Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051001390700.htm

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Prithvi-1 test-fired successfully

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Prithvi-1, the medium range surface-to-surface missile, was successfully test-fired in an "extended range" of more than 150 km by the Army as part of its "training module" at Chandipur-on-sea on Thursday.

The successful launch met all the mission objectives including terminal parameters such as velocity of impact and validated the integrated command control and communication network for the deployment of the weapon system, according to V. K. Saraswat, Chief Controller, Defence Research and Development Organisation, (Missiles and Strategic Systems). Mr. Saraswat, who witnessed the test-firing at Chandipur, told The Hindu that it had incorporated all the elements of Prithvi weapon system, including a mobile launcher, launch control centres and mobile station for automated checkout. The top brass of the Army also watched the test `live' from its Headquarters in New Delhi. Since Prithvi-1 was an inducted weapon system, the Army selected the weapon randomly from its inventory and conducted the exercise as part of the annual training. Describing it as a potent system, he said the missile was designed to engage a variety of static (aircraft in runways, radars), soft (vehicles) and hard targets (buildings) at ranges greater than 150 km.