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Pralay missile aces test off Odisha Coast

India has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting the test flight of its domestically produced surface-to-surface tactical missile known as ‘Pralay.’ The test took place at a defense facility off the Odisha coast and is seen as a crucial step toward its swift integration into the armed forces. Pralay, a short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), was crafted by the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and represents a fusion of technologies from the Prithvi Defense Vehicle (PDV) interceptor missile and the Prahaar tactical missile. The test launch from Abdul Kalam Island at 10 am demonstrated the missile’s full operational capability. Sources in the defense sector affirmed that the test, a part of the pre-induction trial, impeccably fulfilled its mission objectives. Pralay adhered to its intended ballistic path and precisely hit the designated target, thereby affirming the efficacy of its control, guidance, and mission algorithms. Notably, this marked the third test of the missile, occurring two years after two consecutive successful trials in 2021.

Pralay is a canisterized missile propelled by a solid propellant rocket motor and incorporates numerous advanced technologies. It possesses a striking range of up to 500 kilometers and is capable of executing mid-air maneuvers using a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) to outmaneuver anti-ballistic missile interceptors. This highly accurate and swift missile weighs approximately five tons and can carry a 1000 kg payload. If the payload is halved, it can still effectively strike targets as distant as 500 kilometers. It utilizes a composite propellant developed by the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) in Pune and employs an inertial navigation system for mid-course guidance.

Given that most of India’s SRBMs are designed for strategic purposes, the development of the tactical missile Pralay became a priority after the army expressed the need for a 500-kilometer range SRBM capable of carrying a substantial payload. The Ministry of Defence recently granted approval for the acquisition of a regiment of ‘Pralay’ ballistic missiles, which the Indian Army plans to deploy along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC) with conventional warheads. This move reinforces India’s commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities along its border regions.

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