Successful test of Pralay quasi-ballistic missile by DRDO from Chandipur, Odisha

According to a Dainik Bhaskar report, the Pralay missile was successfully tested by the DRDO on Tuesday from the ITR as well as Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Island located in Chandipur, Odisha. This is a quasi-ballistic missile developed by the DRDO. This missile has the full capability to carry various types of warheads against different targets at a distance of up to 500 kilometres.

Prior to the test, a NOTAM, meaning a Notice to Airmen, was issued for a radius of 595 kilometres. In addition, people living within a 2-kilometre radius of the test range were also safely evacuated from there. A normal ballistic missile goes straight up and comes down and its path is already predictable, whereas the Pralay missile travels on a low trajectory and can change its direction mid-way as well as manoeuvre in the terminal phase. Due to this special feature, the enemy country's air defence system cannot intercept this missile.

There is a plan to induct this lethal conventional missile into both the Army and the Air Force. Such short-range and high-precision weapons are proving to be game-changers on the LOC with Pakistan. This was demanded by the Army, especially for the western and northern borders. The green light for the procurement of 120 missiles has already been given by the DAC. In the coming time, it will be included in the new rocket force, whose main task will be to obliterate the enemy's airbases, fuel depots and command centres in the very first 30 minutes.

According to sources, following the success of the Pralay missile, work is now also underway on its Air Force version, namely Pralay-ALBM, and the longer-range Pralay-2. According to reports, a day prior to this test, 3 successful tests of VSHORADS, meaning Very Short Range Air Defence, were conducted by the DRDO from the same range, which are capable of shooting down drones and helicopters located 6 kilometres away.

In addition to this, India has also successfully test-fired the ballistic missile Agni-4 from the Integrated Test Range located in Chandipur, Odisha. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Defence, all operational and technical parameters of this missile were verified, which were completely successful. This test was conducted under the supervision of the Strategic Forces Command. State-of-the-art avionics and a digital control system have been installed in this missile, with the help of which it can accurately target up to a range of 4000 kilometres with high precision. This missile is a medium-range ballistic missile manufactured entirely in India.