Context: Recently, the Strategic Forces Command of Indian Army has successfully conducted a night trial of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a defence test facility off Odisha coast.

About Prithvi Missile

• Prithvi is a surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation of India.
• It was also the first missile to be developed by the DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
• The liquid-fueled Prithvi, which was the first nuclear-capable missile to be inducted into the tri-Service Strategic Forces Command (SFC) in 2003.
• It uses an advanced inertial guidance system with maneuvering trajectory to hit its target.
• Strike Range: 350 km.
• It can carry 500 to 1,000-kg payloads.
• Two versions Prithvi are now in service and a third is under development.

Key Fact

• The three-stage Agni-V, the India’s first intercontinental ballistic missile with a strike range of over 5,000km, is also being inducted into the SFC to act as a deterrent against China. Agni-V brings the whole of China within its strike envelope.