NEW DELHI, 20 March 2004 — India yesterday tested a new version of its nuclear-capable Prithvi missile with an enhanced range that could easily reach the capital of rival Pakistan, the Defense Ministry said.
“It is an improved version of Prithvi 2, giving higher accuracy,” Baljit Singh Menon, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said. “It was successfully launched ... all the mission objectives were met.”
The new missile has a range of 150 to 200 kilometers (90 to 125 miles). It was fired from the Integrated Test Range in Chandipur, in the eastern state of Orissa.
India has tested the Prithvi about two dozen times since 1988. The Indian Army has already deployed the missile. The new version has been developed for the Indian Air Force, and was fired from a mobile launcher, the Defense Ministry said.
“Shore-based and ground-range tracking systems ... tracked the flight path until impact, validating the accuracy of the missile guidance,” Menon said.
In Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said India gave Pakistan prior notice of yesterday’s missile test. The two countries have an arrangement to notify each other ahead of tests of long-range, strategic weapons.
Pakistan on March 9 test fired a Shaheen 2, the most advanced missile in its arsenal, capable of delivering a nuclear warhead deep inside India.
“We are not in an arms race with India. We understand that they have conducted this test to validate parameters of their existing system,” Khan said.
India and Pakistan are currently engaged in wide-ranging peace initiatives to ease five decades of diplomatic and military tensions, mainly over the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir.
Khan said yesterday’s test was not likely to have any impact on the ongoing peace process.
