The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in India has successfully conducted two consecutive flight tests of the Pralay missile.
The Tests
The flight tests were conducted as part of user evaluation trials (Indian Army and Indian Air Force) to validate the maximum and minimum range of the missile system.
The Pralay missiles accurately followed the expected trajectory and hit the target with utmost precision, meeting all the objectives of the trials.
Throughout the tests, all subsystems performed as expected, verified using test data acquired from various tracking sensors installed by the Integrated Test Range (ITR).
Also, instruments installed aboard the ship located near the designated impact point were used for tracking the tests.
In 2022, the Indian Air Force placed an order for 120 Pralay, while in 2023 the Indian Army ordered 250 truck-mounted versions; Armenia also seems to have ordered this ballistic missile.
Features of the Pralay Missile
Pralay is a short-range solid propellant ballistic missile developed internally in India, employing TERCOM type guidance systems with radar imaging for the final attack phase and inertial navigation (INS) during flight, ensuring high precision.
The missile is capable of carrying various types of warheads against different targets from 350-700 kg and 500-1,000 kg of preformed fragmentation high explosive (HEPF), penetrator-explosion (PCB) and anti-runway submunition (RDPS) at a distance between 150 km and 500 km.
Pralay incorporates technologies developed by DRDO for the tactical missile Prahaar and the exoatmospheric interceptor Prithvi Defence Vehicle.
Source and Photo credit@Indian Defense Ministry/DRDO
