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BALASORE (PTI): India successfully test fired an improved version of nuclear-capable 'Prithvi-II' ballistic missile early Wednesday, with a range of 350 kms from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 15 km from here off the Orissa coast.

The indigenously developed surface-to-surface ballistic missile was test fired at around 1020 hours from a mobile launcher as part of a user trial by the army, defence sources said.

Describing the test-fire as a "success", they said the improved version of the ballistic missile was tested by the "Special Missile Regiment" from Secunderabad in Andhra Pradesh raised by the Indian Army under the supervision of scientists of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO).

The entire trajectory of the missile was tracked down by a battery of sophisticated radars and electro-optic telemetry stations positioned in different locations for post-launch analysis, they said.

A naval ship had been anchored near the impact point in the Bay of Bengal and a long-range tracking radar (LRTR) as well as a multi-function tracking radar (MFTR) had been deployed to track the missile's trajectory.

The sources said the test firing of the short-range ballistic missile was a user trial by the army. The surface-to-surface missile has already been inducted into the army and is "handled by the army unit attached to the strategic force command special group", the sources said.

Eminent scientist and Chief Controller (R&D) missile and strategic system of DRDO, V K Saraswat and army officials were present to witness the trial.

Prithvi II is a single stage, dual engine, liquid fuel, road-mobile, short-range surface-to-surface missile. The missile has the features to deceive anti-ballistic missiles.