Pralay: Surface-to-Surface missile

Context:

DRDO successfully conducts second flight-test of indigenously developed conventional Surface-to-Surface missile ‘Pralay’

Key Highlights of Pralay:

• Pralay is a canisterised surface-to-surface tactical short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use.
• Speed: Mach 1 to 1.6
• Operational range: 150–500 km 
• It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
• The missile is the amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme and Prahaar tactical missile.
• It is powered with a solid propellant rocket motor and many new technologies.
• The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
• The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of ₹332.88 crore (equivalent to ₹427 crore or US$57 million in 2020)
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted second flight-test today from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha on December 23, 2021.
• The flight test met all the mission objectives.
• This launch proves the system in both the configurations of the missile. 
• In today’s launch, the ‘Pralay’ missile was tested for heavier payload and different range to prove the precision and lethality of the weapon.
• This launch was monitored by all the range sensors and instruments, including Telemetry, Radar and Electro-Optic Tracking System deployed across the eastern coast and the down range ships positioned near the impact point. 

Background: 

It is a derivative of the Prahaar missile programme, which was first tested in 2011.

• Prahaar is a surface-to-surface missile with a range of 150 km.
• Primary objective is to bridge the gap between the unguided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher and the guided Prithvi missile variants.
• Range: The missile has a range of 150-500 kilometre and can be launched from a mobile launcher.
  • Pralay will be the longest-range surface-to-surface missile in the inventory of the Army.
    • The Army also has the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in its arsenal, with a stated range of 290-plus kilometres.
• Significance: It will completely change the tactical battlefield dynamics and India will have two conventional missiles with long range.
  • The BrahMos will be a cruise option and this one will be the ballistic option.

List of important Missiles which are used by Indian Armed Forces or they are currently at different stages of development:

Source: PIB

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