Everything about Prithvi Missile totally explained
Prithvi (
Sanskrit:
पृथ्वी, [[prithvi|]]
"Earth") is a tactical
surface-to-surface, short-range
ballistic missile (SRBM) developed by
DRDO of
India under the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program.
Development and History
The Government of India launched the
Integrated Guided Missile Development Program in 1983 for achieving self sufficiency in the development and production of wide range of Ballistic Missiles, Surface to Air Missiles etc.
Prithvi was the first missile to be developed under the Program. DRDO earlier attempted to reverse engineer
SA-2 Surface-to-air Missile under Project Devil. The Prithvi is said to have its propulsion technology derived from the
SA-2 surface-to-air missile. The dual liquid engine of Prithvi I might have been derived from scaling down of 30 ton Valiant Engine and scaling up of V-755 engine used by SA-2 surface-to-air missile.
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 a tactical
nuclear weapon.
Variants
The Prithvi missile project encompassed developing three variants for use by the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The initial project framework of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program outlines the variants in the following manner.
