Prithvi missile test fired successfully

BALASORE: The surface-to-surface Prithvi missile was successfully test fired on Friday from a defence base in Orissa's Balasore district.

Defence sources said the missile was test fired at 10.30 a.m. from the integrated test range at Chandipur.

Prithvi is india's first indigenously built ballistic missile. It is one of five missiles being developed under India's Integrated Missile Development Programme.

Prithvi has a range of 150-250 km and is capable of carrying a payload of between 500 kg and one tonne, including nuclear weapons. Two versions of the missile have already been deployed with the army and air force. A third version with a longer range of 350 km is currently under development.