Pralay Missile Test: Greater Speed, Bigger Payload – Why DRDO’s Latest Trials Matter

Hindi for ‘Apocalypse’, the DRDO has conducted 2 consecutive successful flight-tests of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’. Tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha on July 28 and 29, the missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.

Pralay missile was for the first time showcased at the Republic Day parade earlier this year in January, marking a key highlight of the DRDO’s “Raksha Kavach” tableau. The short-range surface-to-surface missile has been developed for tactical battlefield use.

The latest DRDO flight tests of the Pralay missile were part of User Evaluation Trials to validate the maximum and minimum range capability of the missile system. “The missiles precisely followed the intended trajectory and reached the target point with pin-point accuracy meeting all the test objectives,” DRDO said.

Indigenously made Pralay missile has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation and is a state-of-the-art, quasi-ballistic, surface-to-surface missile engineered for high-precision strikes in conventional battlefield scenarios.

Pralay Missile Test: What DRDO’s latest trials entailed?

DRDO said that the missiles precisely followed the intended trajectory and reached the target point with pin-point accuracy meeting all the test objectives. All subsystems performed as per expectations, which were verified using test data, which was captured by various tracking sensors.

Present during the Pralay missile flight tests were senior scientists of DRDO, representatives of the users from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army as well as the industry representatives.

Why DRDO’s Pralay missile test matters?

A canisterised missile, Pralay can be carried in a strong metal container that holds chemicals or gases and it has advantage of speed and countering it is a difficult task. The recent DRDO trials were like a stamp to the same. Going ahead, this ballistic missile is expected to enhance India’s tactical deterrence capabilities remarkably.

According to DRDO, Pralay missile’s development is a step toward strengthening India’s strategic posture and promoting greater self-reliance in advanced defence technologies.

Pralay Missiles: Are they more efficient than their predecessors?

Around 3 years ago in December 2021, the DRDO had conducted maiden flight test of the Pralay, during which the missile followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory and reached the designated target with high degree accuracy, validating the control, guidance and mission algorithms.

This indigenously made missile is powered with solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies. What’s interesting about Pralay is that it can be launched from a mobile launcher. Pralay missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.

Pralay Missile Range – The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometres.

Pralay Missile Speed – It is capable of reaching speeds between Mach 1 and Mach 1.6.

Pralay Missile Payload – It can carry a payload of up to 1,000 kg.

What makes it even more formidable is the fact that it is designed in such a way that makes it hard for interceptors to stop it. Pralay can change its flight path to beat the anti-missile systems. It is often likened to the Chinese Dongfeng 12, the Russian 9k 720 Iskander missile and the US Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM).