PRITHVI I,II,III MISSILE FAMILY
The Prithvi class of ballistic missiles make up most of
India’s arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles, useful for more tactical and
battlefield uses. All the missiles are road-mobile, allowing them to be
deployed with maneuvering forces. Prithvi is a tactical surface-to-surface
short-range ballistic missile developed by DRDO of India under the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program . It is deployed by
India's the missiles have steadily improved their range from the 150 km
Prithvi-I to the 350 km Prithvi-3 and have progressed from liquid fueled to
solid fueled over the same progression.
Types of Prithvi missile
Prithvi - I
Prithvi - II
Prithvi -III
Prithvi - I
The Prithvi-I is a short-range, road-mobile, liquid
propellant ballistic missile. According to unconfirmed reports, India developed
the missile with European assistance, and its motor and guidance system were
originally based on the Russian S-75 Guideline surface-to-air missile.1 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 . It has an accuracy of
10–50 m and can be launched from
transporter erector launchers. 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missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges India
began developing the missile in 1983.
In its current configuration, the missile
is 8.56 m long, 1.1 m in diameter, and weighs 4000 kg. It uses a single-stage,
liquid propellant engine, which is essentially two liquid propellant motors
side-by-side that provide aerodynamic control as well as thrust vectoring. This
engine control allows the missile to stop climbing when it reaches an altitude
of 30 km, travel horizontally at this altitude, and dive on its target at an
80° angle. The missile has a minimum range of 40 km and a maximum of 150 km.
Specifications
S.NO
|
TYPES
|
PARAMETERS
|
1
|
Class
|
Short-range
ballistic missile
|
2
|
Place
of origin
|
India
(army version)
|
3
|
In
service
|
1994
Used by Indian Armed Forces
|
4
|
Manufacturer
|
Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL)
|
5
|
Produced
|
|
6
|
No.
built
|
30 Nos
in 2017
|
7
|
Mass
|
4,400
kg
|
8
|
payload
|
1,000
kg
|
9
|
Length
|
9 m
|
10
|
Engine
|
Single-stage
liquid fuel dual motor
|
11
|
Operational
range
|
150km
|
12
|
system
|
strap-down
inertial guidance
|
The missile has a
reported accuracy of 50 m CEP against targets at 150 km. At present, it uses an
inertial guidance system. Its payload is a single warhead weighing up to 1000
kg. Following India’s nuclear tests in May 1998, the missile was probably
fitted with a range of small nuclear warheads with 1, 5, or 12 to 20 kT yields,
and a weight of around 250 to 300 kg. HE penetration, HE submunitions, fuel-air
explosive, and chemical warheads have likely also been fitted to the missile. 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.
It is launched from a Transporter-Erector-Launcher vehicle.
The Prithvi-II is a short-range, road-mobile,
liquid-propellant ballistic missile. it trades a smaller warhead for a longer
range. India first tested this variant in 1996. The missile is 9.0 m long, 1.1
m in diameter, and weighs either 4,000 or 4,600 kg. It uses a single-stage,
liquid propellant engine, giving it a maximum range of 250 km with an accuracy
of 50 m CEP. In 2011, the Prithvi-II was
tested to 350 km, suggesting some upgrades since early testing. It uses an
improved liquid propellant over its predecessor. Its payload consists of a
single warhead weighing 500 or 1000 kg. Potentially, if carrying a 1000 kg
payload, the missile could probably be fitted to any of the warheads developed
for the Prithvi-I, but it would have a reduced range. The missile’s primary
warheads are nuclear, high-explosive, or submunitions. 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 .
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. This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles. In 2002 management of the Prithvi-II was shifted from the Indian Air Force to the Indian Army, though the IAF still provides target data. The Indian Army transports and launches the missiles from Transporter-Erector-Launcher (TEL) vehicles. Its short range and low payload prevent it from being used against most strategic targets. However, the missile’s high accuracy enables it to hit enemy military targets effectively, making it a battlefield weapon.
SPECIFICATIONS
S.NO
|
TYPES
|
PARAMETERS
|
1
|
Class
|
Short-range
ballistic missile
|
2
|
Place
of origin
|
India
(Air Force version)
|
3
|
Manufacturer
|
Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL)
|
4
|
Produced
|
January
1996
|
5
|
Diameter
|
110cm
|
6
|
Mass
|
4,600
kg
|
7
|
payload
|
1,000
kg
|
8
|
Length
|
8.56 m
|
9
|
Engine
|
Single-stage
liquid fuel dual motor
|
10
|
Operational
range
|
250 to
350 km
|
11
|
system
|
strap-down
inertial guidance
|
PRITHVI -III / DHANUSH Missile
The Prithvi-III Is Also called (DHANUSH) is a short-range,
road-mobile, ballistic missile that started development in 2000. This model is
a departure from the liquid propulsion system of the Prithvi-I and II, as it
employs a two-stage, solid propellant motor. The longest-ranged member of the
Prithvi family of missiles, it was most likely designed for use as a tactical
weapon against Pakistan and China.
the missile has a
range of 300 to 350 km and an accuracy of 25 m CEP. The missile has a 500 to
1000 kg payload, with up to a 10 to 20 kT nuclear warhead. It is also reported
that the Prithvi-III has four fixed tail fins and uses four control fins near
the nose of the missile in order to maneuver within the lower atmosphere.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. Some reports indicate that
the Prithvi-III is intended to be a sea-launched ballistic missile, and is the
same development program as the Dhanush missile.
SPECIFICATIONS
S.NO
|
TYPES
|
PARAMETERS
|
1
|
Class
|
Short-range
ballistic missile
|
2
|
Place
of origin
|
India
(Air Force version)
|
3
|
Manufacturer
|
Defence
Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
Bharat
Dynamics Limited (BDL)
|
4
|
Produced
|
January
1996
|
5
|
Diameter
|
110cm
|
6
|
Mass
|
4,600
kg
|
7
|
payload
|
1,000
kg
|
8
|
Length
|
8.56 m
|
9
|
Engine
|
Single-stage
liquid fuel dual motor
|
10
|
Operational
range
|
250 to
350 km
|
11
|
system
|
strap-down
inertial guidance
|
DHANUSH MISSILE
It is a variant of the surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship
Prithvi III missile, which has been developed for the Indian Navy. In 2000 the
first Dhanush missile was tested from a patrol vessel. This missile is believed
to be similar to the SS-150 but equipped for launching off the deck of two
different configurations of the Sukanya-class patrol vessel: the Subhadra and
the Suvarna. It is capable of carrying both conventional as well as nuclear
warheads with pay-load capacity of 500 kg-1000 kg and can strike targets in the
range of 350 km. Most of these launches were successful including tests in
December 2009 and March 2010. The Press Information Bureau of the Indian
Government described development on the Dhanush missile in May 2010 as
complete.
SPECIFICATIONS
S.NO
|
TYPES
|
PARAMETER
|
1
|
Originated from
|
India
|
2
|
Possessed by
|
India
|
3
|
Class
|
Short-Range Ballistic
|
4
|
Missile (SRBM)
Basing
|
Ship-launched
|
5
|
Length
|
8.53 m
|
6
|
Diameter
|
1.0m
|
7
|
Launch weight
|
5600 kg
|
8
|
Payload
|
Single warhead, 500-1000 kg
|
9
|
Warhead
|
Nuclear, HE, submunitions, FAE, or chemical
|
10
|
Propulsion
|
Single-stage liquid propellant
|
11
|
Range
|
240 – 400 km
|
12
|
Status
|
Operational
|
13
|
In service
|
2010
|
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