DRDO conducts successful flight tests of Pralay missile in Odisha

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has conducted two consecutive successful flight tests of the Pralay missile, paving the way for the missile’s induction in forces in the near future.

The Pralay is a surface-to -surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) designed to enhance India’s tactical military capabilities and has a range between 200 km and 500 km. It is New Delhi’s answer to Pakistan’s tactical nukes as the missile can carry a nuclear warhead.

The tests were carried out on two separate days – Monday and Tuesday -- from the APJ Abdul Kalam island off the coast of Odisha, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Tuesday.

Dr Samir V Kamat, Chairman of DRDO,  congratulated the teams, adding that the successful completion of this phase-1 flight tests paves the way for induction of the system into the Armed Forces in the near future.

The flight tests were carried out as a part of a ‘user evaluation trial’ 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 pinpoint accuracy, meeting all the test objectives,” The MoD said.

All subsystems performed as per expectations, which were verified using test data captured by various tracking sensors deployed by Integrated Test Range (ITR), including instruments deployed on a ship positioned near the designated impact point, the statement said.

According to MoD, Pralay is an indigenously-developed solid propellant quasi-ballistic missile employing state-of-the-art guidance and navigation to ensure high precision.

The missile is capable of carrying multiple types of warheads against various targets.

The missile is designed to attack and destroy enemy radar installations, communication hubs, command and control centres, and other critical military assets.

As per MoD, the flight tests were witnessed by senior scientists of DRDO, representatives of the users from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army as well as the industry representatives.

Following the tests, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has complimented the DRDO, the Armed Forces and the industry for the successful flight tests. The missile equipped with modern technologies will give a further technological boost to the Armed Forces against threats, Singh said.