India Successfully Flight-Tests Indigenous 'Pralay' Quasi-Ballistic Missile

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Defence #Pralay Missile #DRDO #BDL

Key takeaways

DRDO successfully tested the surface-to-surface quasi-ballistic missile 'Pralay' from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.
Developed by RCI Hyderabad and produced by BDL, the missile offers a strike range of 150-500 km with a payload capacity of 500-1,000 kg.
The missile uses solid propellant, a road-mobile launch setup, and RLG-INS guidance for high-precision, rapid-response strikes.
It features a maneuverable low-altitude quasi-ballistic trajectory to bypass enemy air defense and tracking systems.
Deployment of 'Pralay' fills the firepower gap between Pinaka rockets and strategic long-range missiles along the LAC and LoC.

The Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully flight-tested the indigenous surface-to-surface quasi-ballistic missile 'Pralay'.
The test took place at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

It is a canisterised short-range quasi-ballistic missile built to hit high-value battlefield targets using conventional warheads.
The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) in Hyderabad developed it alongside other DRDO labs using tech from the Prithvi Defence Vehicle and Prahaar programmes.
Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) acts as the main Development-cum-Production Partner for manufacturing this system.
The main objective is giving the Indian Army a fast and precise strike option to destroy enemy command posts, radar stations, and key military infrastructure.

The missile covers a operational range of 150-500 km and carries conventional warheads weighing 500-1,000 kg.
It relies on a single-stage solid-fuel motor and a road-mobile canister launch mechanism for fast deployment and short preparation time.
Its quasi-ballistic trajectory stays low and enables mid-air maneuvers, making tracking and interception by enemy defense systems extremely difficult.
It uses a Ring Laser Gyro-based Inertial Navigation System (RLG-INS) combined with satellite guidance to reach targets with extreme precision.
The missile supports various warhead types, including high-explosive, fragmentation, and penetration options for different tactical missions.

It fills the vital tactical gap between the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system and long-range strategic ballistic missiles.
It strengthens conventional military deterrence along both the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).