NEW DELHI: While the recently conducted eighth test launch of medium-range ballistic-missile (MRBM) Prithvi is a significant achievement, being the first of its kind, the declared optimism of inducting the missile into the Army by 1993 is unrealistic, according to top defence sources.

The eighth launch of Prithvi from the Interim Test Range at Chandigarh put on service has been different from the previous ones on two counts. First, the missile for the first time has been referred to as an MRBM and not battle-field support system. Among the mission objectives was meeting the performance capability of about 250 kg with accurate delivery of the payload. This implies that for the first time Prithvi SS-250 version, which has a maximum range of 250 km and payload of 500 kg has been successfully test-fired. The previous seven tests were of the battle-field support version Prithvi $S-150. Translated into its broad employability, $S-250 version being a medium-range missile will be an Army weapon, to be held at the level of the Army commander, SS-150 version is a battle-field support weapon to be held at the corps level.

Second, for the first time the missile has been fired from a mobile tractor Erector Launcher (TEL) making use of mobile computerized command post. This is creditable as it involves ensuring accurately, at least five things, when the missile is brought to the vertical launch position from the travelling position. These are ensuring the true vertical position of the missile, true direction and range, prevail not meteorological and other data to ensure that in the powered phase the aerodynamically load does not exceed the missile designed attitude control and quick checks to ensure that the strap on initial guidance system has not been skewed to travel shocks.

Moreover, as the missile was fired from the TEL, technical support to the computerized command post would have been provided by the test-range in terms of accurate (10) figures grid reference location of the impact point, Further, as the missile impacted into the sea, the circular area prohibited (CEP) has only been calculated through computers and telemetry and is yet to be seen on the ground. The CEP is the area around the target where maximum missiles are expected to land,

The liumus test of Prithvi will be in a successful impact of its warhead within warhead lethal area (CEP under field conditions.) Therefore until field trials of both versions of Prithvi missile are successfully conducted, production of the missile can hardly be usefully to the Army.

Herein lies the rub, Prithvi is the only indigenous weapon system for which a General Staff Qualitative Requirement (GSQR) does not exist. GSQR are the requirement parameters which a weapon user gives to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and cannot be changed without General Staff permission. Simply put, Prithvi was not an Army requirement. As a spin-off of the indigenous satellite Launch vehicle (SLV-3), Prithvi was conceived by the DRDO and the Army was offered the system. Therefore, instead of Army giving its operation requirements for the weapon system through the GSOR, the Army has been asked to adjust the weapon into its organization and operational doctrine.

This has created problems for the Army, It is still undecided on the operational and details of organizational utilization of the two versions of the missile. Much will depend on the achieved accuracy (CEP) of the missile, which is yet to be seen under field conditions. A 500 kg conventional warhead fired at 250 km makes little sense unless good accuracy is achieved.And accuracy will depend on the target acquisition means at such range, which the Army Jacks, The present accurate target data has been provided by the ITR, which the Army will have to defend for itself unless field conditions, observed a senior officer.

Although, Army officers from branches of artillery, ordnance EME have been associated with the missile development at the Defence Research and Development Laboratories (DRDL), the missile behavior, employing liquid propellant which has its own problems of handling in the field, when firing salvo under field conditions is yet to be ascertained.

For these reasons the declared production and integration of the missile in the Army by 1993, even when the users are not yet confident of the weapon system, has placed the services in an uncomfortable situation,

Article extracted from this publication >> September 4, 1992