||||
| 7 January 2014 | date=7 January 2014 | title=India test-fires nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-testfires-nuclearcapable-prithviii-missile/1216373/ | access-date=7 January 2014 |
| 28 March 2014 | ||||
| 26 November 2015 | ||||
| 16 February 2016 | ||||
| 18 May 2016 | ||||
| 21 November 2016 (I) | ||||
| 21 November 2016 (II) | ||||
| 2 June 2017 | ||||
| 7 February 2018 | ||||
| 21 February 2018 | ||||
| Night trail/Training | 21 November 2019 (I) | |||
| 21 November 2019 (II) | ||||
| 4 December 2019 | ||||
| 23 September 2020 | ||||
| 16 October 2020 | ||||
| 16 November 2021 | ||||
| 15 June 2022 | ||||
| 10 January 2023 | ||||
| 22 August 2024 (7:46 pm) | ||||
| 17 July 2025 | 17 July 2025 | Integrated Test Range (ITR) | ||
| :: |
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 350 km and a 500 kg warhead to a distance of 600 km and a 250 kg warhead up to a distance of 750 km.
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 250 km variant was only partially successful. The full operational testing was completed in 2004.
Dhanush (missile)
|is_missile=yes |name=Dhanush |image=File:Dhanush missile launch on 11 March 2011.jpg |caption=Dhanush missile during a launch |origin=India |type=Short-range ballistic missile / anti-ship ballistic missile |used_by= |designer= Defence Research and Development Organisation |manufacturer=Bharat Dynamics Limited |unit_cost= |propellant= |production_date= |service= |engine= |engine_power= |weight=4,500 kg |length= 8.53m |height= |diameter=0.9m |wingspan= |speed= |vehicle_range=*350 km with 1000 kg warhead.
- 600 km with 500 kg warhead.
- 750 km with 250 kg warhead. |ceiling= |altitude= |filling= Conventional (blast, fragmentation, thermobaric) and tactical nuclear weapon |guidance= |detonation= |launch_platform=
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 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 35 km 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.
References
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