Wikipedia

Pralay (missile)

Pralay[9] ("Pralaya : Apocalypse") is a canisterised surface-to-surface, short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) for battlefield use developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India.[10][1] The missile is an amalgamation of technologies developed for exoatmospheric interceptor missile Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) from the Indian Ballistic Missile Defence Programme, and the Prahaar tactical missile.[1][11] The project to develop Pralay was sanctioned in March 2015 with a budget of ₹332.88 crore (equivalent to ₹502 crore or US$60 million in 2023).[12]

Pralay
TypeTactical to Short-range ballistic missile
Place of originIndia
Service history
Used byIndian Army
Armenian Army
Production history
DesignerResearch Centre Imarat (DRDO)
Specifications
Mass5 tonnes (4.9 long tons; 5.5 short tons)[1]
Length> 7.5 - 11 m
Diameter> 420 mm , within 750 mm
WarheadHigh explosive preformed fragmentation (PCB, RDPS)[2][3][4]
Warhead weight500 kg (1,100 lb) - 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)
EngineTwo stage rocket motor with third stage MaRV[1]
PropellantSolid
Operational
range
150–500 km (93–311 mi)[5]
Maximum speed Terminal phase: Mach 6.1 (7,470 km/h; 4,640 mph; 2.08 km/s)[6][7]
Guidance
system
Inertial navigation system[1]
Accuracy<10 metres (33 ft) CEP[8]
Launch
platform
8 x 8 BEML-Tatra transporter erector launcher

Development

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Research Centre Imarat (RCI) is the lead integrator of this project. Pralay belongs to the same class as Dongfeng 12 (CSS-X-15), Precision Strike Missile, 9K720 Iskander and Hyunmoo 2. Powered by solid fuel rocket motor, the missile follows quasi-ballistic trajectory and able to perform mid-air maneuvers using maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV) to defeat anti-ballistic missile (ABM) interceptors.[13][14]

Pralay uses the same composite propellant developed by High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) for Sagarika from K Missile family. The composite propellant is highly efficient and generates more energy compared to propellant used in Agni missile series.[15]

Pralay 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.[16][17] The system is road mobile and meets the tactical ballistic missile requirement of the Indian Army.[18] Pralay fills the gap of a conventionally armed ballistic missile that is not hampered by 'No First Use' nuclear policy.[19]

Further work is in progress to extend the range by another few hundred kilometers.[20]

Testing

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Pralay launched from Abdul Kalam Island.

First trial

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On 22 December 2021, DRDO conducted the maiden test of Pralay from Abdul Kalam Island.[21] The missile followed quasi ballistic trajectory reaching the designated target at 400 km with high degree of accuracy, validating controls, guidance system and mission algorithms.[22][19]

Second trial

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On 23 December 2021, DRDO conducted another test of Pralay from Abdul Kalam Island.[23] The test was conducted using heavier payload to check the lethality and accuracy of the weapon. Pralay covered the maximum range of 500 km and was monitored by range sensors and instruments, including telemetry, radar and electro-optic tracking system deployed across the eastern coast and the downrange ships positioned near the impact point.[24][19]

Third trial

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DRDO on 7 November 2023 launched Pralay from Abdul Kalam Island. The test was successful and met all the required mission objectives.[25]

Induction

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The development phase of Pralay began in 2015 and took four years to test the required technologies. DRDO will conduct four test flights before the missile being commissioned.[15] According to analysts, development of Pralay achieved an important milestone for India's future Rocket Force.[26][27] In view of 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes, Indian Armed Forces in December 2022 moved proposal for acquisition of Pralay missile.[28] On 25 December 2022, Ministry of Defence (MoD) cleared the order for 120 missiles for the Indian Air Force.[29]

Two more units of 250 Pralay missiles worth ₹7,500 crore are in advance stages of acquisition as of April 2023.[30][31]

The purchase of a Parlay regiment for the Indian Army was approved by the Ministry of Defence on 17 September 2023. A similar proposal was earlier cleared for the Indian Air Force. The missile will be deployed with conventional warhead for tactical roles along Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC).[32]

As of September 2024, the user trials and eventual induction of Pralay missiles are expected soon.[33][34]

Pralay, Nirbhay, BrahMos and Pinaka will become part of the Integrated Rocket Force (IRF), a separate entity from the Strategic Forces Command (SFC).[35][36]

Operators

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  India

See also

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Comparable missiles

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Rout, Hemant Kumar (8 September 2018). "Pralay set for maiden launch". The New Indian Express.
  2. ^ Linganna, Girish (23 December 2022). "India's instrument of skyfall: Pralay surface-to-surface short range ballistic missile". Financial Express. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Prithvi Missile Warheads - Airforce Version". Armament Research & Development Establishment. Defence Research and Development Organisation. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Warhead of Pralay". Wikimedia Commons. 22 December 2021. 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. ^ Badgamia, Nishtha (26 December 2022). "Explained: Indian armed forces may deploy 'Pralay' missile along Pakistan, China border". WION. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Warhead of Pralay". Wikimedia Commons. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  8. ^ Jha, Saurav (2017-06-13). "PRALAY: India's New Under Development Conventional Strike Surface-to-Surface Missile". Delhi Defence Review. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  9. ^ Sengupta, Prasun K. "Pralay Infographic".
  10. ^ "Sizing Up the Competition on the Doklam Plateau". Stratfor. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Chakraborty, Abhishek (22 December 2021). "Watch: India Successfully Tests 'Pralay' Missile. Has Ability To Change Path Midair". NDTV. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  14. ^ Philip, Snehesh Alex (2022-12-27). "Pralay — India's first tactical quasi-ballistic missile, a step towards own rocket force". ThePrint. Retrieved 2022-12-28.
  15. ^ a b Unnithan, Sandeep (31 December 2021). "The 'K' factor in the recent missile tests". India Today. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  16. ^ Biswas, Ramakanta (22 December 2021). "Maiden Flight Test Of 'Pralay' Missile Conducted Successfully Off Odisha Coast". Odisha TV. PTI. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  17. ^ "'Pralay' quasi ballistic missile successfully tested for 2nd consecutive day". The Times of India. ANI. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  18. ^ "India successfully test fires Pralay ballistic missile, which can strike target 500 km away". Firstpost. ANI. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  19. ^ a b c Gupta, Shishir (2021-12-23). "'Pralay', India's first conventional ballistic missile, test-fired again". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2021-12-23.
  20. ^ "India moving towards creating Rocket Force, defence services to acquire around 250 more 'Pralay' ballistic missiles". ANI News. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  21. ^ "DRDO conducts maiden launch of indigenously developed new generation surface-to-surface missile 'Pralay'". Press Information Bureau. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  22. ^ "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.
  23. ^ "DRDO successfully conducts second flight-test of indigenously developed conventional Surface-to-Surface missile 'Pralay'". Press Information Bureau. 23 December 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  24. ^ Siddiqui, Huma (23 December 2021). "India tests Pralay missile again! Game changer for the Indian Army". Financial Express. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  25. ^ "India successfully test-fires 'Pralay' missile off Odisha coast". The Hindu. 2023-11-07. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  26. ^ Levesques, Antoine. "India's Pralay ballistic missile: a step towards a rocket force?". International Institute for Strategic Studies. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  27. ^ Kumar, Maj Gen Ashok. "Rocket-Missile Force: An Inescapable Indian Necessity". Chanakya Forum. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  28. ^ Dubey, Ajit K (20 December 2022). "Indian forces acquiring 'Pralay' ballistic missile for striking targets at 150-500 Km". ANI News. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
  29. ^ a b Negi, Manjeet (25 December 2022). "Amid conflict, India approves 120 Pralay missiles for armed forces along China border". India Today. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
  30. ^ a b Negi, Manjeet (16 April 2023). "Defence forces to acquire 250 more Pralay ballistic missile for China front". India Today. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  31. ^ "Countering China: India moves towards creating rocket force with more 'Pralay' missiles". The Times of India. 2023-04-15. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  32. ^ "Defence Ministry clears proposal to buy 'Pralay' ballistic missiles for Indian Army". The Economic Times. 2023-09-17. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  33. ^ Ray, Kalyan. "New howitzers, firing ranges near the LAC for Army amidst China boundary dispute". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  34. ^ "India developing hypersonic missiles; Army looking to induct long-range rockets, loitering munitions, Pralay, Nirbhay missiles: Top official". ANI. 2024-09-27. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
  35. ^ "Will India finally have a dedicated rocket force?". The Times of India. 2023-05-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
  36. ^ Bommakanti, Kartik (27 May 2023). "Integrated rocket force: Imperfect but a step in the right direction". Observer Research Foundation. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  37. ^ a b c "Will India finally have a dedicated rocket force?". The Times of India. 2023-05-17. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
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