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India successfully tests short-range ballistic missile ‘Pralay’

Published: 27th Dec, 2021

Context

Recently, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully test fired the indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay', from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

About

About the missile

  • Developed by: Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)
  • The missile is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies. 
  • The solid-fuel, battlefield missile has a range of 150-500 kilometre and can be launched from a mobile launcher.
  • 'Pralay' is a short-range, surface-to-surface missile with a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
  • The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
  • The new missile followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms.
  • All the sensors deployed near the impact point across the eastern coast, including the down range ships, tracked the missile trajectory and captured all the events.
  • The missile is based on Prithvi Defence Vehicle from the Indian ballistic missile programme.

Significance of the development

  • Security on borders: 'Pralay' is India's first conventional ballistic missile and is an answer to any conventional missile attack from northern or western borders.
  • Strengthening of capacity: The missile development is significant as India had no conventionally armed ballistic missile and was hampered by 'No First Use' nuclear policy.
  • This is a new generation surface-to-surface missile equipped with modern technologies and induction of this weapon system will give the necessary impetus to the armed forces

Important missiles (with Indian Army)

  • Prahaar: This is an indigenous short-range, solid propellant, road-mobile ballistic missile. And has a range of 150 km with a launch weight of 1,280 kg.
  • Nirbhay: This subsonic missile will help counter China along the Line of Actual Control and is capable of loitering and cruising at 0.7 Mach at a low altitude of 100 meters.
  • BrahMos: A sizable number of BrahMos missiles, a joint venture of India and Russia are already deployed in several strategic locations along the de-facto border with China in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Brahmos: Supersonic Cruise Missile (Fastest cruise missile in the world)
    • Brahmos II: Hypersonic Cruise Missile
  • It also has the following missiles:
    • Astra: Air to Air Missile
    • Nirbhay: Subsonic Cruise Missile
    • Helina (Helicopter Launched Nag): Anti Tank Missile
    • Akash: Medium Range Surface to Air Missile
    • Trishul: Surface to Air  Missile
    • Dhanush: Variant of the surface-to-surface or ship-to-ship Prithvi III missile
    • Shaurya: Hypersonic surface-to-surface tactical missile
    • Agni: Surface to Surface Ballistic Missile
    • Prithvi: Surface to Surface  short range Ballistic Missile
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