The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) recently made headlines with the successful maiden flight test of its new indigenously developed surface-to-surface missile ‘Pralay’. The testing took place off the coast of Odisha at the Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Island.
About the ‘Pralay’ Missile
‘Pralay’ is a significant development in India’s defence sector as it is the country’s first conventional quasi-ballistic missile. It presents a strategic deterrence against any potential conventional missile attacks from northern or western borders. Unlike traditional ballistic missiles, a quasi-ballistic missile follows a low trajectory and possesses the capability to manoeuvre during flight.
The distinctive design of the Pralay missile enables it to elude interceptor missiles by changing its path mid-flight after covering a certain range. Its key features include a solid propellant rocket motor and state-of-the-art navigation system interlaced with many integrated avionics technologies.
The Origin of the ‘Pralay’ Missile
The genesis of the Pralay missile lies in the Prahaar missile programme, first tested in 2011. Prahaar, another surface-to-surface missile, has a range of 150 km. The primary objective behind developing the Pralay missile was to fill the gap between the unguided Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher and the guided variants of the Prithvi missile.
The Range and Potential of the ‘Pralay’ Missile
With a range between 150-500 kilometres, the Pralay missile can be launched from a mobile launcher. It is set to become the longest-range surface-to-surface missile in the Army’s inventory. Alongside the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, which has a range of over 290 kilometres, the addition of the Pralay will further strengthen the Army’s arsenal.
The Importance of the ‘Pralay’ Missile
The Pralay’s deployment will revolutionise the tactical dynamics on the battlefield. With its addition, India will have two long-range conventional missiles at its disposal: the BrahMos serving as a cruise option and the Pralay as a ballistic one.
Comparing Ballistic and Cruise Missiles
Ballistic and cruise missiles differ significantly in their operation and capabilities. Ballistic missiles, such as Prithvi I, Prithvi II, Agni I, Agni II, and Dhanush, follow a projectile motion where the trajectory depends on factors such as gravity, air resistance, and Coriolis Force. They leave and re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and are primarily long-range missiles with a range from 300 km to 12,000 km.
In comparison, cruise missiles like the BrahMos follow a straight path within the Earth’s atmosphere and have shorter ranges, typically up to 1000 km.
