BALASORE: In a major blow, two nuke-capable ballistic missiles planned to be tested back-to-back in salvo mode failed to take off during user trials from the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur off Odisha coast on Wednesday. As part of a significant air defence exercise, the Strategic Forces Command (SFC) of the Army was carrying out the twin trials of Prithvi-II missiles, considered as a proven weapon in the country’s arsenal, to make it more battle-savvy.Sources told ‘The Express’ that both the missiles failed to lift off as pressure couldn’t build up after the ignition. Though the countdown was smooth, technical glitches developed during the takeoff.‘’The first missile was scheduled to be tested at around 9 am and the second one after five to six minutes. Both the missiles developed same problem. The CFNA gas was leaked from the missile-system and the missiles didn’t get required thrust to take off,’’the sources said. It was however not for the first time that the Prithvi-II missile which has a strike range of upto 350 km has failed during user trials. It was third such incident in past two years. Earlier on March 15 and September 24 last year the same missile had failed to deliver desired results. On March 15, 2010 the missile developed technical snag during stage separation and fell into the sea after travelling nearly 27 km. It deviated from the coordinated path reportedly due to ignition problem during the stage separation.
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