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At a glance
Measured figures
Prithvi I
Single sourcePrithvi II, Prithvi III
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Prithvi (missile) | R-36 (missile) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Short-range ballistic missile[source] | Intercontinental ballistic missile[source] |
| Place of origin | India[source] | Soviet Union[source] |
| In service | 1994 (Prithvi I)[source] | 1966–1979 (original variant) 1988–present (R-36M2 Voevoda variant)[source] |
| Used by | Strategic Forces Command[source] | Russian Strategic Rocket Forces |
9 m (Prithvi I) 8.56 m (Prithvi II, Prithvi III)[source]
Length
Single sourceR-36-O
Single source18,900 mm (740 in) - (R-36-O) 32,200 mm (1,270 in)[source]
Warhead weight
Single source500 kg (1,100 lb) - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Designer | Defence Research and Development Organisation[source] | — |
|---|
| Manufacturer | Bharat Dynamics Limited[source] | Factory: Yuzhny Machine-Building Plant Developer: Yuzhnoye Design Office[source] |
|---|
| Produced | 25 February 1988 (Prithvi I) 27 January 1996 (Prithvi II) 23 January 2004 (Prithvi III)[source] | — |
|---|
| No. built | 30 (2017 est.)[source] | — |
|---|
| Warhead | High explosives , penetration, cluster munition , fragmentation , thermobaric , chemical weapon and tactical nuclear weapon[source] | Depending on variant (see variants). Newest (R-36M2), 10 × 550–750 kiloton MIRV warheads with a large amount of decoys and other penetration aids . Originally (R-36), 1 × 8–20 megaton warhead.[source] |
|---|
| Engine | Single-stage liquid rocket (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Two-stage solid rocket (Prithvi III)[source] | Two or three (R-36MUTTKH and R-36M2) liquid fueled rocket stages First Stage: 1x RD-251 (R-36) 1x RD-251P (R-36P) 1x RD-251M (R-36-O) 1x RD-264 (R-36M) 1x RD-264 (R-36MUTTKh and R-36M2) Second Stage: 1x RD-252 (R-36) 1x RD-252 (R-36P) 1x RD-0228 (R-36M) 1x RD-0255 (R-36MUTTKh) 1x RD-0255 (R-36M2) Third Stage: 1x RD-864 (R-36MUTTKh) 1x RD-869 (R-36M2)[source] |
|---|
| Propellant | Liquid fuel (Prithvi I, Prithvi II), Solid fuel (Prithvi III)[source] | N 2 O 4 / UDMH[source] |
|---|
| Guidance system | Strap-down INS[source] | Inertial, autonomous[source] |
|---|
| Accuracy | 50 m CEP (Prithvi I, Prithvi II) <10 m CEP (Prithvi II upgrade) 25 m CEP (Prithvi III)[source] | 220–1,300 m CEP[source] |
|---|
| Launch platform | 8 x 8 Tata transporter erector launcher[source] | Silo[source] |
|---|
| Designed | — | From 1962[source] |
|---|
| Unit cost | — | $7,000,000[source] |
|---|