India's nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile test-fired; Indian Air Force to deploy medium power radars and advanced helicopters in the western sector
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    • According to reports, India's nuclear-capable Prithvi-II ballistic missile with a strike range of 350 km was successfully test-fired on August 25, 2012 from the Integrated Test Range near Balasore as part of user trial by the army. The flight test of the surface-to-surface missile was conducted around 1100 hrs from a mobile launcher from ITR's launch complex-III at Chandipur. Describing the trial of the indigenously developed strategic missile as "fully successful", ITR Director MVKV Prasad said, "It was a perfect launch. All the mission objectives were accomplished during the trial." Prithvi is the first ballistic missile developed under the country's prestigious Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme and has the capability to carry 500 kg of both nuclear and conventional warheads with a strike range of 350 km. The missile uses advanced inertial guidance system with manoeuvring trajectory. The test-fire of the sophisticated short-range ballistic missile, which has already been inducted into the armed forces, was a user's trial by the army and monitored by scientists of Defence Research and Development Organisation. 1
    In another development, reports noted that Indian Air Force will deploy medium power radars and advanced helicopters in the western sector in order to strengthen its preparedness along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan. Air Marshal Anjan Kumar Gogoi, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South-Western Air command, said at a press conference that while Jodhpur airbase will soon have a squadron of transport helicopters Mi-17 V5, medium power radars would also be deployed at Jaisalmer airbase. Gogoi said that the new squadron at Phalodi will be ready by October this year. 2

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