What's new

Prithvi-II Fails to Reach Target Due to Technical Snags

@MaarKhoor
You are correct that a missile with depressed trajectory could be used for a lower range test but then again a depressed trajectory test and navarea warning being of limited distance don't go hand in hand.

Imagine a case that due to any factor the missile travels more than that distance..

Suppose if we agree it's less than 212 kms or even lesser say half of 350 kms or say just 175 kms, such depressed trajectory effectively kills the purpose, its just going to the target in quicker time for that range nothing else.. This actually does not help evade ABM systems in a big way as prithvi is a SSM.

Any Missile can be fired with either lofted trajectory or depressed trajectory.. Both have its own advantages and disadvantages. But such advantages are more prominent for IRBMs and ICBMs.. For SSM it's way too much to expect..

India does depressed trajectory test to hide actual ranges but depressing it further does nt make much sense.
 
@MaarKhoor
You are correct that a missile with depressed trajectory could be used for a lower range test but then again a depressed trajectory test and navarea warning being of limited distance don't go hand in hand.

Imagine a case that due to any factor the missile travels more than that distance..

Suppose if we agree it's less than 212 kms or even lesser say half of 350 kms or say just 175 kms, such depressed trajectory effectively kills the purpose, its just going to the target in quicker time for that range nothing else.. This actually does not help evade ABM systems in a big way as prithvi is a SSM.

Any Missile can be fired with either lofted trajectory or depressed trajectory.. Both have its own advantages and disadvantages. But such advantages are more prominent for IRBMs and ICBMs.. For SSM it's way too much to expect..

India does depressed trajectory test to hide actual ranges but depressing it further does nt make much sense.
For ssm you gt advantage of depressed trajectory reducing time and detection.
 
For ssm you gt advantage of depressed trajectory reducing time and detection.
Bro
Most sr ssms can be intercepted easily owing to limits in terminal velocity of short ranged SSM.. The effect of higher speed and lower time works more in case of longer range..

The shorter time of flight advantage in case of a depressed trajectory versus lower reaction time works well for anything above SRBM range.

For such a depressed trajectory, for such a short range a significant loss will be both range and warhead size.. Implying much lesser capability..

A normal SRBM max terminal speed is around 6 mach

If suppose it's not depressed but rather lofted trajectory to mimic a higher apogee based on which it enters at higher energy, that case is for mostly MaRV studies.. Maneuverable Re-entry vehicle. The lofted trajectory also allows shorter range but carries far higher energy which then is more useful.

Most missiles for lower detection would need it to go terrain hugging feature which is possible for cruise missile.. This is a liquid fuel old technology Missile.. I do not expect much depression of trajectory for it owing to the fact that these missiles ate already above 10-15 years of age..

The missile capability of yesteryears did not have so much of shaped trajectory concepts owing to limitations of metallurgy and weight.. A liquid fuel Missile in facts limits it further..

Thus expecting shaped trajectory performance for prithvi is a bit too much expectations.
 
The more i think about it, i am having a sneaky suspicion it was a test as part of our MIRV program. Reason being MIRV program building blocks are being readied for our Agni series and now with Arihant online with us (meaning almost reaching operational acceptance post trials) and Aridhaman being readied soon ; its surely the right time to introduce the MIRVs...

Source: Prithvi-II Fails to Reach Target Due to Technical SnagsDUWY
@PARIKRAMA .:lol: your imagination is running riot !! MIRVs can't be launched from cannisters/ pods. They don't have propulsion of their own. It can only be pushed out from a booster vehicle atop a missile. Moreover from the launch-site pic, it is clearly evident it was Prithvi. Btw, MIRV is no bigger than a glider bomb.
 
Last edited:
Bro
Most sr ssms can be intercepted easily owing to limits in terminal velocity of short ranged SSM.. The effect of higher speed and lower time works more in case of longer range..

The shorter time of flight advantage in case of a depressed trajectory versus lower reaction time works well for anything above SRBM range.

For such a depressed trajectory, for such a short range a significant loss will be both range and warhead size.. Implying much lesser capability..

A normal SRBM max terminal speed is around 6 mach

If suppose it's not depressed but rather lofted trajectory to mimic a higher apogee based on which it enters at higher energy, that case is for mostly MaRV studies.. Maneuverable Re-entry vehicle. The lofted trajectory also allows shorter range but carries far higher energy which then is more useful.

Most missiles for lower detection would need it to go terrain hugging feature which is possible for cruise missile.. This is a liquid fuel old technology Missile.. I do not expect much depression of trajectory for it owing to the fact that these missiles ate already above 10-15 years of age..

The missile capability of yesteryears did not have so much of shaped trajectory concepts owing to limitations of metallurgy and weight.. A liquid fuel Missile in facts limits it further..

Thus expecting shaped trajectory performance for prithvi is a bit too much expectations.
Dear bro as per reports they fire Prithvi ii and test fails to achieve range....many times in past it happened...remember when the same kind of missile fired as a target for ABM missile but aborted because missile deviate from the desired course.
 
Dear bro as per reports they fire Prithvi ii and test fails to achieve range....many times in past it happened...remember when the same kind of missile fired as a target for ABM missile but aborted because missile deviate from the desired course.

Sooner it will be announced that this system provided experience and was a test bed for future manufacturing... The usual thing you know...
 
Could have indeed but some Indian members have already started to sing the song of test bed/foundation stuff.
Its actually pretty standard. And has been for close to 10 years now. Those who follow Indian missile development know it quite well. Our test bed is the Prithvi platform.
 
Last edited:
Wow this is some setback considering system is already being mass produced and deployed.
And retired.

Guys relax,Prithvi is in last leg of deployment. In 5years they would be replaced by something new.
Also out of more than 80 user testing and training ,if half of dozens failed that means we still got a very reliable system in place.

PS- More than 500 units of Prithvi produced and stored.

It is already retired from SFC, and IAF already planning to retire with there own version of Land launched BrahMos & long range cruise missile like Nirbhay.

@PARIKRAMA

i believe test was Prithvi II and it happens when missile was fired using low trajectory

Prithvi I class is a surface-to-surface missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 1,000 kg, with a range of 150 km (93 mi). It has an accuracy of 10 – 50 m and can be launched fromtransporter erector launchers. This class of Prithvi missile was inducted into the Indian Army in 1994. As Per (DRDO) Chief Avinash Chander the tactical 150 km-range Prithvi missile will be replaced with thePrahaar missile, which is more capable and has more accuracy.” According to Chander, the Prithvi I missiles withdrawn from service would be upgraded to be used for longer ranges.

Prithvi II[edit]
Prithvi II class is also a single-stage liquid-fuelled missile having a maximum warhead mounting capability of 500 kg, but with an extended range of 250 km (160 mi). It was developed with the Indian Air Forcebeing the primary user. It was first test-fired on January 27, 1996 and the development stages were completed in 2004. This variant has been inducted into the army as well. In a recent test, the missile was launched with an extended range of 350 km (220 mi) and had improved navigation due to an inertial navigation system. The missile features measures to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.

Clearly shows Prithvi i is 150 Kms and withdrawn from services. no need to test a missile which was absolute.

Maybe, DRDO indeed using large Prithvi stock for R&D purposes.

Bro
Most sr ssms can be intercepted easily owing to limits in terminal velocity of short ranged SSM.. The effect of higher speed and lower time works more in case of longer range..

The shorter time of flight advantage in case of a depressed trajectory versus lower reaction time works well for anything above SRBM range.

For such a depressed trajectory, for such a short range a significant loss will be both range and warhead size.. Implying much lesser capability..

A normal SRBM max terminal speed is around 6 mach

If suppose it's not depressed but rather lofted trajectory to mimic a higher apogee based on which it enters at higher energy, that case is for mostly MaRV studies.. Maneuverable Re-entry vehicle. The lofted trajectory also allows shorter range but carries far higher energy which then is more useful.

Most missiles for lower detection would need it to go terrain hugging feature which is possible for cruise missile.. This is a liquid fuel old technology Missile.. I do not expect much depression of trajectory for it owing to the fact that these missiles ate already above 10-15 years of age..

The missile capability of yesteryears did not have so much of shaped trajectory concepts owing to limitations of metallurgy and weight.. A liquid fuel Missile in facts limits it further..

Thus expecting shaped trajectory performance for prithvi is a bit too much expectations.

Indeed this is true, but we need to remember these tests by DRDO are not for developing production variant, but only for scientific & R&D purposes.
 
Back
Top Bottom