Pralay (missile)

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Pralay
Launch of indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile Pralay (cropped).jpg
Maiden flight test of surface-to-surface missile Pralay.
TypeTactical ballistic missile, SRBM
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used byIndian Army
Production history
DesignerDefence Research and Development Organisation
Specifications
Mass5 tonnes (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons)[1]
WarheadHigh explosive preformed fragmentation (PCB, RDPS)[2][3]
Warhead weight370 kg (820 lb) - 700 kg (1,500 lb)[4]
EngineTwo stage rocket motor with third stage MaRV[1]
PropellantSolid
Operational
range
150–500 km (93–311 mi)[5]
Maximum speed Terminal phase: Mach 1 (1,200 km/h; 760 mph; 0.34 km/s) to Mach 1.6 (1,960 km/h; 1,220 mph; 0.544 km/s)[6]
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation system[1]
Accuracy<10 metres (33 ft) CEP[7]
Launch
platform
8 x 8 BEML-Tatra transporter erector launcher

Pralay ("Pralaya : destruction") is a canisterised surface-to-surface tactical short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.[8][1] 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.[1][9] 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).[10]

Development[]

At the moment, the only means for the Indian Army to strike targets at distances of close to 500 km is the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which though deadly accurate, can carry a payload of only about 200 kg or so, besides being somewhat expensive. As such, the Indian Army in recent times has felt the need for a SRBM with a range of around 500 km that can also carry a sizeable payload. Defence Research and Development Organisation lab Research Centre Imarat, Hyderabad is the lead integrator of this project. Pralay missile is comparable to China's Dongfeng 12 (CSS-X-15) also known as M20 and Russian 9K720 Iskander missile. Pralay is a solid fuel missile that follows a quasi-ballistic trajectory and can perform mid-air manoeuvres using maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) to defeat anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors.[11]

Pralay uses a new generation of composite propellant that High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) started working on during the development phase of Sagarika from K Missile family. The solid fuel is highly efficient and can provide more energy compare to the fuel used in Agni missile series. The objective is to help miniaturize future missiles without compromising on operational range.[12]

Pralay can carry 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 which can target radar and communication installations, command and control centers and advance airfields.[13] Since, most of the available short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) in India are of strategic purpose which can raise false alarm of nuclear strike in a conventional warfare scenario.[14] The Pralay missile is specifically developed to be highly mobile and meet the conventional tactical ballistic missile requirement of the Indian Army.[15] Upon induction, Pralay missile will become part of Regiment of Artillery.[9]

Induction[]

The development of Pralay started from 2015 and it took four years to test the required technologies. DRDO will conduct four test flight before the missile system will become operationalized.[12]

Testing[]

Pralay launched from Abdul Kalam Island.

First trial[]

On 22 December 2021, DRDO conducted the maiden test of Pralay from the Abdul Kalam Island. It met all the mission objectives and followed the desired quasi ballistic trajectory reaching the designated target with high degree of accuracy, validating controls, guidance system and mission algorithms.[16][17]

Second trial[]

On 23 December 2021, DRDO conducted second test of Pralay from the Abdul Kalam Island. This is the first time in history that two consecutive tests of conventional ballistic missile like ‘Pralay’ were conducted successfully. The second test concluded with a heavier payload and different range to check the precision and lethality of the missile.[18][19][20]

See also[]

Comparable missiles[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Rout, Hemant Kumar (8 September 2018). "Pralay set for maiden launch". The New Indian Express.
  2. ^ "Prithvi Missile Warheads - Airforce Version". Armament Research & Development Establishment. Defence Research and Development Organisation. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Warhead of Pralay". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  4. ^ "DRDO Technology Focus : Warhead for Missiles, Torpedoes and Rockets" (PDF). Defence Research and Development Organisation. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Flight test of short-range surface-to-surface ballistic missile 'Pralay' successful". The Indian Express. ENS. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Warhead of Pralay". Wikimedia Commons. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. ^ Jha, Saurav (2017-06-13). "PRALAY: India's New Under Development Conventional Strike Surface-to-Surface Missile". Delhi Defence Review. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  8. ^ "Sizing Up the Competition on the Doklam Plateau". Stratfor. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  9. ^ a b Philip, Snehesh Alex (2021-12-22). "Why Pralay quasi-ballistic missile, tested by DRDO today, will be a 'game-changer' for Army". ThePrint. Retrieved 2021-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Thirtieth Report on Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Defence for the year 2017-18 pertaining to Revenue Budget of Ordnance Factories, Defence Research and Development Organisation, DGQA and NCC (Demand No. 20)" (PDF). New Delhi: Lok Sabha Secretariat. 9 March 2017. p. 59.
  11. ^ Chakraborty, Abhishek (22 December 2021). "Watch: India Successfully Tests 'Pralay' Missile. Has Ability To Change Path Midair". NDTV. Retrieved 2021-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b Unnithan, Sandeep (31 December 2021). "The 'K' factor in the recent missile tests". India Today. Retrieved 2022-01-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Biswas, Ramakanta (22 December 2021). "Maiden Flight Test Of 'Pralay' Missile Conducted Successfully Off Odisha Coast". Odisha TV. PTI. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  14. ^ "'Pralay' quasi ballistic missile successfully tested for 2nd consecutive day". The Times of India. ANI. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  15. ^ "India successfully test fires Pralay ballistic missile, which can strike target 500 km away". Firstpost. ANI. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  16. ^ "DRDO conducts maiden launch of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay'". The Times of India. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 2021-12-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ "DRDO conducts maiden launch of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay'". PIB. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Siddiqui, Huma (23 December 2021). "India tests Pralay missile again! Game changer for the Indian Army". Financial Express. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  19. ^ Gupta, Shishir (2021-12-23). "'Pralay', India's first conventional ballistic missile, test-fired again". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2021-12-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ "DRDO successfully conducts second flight-test of indigenously developed conventional Surface-to-Surface missile 'Pralay'". PIB. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


External links[]

Technical:

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