Article

2005-12-28 India-Pakistan

India test fires ballistic missile from guided missile destroyer

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Posted by john 2005-12-28 14:10|| || Front Page|| [8 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Ideal tool for urban redevelopment in Karachi...

Posted by john 2005-12-28 16:38|| 2005-12-28 16:38|| Front Page Top

#2 What's the range on that pup?

Posted by FOTSGreg">FOTSGreg 2005-12-28 17:01|| 2005-12-28 17:01|| Front Page Top

#3 I wonder if they can shoot when they aren't anchored.

Posted by Super Hose 2005-12-28 17:08|| 2005-12-28 17:08|| Front Page Top

#4 Depends on particular Prithi variant being used.
Dhanush means "bow". It is the stabilized launcher. The arrow is the naval Prithvi.

Also the ranges are with 500kg - 1000kg conventional warhead. Range with nuclear payload will be greater.

IIRC David Albright mentioned that BARC had developed a 200 kg 15kT nuclear warhead for the Prithvi in the early 90's.

SS-250/Prithvi-II - range 250 km, 500 - 750 kg payload - single stage, dual engine, liquid fuel.

SS-350/Prithvi-III - solid fuelled, two stage version with a 350 km range and a 1000 kg payload

Posted by john 2005-12-28 17:18|| 2005-12-28 17:18|| Front Page Top

#5 I wonder if they can shoot when they aren't anchored.

Look at the photo closely. The wake of the OPV can be seen. The ship was moving. Dhahush is a stabilized platform meant to allow firing from a moving warship.

There has reportedly been one underwater test firing of the Naval Prithvi from this pontoon launcher when it was submerged.

The intention is for eventual submarine deployment.

Posted by john 2005-12-28 17:27|| 2005-12-28 17:27|| Front Page Top

#6 Whis is the range with nuclear payload greater?

Posted by Hank 2005-12-28 17:36|| 2005-12-28 17:36|| Front Page Top

#7 The warhead is lighter - <200 kg versus a 1000 kg conventional.

India is deliberately obfuscating its missile ranges by quoting outlandish warhead weights.

For years the Agni - which has purely nuclear role has been said to have a 1 ton warhead.
Now the Agni -3 is said to carry a 1.5 ton warhead.

In reality, the 200kT thermonuclear warhead for the Agni probably weighs < 500 kg, which would make its range far greater than the quoted values.

Posted by john 2005-12-28 17:41|| 2005-12-28 17:41|| Front Page Top

#8 Interestingly, the Rajput was used to test launch the Brahmos supersonic cruise missile a few months ago.

Posted by john 2005-12-28 20:07|| 2005-12-28 20:07|| Front Page Top

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