| Prithvi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Prithvi II missile during a launch | |
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile |
| Place of origin |  India |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1994 (Prithvi I) |
| Used by | Strategic Forces Command |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| Produced | 25 February 1988 (Prithvi I) 27 January 1996 (Prithvi II) 23 January 2004 (Prithvi III) |
| No. built | 30(2017 est.)[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4,400 kg (Prithvi I) 4,600 kg (Prithvi II) 5,600 kg (Prithvi III) |
| Length | 9 m (Prithvi I) 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III) |
| Diameter | 110 cm (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) 100 cm (Prithvi III) |
| Warhead | High explosives, penetration,cluster munition,fragmentation,thermobaric,chemical weapon andtactical nuclear weapon |
| Warhead weight | 500 kg (1,100 lb) - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[2] |
| Engine | Single-stageliquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Two-stagesolid rocket (Prithvi III) |
| Propellant | Liquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Solid fuel (Prithvi III) |
Operational range | 150 km (Prithvi I) 250–350 km (Prithvi II) 350–750 km (Prithvi III) |
Guidance system | Strap-downINS |
| Accuracy | 50 mCEP (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) <10 mCEP (Prithvi II upgrade)[3] 25 mCEP (Prithvi III)[4] |
Launch platform | 8 x 8 Tatatransporter erector launcher |
Prithvi (lit. 'Earth') is a tacticalsurface-to-surface short-rangeballistic missile (SRBM) developed by theDefence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India under theIntegrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP). It is deployed by India'sStrategic Forces Command.
The Government of India launched theIntegrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 to achieve self-sufficiency in the development and production of wide range ofballistic 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 underProject Devil.[5] 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 atactical nuclear weapon.[citation needed]
The aerodynamic characterization research was conducted at theNational Aerospace Laboratories' 1.2m Trisonic Wind Tunnel Facility.[6]
The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by theIndian Army,Indian Air Force and theIndian Navy. The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner.[7]
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 (93 mi). It has an accuracy of 10–50 m (33–164 ft) and can be launched fromtransporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into theIndian Army in 1994. As perDRDO's former chiefAvinash Chander, the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missile will be replaced with thePrahaar 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.[9]
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. Theunits under theRegiment of Artillery, that are equipped with these missiles includes[10][11]
Prithvi II is a single-stage liquid-fuelled missile. Initially, it was developed for an extended range of 250 km (160 mi) and maximum warhead capacity of 500 kg. This was gradually enhanced to a range of 350 km (220 mi) and 500–1000 kg payload. It was developed with theIndian 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 (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an improvement ininertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceiveanti-ballistic missiles.[citation needed]
The missile was inducted into India'sStrategic Forces Command in 2003.[13] After a failed test on 24 September 2010,[14] two more missiles aimed at two different targets were launched on 22 December 2010 and were successful.[15] According to reports, the range has been increased to 350 km (220 mi) and the payload capacity now ranges between 500 – 1000 kg.[16][17][18][19] On 2 June, India successfully test-fired another Prithvi-II missile from theIntegrated Test Range atChandipur, Odisha at 9:50 am.[citation needed]
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 theIntegrated Test Range (ITR) onAbdul Kalam Island in theBay 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.[20]
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.[21] 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.[22]
On 17 July 2025,India successfully test-fired the Prithvi-II short-rangeballistic missile from theIntegrated Test Range (ITR) atChandipur,Odisha, as part of a routine user training launch. The test was conducted alongside theAgni-I missile under the aegis of theStrategic Forces Command (SFC).
| Test type | Date | Operator | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developmental Trial | 27 January 1996 | DRDO | Success | |
| User Trial/Training | 12 October 2009 (I) | Strategic Forces Command | [23] | |
| 12 October 2009 (II) | ||||
| 24 September 2010 | Failure | [14] | ||
| 22 December 2010 (I) | Success | [15] | ||
| 22 December 2010 (II) | ||||
| 9 June 2011 | [24] | |||
| 25 August 2012 | [25] | |||
| 4 October 2012 | [26] | |||
| 7 October 2013 | [27] | |||
| 7 January 2014 | [28] | |||
| 28 March 2014 | [29][28] | |||
| 26 November 2015 | [30] | |||
| 16 February 2016 | [31][32] | |||
| 18 May 2016 | [33][34][35] | |||
| 21 November 2016 (I) | [36][37] | |||
| 21 November 2016 (II) | ||||
| 2 June 2017 | [19] | |||
| 7 February 2018 | [38] | |||
| 21 February 2018 | [citation needed] | |||
| Night trail/Training | 21 November 2019 (I) | [20] | ||
| 21 November 2019 (II) | ||||
| 4 December 2019 | [39] | |||
| 23 September 2020 | [22] | |||
| 16 October 2020 | [40] | |||
| 16 November 2021 | [13] | |||
| 15 June 2022 | [8] | |||
| 10 January 2023 | [7] | |||
| 22 August 2024 (7:46 pm) | [41] | |||
| 17 July 2025 | 17 July 2025 | Integrated Test Range (ITR)[42][43] |
Prithvi III is a two-stage surface-to-surface missile. The first stage is solid fueled with a 16metric ton force (157kN) thrust motor. The second stage is liquid-fuelled. 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 III was first tested in 2000 fromINS Subhadra, aSukanya-class patrol vessel. The missile was launched from the updated reinforced helicopter deck of the vessel. The first flight test of the 250 km (160 mi) variant was only partially successful.[44] The full operational testing was completed in 2004.[45]
| Dhanush | |
|---|---|
 Dhanush missile during a launch | |
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile /anti-ship ballistic missile |
| Place of origin | India |
| Service history | |
| Used by |  Indian Navy |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation |
| Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4,500 kg |
| Length | 8.53m |
| Diameter | 0.9m |
| Warhead | Conventional (blast,fragmentation,thermobaric) andtactical nuclear weapon |
Operational range |
|
Dhanush (lit. 'Bow') 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[46] and can strike targets in the maximum range of 750 km (470 mi). 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 anaircraft 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.[47] The missile has been tested from surface ships of the navy many times.
A new variant of thePrithvi-III missile, namedDhanush, was test fired from theRajput in March 2007 and successfully hit a land-based target.[48]
The missile was successfully tested-fired fromINSSubhadra, which was anchored about 35 km (22 mi) offshore from theIntegrated Test Range atChandipur on 13 December 2009. It was the sixth test of the missile.[49]
The missile was test-fired successfully on 5 October 2012,[50] on 23 November 2013,[51] 9 April 2015,[52] and 24 November 2015[53] fromINS Subhadra in theBay of Bengal off theOdisha coast.
Dhanush was again tested on 26 November 2015 from INSSubhadra in the Bay of Bengal.[54]
A successful user trial was conducted from a naval ship on 23 February 2018 by theStrategic Forces Command off the Odisha coast.[55]
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