CHANDIPUR-ON-SEA (ORISSA): India on Thursday added another feather in its cap by successfully test launching the newly developed surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile Prahaar for the first time from a defence base off the Orissa coast.The indigenously developed short range missile mounted on a mobile launcher was test fired from the launching complex-III at Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Chandipur, about 15 km from Balasore, at about 8.20 am.Terming the maiden test of the missile as a copy book success, Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister and Secretary of DRDO V K Saraswat said equipped with state of the art high accuracy navigation, guidance and electro mechanical actuation systems with latest onboard computer the missile achieved terminal accuracy of less than 10 meters."The missile went to a height of 35 km before reaching the targets at a range of 150 km in about 250 seconds. It was launched from a Road Mobile System, which can carry six missiles at a time and can be fired in salvo mode in alldirections covering the entire azimuth plane," he told 'The Express'.The missile having a strike range of 150 km is comparable to ATACMS missile of United States of America. It fills the vital gap between multi barrel rockets and medium range ballistic missiles of India. The missile capable of carryingdifferent types of warheads, operates as battle field support system to the Indian Army.Defence sources said Prahaar missile is about 7.32 meter long and its diameter is 420 mm. While its launch weight is about 1.28 tonne, it can carry a pay load of 200 kg. The missile system is developed to provide Indian Army a costeffective, quick reaction, all weather, all terrain, high accurate battle field support tactical system.The missile was developed by the DRDO scientists with the support of Missile System and Quality Assurance Agency (MSQAA). The flight path of the Missile was tracked and monitored by the various radar systems and electro optical systems located along Orissa coast. An Indian Naval ship located near target point in Bay of Bengal witnessed the final event.Defence Minister AK Antony has congratulated DRDO scientists for the successful test. The launch operations were witnessed Director General of Artillery Vinod Nayanar, Chief Controller of R&D Avinash Chander, Programme Director of Air Defence (AD) VLN Rao, Director of Research Centre Imarat (RCI) SK Ray and Director of ITR SP Dash.
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