The Indian Armed Forces are most likely soon to place orders for two more units (more than 250) of Pralay Missile worth over Rs 7,500 Crores.
As of now the proposal for the acquisition of these missiles is at an advanced stage and is expected to be cleared soon.
The missiles will now be mass-produced and are expected to be ready for operational service in the near future
About Pralay Missile
Pralay is a canisterised tactical, surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.
The missile is a unification of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme and Prahaar tactical missile.
The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of Rs 332.88 Crores.
Similar foreign missiles of the same class include Dongfeng 12 (CSS-X-15), Precision Strike Missile, 9K720 Iskander and Hyunmoo 2 missile.
The missile is powered by a solid-propellant rocket motor and many new technologies. It has a range of 150-500 km and can be launched from a mobile launcher. The missile guidance system includes a state-of-the-art navigation system and integrated avionics.
Furthermore, the ballistic missile carries 350 kg to 700 kg high explosive preformed fragmentation warhead, Penetration-Cum-Blast (PCB) and Runway Denial Penetration Submunition (RDPS) at a range of 150 km to 500 km.
Pralay is designed to target radar and communication installations, command and control centers and advance airfields using conventional warhead.
The system is road mobile and meets the tactical ballistic missile requirement of the Indian Army.
The missile fills the gap of a conventionally armed ballistic missile that is not hampered by ‘No First Use’ nuclear policy.
Further work is in progress to extend the range by another few hundred kilometers
Image Courtesy: https://www.pib.gov.in/
