Surface-to-Surface Missile ‘Pralay’ flight-tested

On December 22, 2021, the first successful test flight of short-range surface-to-surface Pralay missile was conducted.

Key points

• Pralay ballistic missile was flight-tested from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.
• Missile followed the desired quasi-ballistic trajectory and reached to the designated target with high-degree accuracy. Thus, validated the control, guidance and mission algorithms.

About Pralay

Pralay is a canisterised surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). It has been developed by DRDO for battlefield use. This missile is the amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) and Prahaar tactical missile. Project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with an outlay of Rs 332.88 crore.

Features of Pralay

• Pralay can hit the target at a range of 150 to 500 kilometres, with an accuracy of about 10 metres or less.
• It can be launched from a mobile launcher.
• It has a guidance system, which include state-of-the-art navigation mechanisms and integrated avionics.
• It is a solid fuel missile, which follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory.
• Missile is capable of performing mid-air manoeuvres using maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) for defeating anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors.
• It can carry 350 kg to 700 kg high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS) and Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB).

Background

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) started developing this project around 2015. The missile was later christened as Pralay.

What is ballistic missile?

Ballistic missile follows a ballistic trajectory for delivering one or more warheads on a predetermined target. Ballistic weapons are guided only during relatively brief periods. Short-range ballistic missiles remain in Earth’s atmosphere. On the other hand, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are launched on a sub-orbital trajectory.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2021