India Successfully Test-Fires 'Pralay' Ballistic Missile

• 09 Nov 2023

On 7^th November, 2023, India achieved a successful test-fire of the surface-to-surface short-range ballistic missile 'Pralay', which is deemed to be as potent as the Russian "Iskander" and China's "Dong Feng 12."

• The test took place at the Abdul Kalam Island off the coast of Odisha.

Key Points

• Pralay Missile Test Success: Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Pralay missile, with a short range of 350 km to 500 km, was test-fired and met all mission objectives.
• The missile can carry a payload capacity of 500-1000 kg.
• Tracking and Monitoring: The launch of the Pralay missile, which emerged from the Prithvi defense vehicle, was closely monitored by a battery of tracking instruments that observed its path along the coastline.
• Strategic Deployment Locations: Pralay is designed to meet the requirements of the armed forces at the northern and western borders.
• It is intended for deployment along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan.
• Approval and Anti-Ballistic Capabilities: The project to develop the Pralay missile, with a budget of ₹332 crore, received approval in March 2015.
• Notably, the missile has the ability to perform mid-air maneuvers, making it effective in defeating anti-ballistic missile interceptors.